14 December 2022

Following Zimbabwe’s historic achievement with the launch of the ZIMSAT-1, president Mnangagwa has affirmed the country’s plans to begin work on its second satellite, ZIMSAT-2, a communication satellite.

The recent landmark deployment of Zimbabwe’s satellite ZIMSAT-1 is part of an ongoing strategy that will see the country launching more satellites.

“ZIMSAT-2, which we hope to launch quite soon, will give us additional capabilities, including in the critical field of communications. Once up, ZIMSAT-2 will enable total national connectivity, thus making ICT and other communication applications pervasive handmaidens in National Development,” said president Mnangagwa. “Of course, that we named our maiden satellite ZIMSAT-1 means we foresee the launch of more satellites as our nation fully exploits and harnesses space technology for rapid industrialisation and modernisation. Indeed, ZIMSAT-2 is on its way, and should be a lot easier given the expertise, experience and confidence we have now garnered through this multinational partnership.”

The satellite serves a key purpose in Zimbabwe’s ambitions, as the country modernises processes, especially in conservation, public health, agriculture and disaster mitigation.