His Excellency launched the project on Saturday, October 17, at the 23rd People’s National Conference in Chinhoyi, marking a milestone in a partnership aimed at bringing healthcare closer to communities.
Funded and supported by NetOne through its flagship **OneHealth** initiative, the project is being undertaken in conjunction with ZimSmart Villages and led by the ZANU PF Department of Health.
The President’s commendation recognised NetOne’s contribution to connecting national development aspirations with practical community needs. The initiative places healthcare access at the centre of the company’s 30th anniversary, prioritising investment in people over lavish celebrations.
For NetOne, the launch demonstrated how telecommunications capabilities and corporate partnerships can support the President’s vision for an inclusive and prosperous Zimbabwe.
The planned rollout of 100 mobile health kiosks seeks to ease barriers faced by rural households, where accessing medical attention can require long journeys, transport money and time away from work or family responsibilities.
By bringing services closer to villages, the partners aim to strengthen connections between patients and healthcare professionals, placing digital innovation at the service of community wellbeing.
NetOne public relations manager Mr Ernest Magadzire described the anniversary investment as an opportunity to give the company’s milestone lasting meaning.
“Our 30th anniversary is not simply about celebrating how far we have come. It is about what we can contribute to the future. Through OneHealth, we are placing people’s wellbeing at the centre of our celebrations and supporting the national health agenda,” he said.
The partnership brings together distinct contributions: NetOne’s funding and support, ZimSmart Villages’ digital-health capabilities and leadership from the ZANU PF Department of Health.
ZimSmart Villages’ Dr Jokwiro said the project’s purpose was to make technology useful to patients and communities.
“The value of digital health lies in helping people connect with the care they need. These mobile kiosks are intended to bridge distances and create accessible points through which communities can connect with healthcare professionals,” he said.
The initiative gives practical expression to “NetOne in the community”, extending the company’s contribution beyond network coverage to services that address everyday needs.
It also reflects “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” — a nation is built by its own people — through Zimbabwean institutions combining resources and expertise to respond to local challenges.
Mr Magadzire said the President’s recognition reinforced the importance of purposeful corporate participation in national development.
“We are encouraged by His Excellency’s commendation. His visionary leadership provides a clear direction towards Vision 2030, and our responsibility is to translate that ambition into practical contributions that benefit communities,” he said.
The project reflects Sustainable Development Goal 3 on good health and wellbeing, Goal 10 on reduced inequalities and Goal 17 on partnerships. Its community focus connects these ambitions with efforts to narrow gaps in healthcare access.
Dr Jokwiro emphasised that implementation would remain central to its success.
“The launch is an important beginning. Lasting value will come from accessible services, appropriate referrals and effective follow-up, supported by strong partnerships and links to the wider healthcare system,” he said.
As NetOne celebrates three decades of connecting Zimbabweans, the project positions healthcare as part of its anniversary legacy. It recognises that healthier people are better placed to learn, work and contribute to national development — making a healthy population essential to a healthy nation.