Technology as a diplomat — Can innovation build peace?

TINASHE NYAMUSHANYA

IN TODAY’S interconnected world, technology has become the new language of diplomacy, influencing how nations cooperate, compete, and resolve conflicts.

From artificial intelligence to digital governance, innovation is the driving force behind peacebuilding, security, and sustainable develop­ment. Countries like Japan, China, and the United States are redefin­ing diplomacy through technology, deploying smart innovation to build stronger economies, enhance gov­ernance, and foster peace.

For Africa, and especially Zimbabwe, the message is clear: to stay relevant in the 21st century, our youth must not resist the tide of technological transformation — they must ride it.

Technology is the new meas­ure of power. The world’s leading economies are no longer solely measured by military strength or natural resources, but by their capacity to innovate.

Japan’s robotics industry, China’s mastery of AI and infra­structure technology, and the US’s dominance in Silicon Valley have positioned them as global trendset­ters.

Meanwhile, many African nations still struggle to adapt. Outdated education systems, limited internet access, and minimal invest­ment in research and development have left much of the continent lagging. Yet, Africa holds a secret weapon: its youth. With over 60percent of Africans under the age of 25, the continent has the largest generation of digital natives ready to shape a new narrative if given the right tools and platforms.

In diplomacy, refusing to evolve means becoming irrelevant. The same is true in technology. While the world races ahead with smart cities, digital trade, and artificial intelligence, many African countries are still debating basic connectivity issues.

To “flow with the current” means embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution—not as an imported idea, but as a locally adapted force for peace and prosperity. For instance:

Rwanda has built an e-gov­ernance system that minimizes corruption and increases citizen engagement.

Kenya’s M-Pesa revolution­ized mobile banking and financial inclusion, proving that innovation doesn’t need to come from the West to transform lives.

Ghana is using drones for medi­cal delivery, cutting rural healthcare delays by over 60percent.

These examples show that African nations don’t need to rein­vent the wheel—they just need to accelerate and flow with the rhythm of progress.

Technology doesn’t only build economies — it builds bridges. During conflicts, innovation can play the role of a silent diplomat, connecting people where politics di­vide them. Digital communication, satellite mapping, and AI-driven data analysis are already helping nations monitor ceasefires, deliver humanitarian aid, and detect early signs of violence.

For example, AI-driven peace mapping systems developed by re­searchers in Europe and the US are now being tested in Africa to predict potential conflict zones before violence erupts. Meanwhile, digital diplomacy — using online plat­forms to engage citizens globally — has made international relations more inclusive and transparent.

In Zimbabwe, technology could serve as a platform for youth dialogue and civic engagement, reducing polarisation and promot­ing peacebuilding through shared innovation projects. A young software engineer creating an app to report corruption, or a digital artist promoting cultural unity online, is just as important as a traditional diplomat in a suit.

Zimbabwe’s greatest resource is not its minerals — it’s its young, educated, and creative population. The nation’s youths have already shown their innovation in areas such as fintech, agritech, and digital marketing. However, the challenge lies in scaling their ideas to global levels.

Imagine Zimbabwean youths exporting software solutions to neighbouring countries, develop­ing smart agriculture platforms to enhance food security, or creat­ing mobile apps that link farmers directly to international markets.

These innovations would not only generate employment but also foster economic peace — reduc­ing poverty, inequality, and social unrest.

To achieve this, the government, private sector, and international partners must collaborate to build innovation hubs, fund youth start­ups, and include young innovators in national and international policy dialogues. When a Zimbabwean coder builds an AI system that serves both local farmers and re­gional buyers, he or she becomes an economic diplomat — representing Zimbabwe’s ingenuity to the world.

Japan’s culture of innovation is built on discipline, research, and long-term investment in education. The country turned its post-war struggles into a technological re­naissance, showing that innovation can rise from hardship.

China’s technological diplomacy is perhaps the most striking ex­ample in the modern era. Through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China exports not only infrastruc­ture but also technology — build­ing 5G networks, smart cities, and innovation parks across developing nations.

For Africa, this partnership offers both opportunities and challenges, but the key lesson is China’s belief that technology is the foundation of influence.

Meanwhile, the United States continues to lead in digital entrepre­neurship and soft power diplomacy. Its technology companies — Goog­le, Apple, Microsoft — are not just corporations; they are global ambas­sadors shaping how the world com­municates and conducts business.

African countries, including Zimbabwe, must draw inspiration from these models — not to imitate, but to innovate their own way. Technology diplomacy for Africa should be about solving African problems with African solutions powered by global knowledge.

Innovation cannot thrive where the digital ecosystem is weak. For Africa to compete globally, nations must prioritise affordable inter­net, reliable electricity, and policy reforms that encourage investment in technology sectors.

Countries like South Africa and Nigeria have made signifi­cant strides in digital policy, but many smaller nations still lack the infrastructure to support large-scale innovation. In Zimbabwe, the government’s National ICT Policy Framework is a step in the right direction, but more must be done to turn policy into tangible results — especially for rural youth who remain disconnected from oppor­tunities.

Investing in broadband connec­tivity, ICT education, and start-up financing is not an expense — it’s an investment in peace and pros­perity. Digital literacy is the new literacy. A youth who cannot use technology risks exclusion from the global economy. Governments, schools, and universities must make technology education a priority from early stages.

In Zimbabwe, universities should strengthen partnerships with inter­national technology institutions, hosting hackathons, innovation challenges, and coding bootcamps. NGOs and the private sector can complement these efforts through mentorship programmes that teach young people how to transform ideas into exportable products.

Once empowered, tech-savvy youth become ambassadors of peace — using digital platforms to tell their stories, advocate for jus­tice, and promote cultural exchange rather than division.

Technology can also help mend divides in post-conflict societies. Social media platforms, if used responsibly, can foster dialogue and national healing. Artificial intelligence can track hate speech and misinformation that often fuel violence.

For example, UNDP’s digital peace labs in Nigeria are training youth to counter online hate with creative content that promotes unity. Zimbabwe can adopt a similar ap­proach — turning technology into a peacebuilding tool, not a weapon of division.

When young Zimbabweans use innovation to create solutions for unemployment, hunger, or health­care, they are indirectly contribut­ing to national peace and stability. Peace is not the absence of war — it is the presence of opportunity.

Africa cannot afford to remain a spectator in the technological race. The next generation of global leaders will not only speak multiple languages — they will code in them. Zimbabwean, Botswanan, or Ghanaian youth who master arti­ficial intelligence, data science, or renewable energy technologies will become the diplomats of tomor­row — not through embassies, but through innovation.

Governments must therefore:

Prioritise STEM education and research.

Create innovation-friendly regu­lations that attract investment.

Build public-private partnerships that fund youth technology projects.

Integrate digital diplomacy in foreign affairs — showcasing Afri­can tech innovations on the world stage.

Technology has become the world’s most persuasive diplomat. It crosses borders, speaks all languag­es, and connects people faster than politics ever could. For Zimbabwe and Africa at large, embracing inno­vation is no longer a luxury — it’s a survival strategy.

If Africa’s youth embrace technology, they can rewrite the continent’s story — from one of dependency to one of creativity and power. Innovation is peace; progress is diplomacy. The more connected, skilled, and innovative Africa becomes, the more peaceful and prosperous it will be.

As Zimbabwe stands on the edge of a new technological dawn, its youth must not fear the current — they must flow with it, lead it, and let innovation speak for their generation.