Strategic foresight is a structured approach used to explore how the future may unfold under different conditions. It supports decision-making by examining trends, uncertainties, and emerging signals that shape long-term outcomes.

Foresight does not attempt to predict a single outcome. It examines multiple plausible futures and evaluates how current decisions may perform under each of them. This approach strengthens planning by reducing exposure to uncertainty and increasing preparedness.

The methodology applied in this report follows a systematic sequence:

• Signals of change are identified across sectors, including technological developments, environmental pressures, economic shifts, and policy dynamics. These signals are analysed to determine broader trends and patterns.
• Key drivers of change are then established. These drivers represent forces that are expected to influence how systems evolve over time. In this study, drivers include digital transformation, climate variability, decentralised energy systems, and data-driven decision-making.
• Scenarios are developed to explore how these drivers may interact. Each scenario provides a structured representation of a possible future, allowing institutions to assess risks, opportunities, and strategic options.
• Strategic pathways are then defined, linking present actions to desired long-term outcomes.

This approach differs from conventional planning methods, which often assume continuity from past trends. Strategic foresight recognises that disruption is a defining feature of the current environment, often described as volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous.

The application of foresight enables institutions to test policies, investments, and programmes against multiple future conditions. It provides a basis for prioritising interventions that remain relevant even as circumstances change.

The foresight analysis examines how telecommunications, energy, and agriculture may evolve over the next two decades under the influence of emerging technologies and structural shifts.

The findings indicate that these sectors will become increasingly interconnected through digital platforms, data systems, and intelligent infrastructure.

In telecommunications, the expansion of connectivity platforms is expected to support advanced services such as artificial intelligence applications, smart systems, and data-driven public services. Network infrastructure will extend beyond communication to become an enabling layer for innovation across sectors.

In energy, decentralised systems are expected to gain prominence, particularly in response to climate variability and demand for resilient supply. Smart grids, distributed generation, and energy storage solutions will shape future energy ecosystems.

In agriculture, digital technologies will influence production systems, market access, and resource management. Precision agriculture, climate monitoring tools, and data-enabled supply chains will contribute to improved productivity and sustainability.

The foresight process identifies several outcomes that are likely to shape Zimbabwe’s development trajectory over the next twenty years:

• Technological systems across sectors will become integrated, requiring coordinated policy and infrastructure development.
• Data will become a central asset in decision-making, influencing governance, service delivery, and economic activity.
• Innovation ecosystems will need to support continuous adaptation, rather than isolated project-based interventions.
• Human capital development will play a central role in enabling adoption and localisation of emerging technologies.

These findings align closely with Zimbabwe’s national development priorities. The National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) emphasises innovation, industrialisation, infrastructure development, and digital transformation as key drivers of economic growth. The emerging National Artificial Intelligence Strategy further reinforces the importance of building capacity in data systems, intelligent technologies, and digital services.

The strategic foresight analysis provides a structured framework for aligning sectoral strategies with these national priorities. It highlights the need for coordinated implementation across institutions to ensure that technological advancements translate into measurable development outcomes.

The development of this report has established a critical capability within POTRAZ and the National Innovation Acceleration Centre.

POTRAZ now has the institutional capacity to design and implement full strategic foresight studies for government entities, public institutions, and private sector organisations. This capability is supported by trained personnel, established methodologies, and validated participatory processes.

The foresight service offering includes:

• End-to-end foresight studies tailored to sector-specific challenges and opportunities.
• Stakeholder engagement processes that ensure inclusive and evidence-based analysis.
• Scenario development and strategic pathway design aligned with institutional objectives.
• Policy and programme support informed by long-term analysis.

This capability is embedded within NIAC’s broader mandate to support innovation, policy experimentation, and ecosystem coordination.

Institutions operating in dynamic environments require structured tools to navigate uncertainty, assess risk, and position themselves effectively. Strategic foresight provides this capability. Organisations across sectors are invited to engage with POTRAZ and NIAC to undertake foresight studies relevant to their mandates and strategic priorities.

CONCLUDING STATEMENT

The findings of this report demonstrate that long-term planning requires structured engagement with uncertainty, informed by evidence, inclusive participation, and institutional coordination. Strategic foresight provides a practical framework for achieving this.