Zimbabwe is seeking more than USD 200 million to finance the launch of a new telecommunications satellite to improve digital connectivity and strengthen the country’s ICT infrastructure, Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has announced.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) 2026 Business and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (BKPO) breakfast forum, Professor Ncube said the satellite project forms part of government efforts to support the country’s transition to a digital economy.
This development follows Zimbabwe’s previous announcements regarding its Earth observation satellite programme. The country recently launched its first satellite under the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) programme, developed through international cooperation. Furthermore, authorities have announced plans to launch a third Earth observation satellite, ZIMSAT-3, to boost the country’s space capabilities, building upon ZIMSAT-1 and ZIMSAT-2.
The Government has deployed existing Earth observation satellites primarily for agricultural applications and soil erosion monitoring, demonstrating its prioritisation of agriculture-focused space initiatives to tackle critical development challenges in food security and natural resource management.
Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2026/03/11/zimbabwe-seeks-usd-200-million-to-finance-telecommunications-satellite-launch/