By Wallace Mawire

Zimbabwe is set to  commemorate the
the 2026 International Girls in ICT Day at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) on 15 May 2026 in Bulawayo.

According to a statement by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ)  schools, institutions of higher education including Universities from across the province will be allowed to have their  students attend the event. The global theme this year is, AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future.

International Girls in ICT Day was established by the International Telecommunication Union in 2011 to inspire and encourage young women and girls to pursue studies and careers in information and communication technologies and STEM.

The initiative  created to address the persistent gender gap in the digital sector where women remained significantly underrepresented in the ICT workforce and in AI and data roles. has seen  boys allowed  to contribute to the conversation.

Zimbabwe adopted the commemoration as part of its national digital transformation agenda.

As under National Development Strategy 1 and 2 and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2026 to 2030 ICTs have been named a key enabler for economic development, the sector would like to ensure that girls are not only users of technology but leaders and innovators who shape solutions across sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, health, governance, entrepreneurship and beyond.

The event has been held across provinces in Zimbabwe including Matebeleland South, Midlands, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Masvingo, Matabeleland North and now in Bulawayo targeting over 2000 young women and girls who gather to share knowledge and experiences as well as ways in which they can be part of Zimbabwe’s digital future.