Econet Revives Technites Platform to Create Jobs for Skilled Zimbabweans

The initiative is intended to give electricians, technicians and other artisans access to projects from Econet and its associated businesses, while creating a channel through which customers can find skilled service providers.

The relaunch, reported on Monday, 12 October 2026, comes as Zimbabwe continues to grapple with limited formal employment opportunities and growing demand for alternative sources of income.

Unlike conventional recruitment, the Technites model is based on independent contracting. Participating workers will be able to undertake individual assignments rather than automatically becoming permanent Econet employees.

Security Camera Project Among First Assignments

One of the first major projects identified for Technites involves the installation of approximately 20,000 surveillance cameras at EcoCash agent locations across Zimbabwe.

The installations are intended to support security and compliance requirements at mobile money outlets, according to reports on the company's plans.

The project could provide work for technicians in several parts of the country, particularly where EcoCash agents operate outside major urban centres.

Econet is also looking to expand assignments into solar panel installations, Wi-Fi connectivity, borehole repairs and other technical maintenance services.

Schools, healthcare facilities, businesses and households are among the potential customers for these services.

Plans to provide motorcycles to participating technicians have also been reported, with the aim of improving access to customers in communities where transport presents a challenge.

However, the number of technicians who will ultimately participate, the distribution of assignments and the income contractors can expect have not been independently established.

How the Technites Platform Works

Technites is designed to operate as a marketplace connecting customers who need technical services with independent workers qualified to provide them.

The Technites application describes features through which customers can post jobs, receive quotations, communicate with technicians and confirm completed assignments.

Service providers can create profiles, identify their areas of expertise and respond to available work.

This arrangement could help reduce the difficulty artisans face in finding customers, particularly those who have technical qualifications but limited resources to advertise or establish their own businesses.

It could also make it easier for households and companies to locate service providers for installations, repairs and maintenance.

The business model nevertheless raises practical questions about contractor verification, service quality, payment protection and responsibility when work is disputed or completed below the expected standard.

For workers, the availability of assignments and the costs associated with accessing them will be important factors in determining whether participation produces sustainable earnings.

Opportunities Beyond Telecommunications

The revival of Technites reflects a broader shift towards using digital platforms to organise services traditionally arranged through personal referrals, informal networks and direct employment.

Zimbabwe has a substantial pool of artisans trained in electrical engineering, renewable energy, telecommunications and related trades. Connecting those skills to paying customers remains a challenge, particularly for young people entering the labour market.

The company has also reportedly identified opportunities to engage skilled Zimbabweans returning from South Africa, alongside plans to work with government on youth training.

Such initiatives could provide additional routes into self-employment, although their impact will depend on actual project volumes, transparent contractor selection and reliable payment arrangements.

The distinction between a contracting opportunity and a guaranteed job is important. Registration on a digital platform does not necessarily mean that work will be immediately available or that participants will receive a fixed salary.

Econet's latest initiative will therefore be judged not simply by the number of people who register, but by the assignments completed and income generated for participating technicians.

For electricians, solar installers and other skilled Zimbabweans seeking customers, the revived Technites platform introduces another potential route to work. Whether it becomes a dependable source of income will depend on how the programme develops beyond its initial projects.