Faith Ndou
MASVINGO-Great Zimbabwe University School of Natural Sciences through the National Centre of Excellence for Computational Intelligence and Actuarial Science, hosted a powerful public lecture titled “Why and How Africa Should Embrace the AI Revolution,” delivered by renowned academic and thought leader, Professor Arthur Mutambara.
The event held at the Robert Mugabe School of Heritage and Education drew a large and diverse audience, including students, lecturers, innovators and members of the public, all eager to explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“Generative AI is equivalent to the Japanese economy,” said Prof Mutambara, underlining the immense economic power AI holds on the global stage.
He passionately argued that Africa cannot afford to be left behind in this digital era.
Instead of remaining passive consumers of global technologies, he challenged the continent to become creators, innovators and active players in shaping AI.
“Don’t show your certificates show what you can do,” he urged students, encouraging a shift toward practical skills, creativity and innovation over academic qualifications alone.
Mutambara highlighted that AI currently contributes 10% to the global GDP and if strategically harnessed, it can revolutionize sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education and governance across Africa.
He also stressed the need to embed African values, languages and cultural context into AI systems, ensuring the technology aligns with the continent’s identity and needs.
“There is no plagiarism from AI, embrace it,” he told lecturers, advocating for the integration of AI into academia and research while dismantling fear based resistance to the tools.
The lecture served as a bold call to action for Zimbabwe and the African continent to invest in education, research and digital infrastructure to stay competitive in the fast evolving global economy.
“My aim is to raise awareness in Zimbabwe about AI,” Prof. Mutambara concluded.
