Africa Must Be AI Creator, Not Consumer, Says Zimbabwean Tech Entrepreneur
21:21 20.07.2026 (Updated: 21:59 20.07.2026)
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Africa Must Be AI Creator, Not Consumer, Says Zimbabwean Tech Entrepreneur
With 10 African countries among the founding members of the newly established World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), the continent must seize the opportunity to move beyond passive adoption of foreign technologies, Justice Mukaro told Sputnik Africa.
Key points from the interview:
🟠From consumer to creator: WAICO offers a chance to influence AI governance, but this must be backed by technical expertise, policy leadership, and investment.
🟠Digital sovereignty: Autonomy does not mean isolation, but rather control over critical infrastructure and data.
Joint development should go beyond technology transfer to include:
local research,
talent development,
knowledge exchange,
shared intellectual property.
🟠Priority sectors: Mukaro identified agriculture, healthcare, education, climate resilience, and public administration as key sectors, along with investments in AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, and skills transfer.
🟠Risks and opportunities: He warned against unequal participation, fragmented policies, and weak local capacity, urging that successful partnerships must build long‑term capabilities and support local innovation.
Subscribe to @sputnik_africa
Sputnik Africa | X
With 10 African countries among the founding members of the newly established World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), the continent must seize the opportunity to move beyond passive adoption of foreign technologies, Justice Mukaro told Sputnik Africa.
Key points from the interview:
🟠From consumer to creator: WAICO offers a chance to influence AI governance, but this must be backed by technical expertise, policy leadership, and investment.
🟠Digital sovereignty: Autonomy does not mean isolation, but rather control over critical infrastructure and data.
Joint development should go beyond technology transfer to include:
local research,
talent development,
knowledge exchange,
shared intellectual property.
🟠Priority sectors: Mukaro identified agriculture, healthcare, education, climate resilience, and public administration as key sectors, along with investments in AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, and skills transfer.
🟠Risks and opportunities: He warned against unequal participation, fragmented policies, and weak local capacity, urging that successful partnerships must build long‑term capabilities and support local innovation.
Subscribe to @sputnik_africa
Sputnik Africa | X
