Zimbabwean entrepreneur and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa, Africa's first billionaire with an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion, emphasized the transformative potential of digital technologies for economic development during a recent report launch.
A Pathways for Prosperity study revealed that only 30% of the 80% of people in developing nations with cellular network access have ever used the internet, underscoring significant digital divides.
Masiyiwa, founder of Econet Wireless, stated: "Digital technologies offer powerful tools to grow businesses and nations, enabling entrepreneurs to access markets and giving governments innovative ways to deliver better services." The report, titled The Digital Roadmap: How Developing Countries Can Get Ahead, outlines 26 actionable steps for nations to leverage technology for development.
The analysis warns that without deliberate inclusion strategies, digital technologies risk entrenching inequality. It identifies five priority areas for national digital strategies, emphasizing collaboration between governments, private sector, and civil society to create shared visions for technological adoption.
Key recommendations include investing in physical infrastructure, foundational digital systems like mobile money, and vocational training aligned with digital-era workforce needs. The report highlights that 285 million new workers will enter African labor markets by 2030, requiring urgent skill development initiatives.
Pathways for Prosperity has supported Ethiopia, Mongolia, and South Africa in developing national digital strategies through its Digital Economy Kit. The organization advocates for "national digital compacts" to guide transformation while protecting vulnerable populations from technology-driven disruptions.
Masiyiwa specifically urged African governments to avoid restrictive policies like social media taxes, emphasizing that digital access should empower citizens rather than limit their online freedoms.
