By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE’S Hub Unconference will return for its 12th edition on September 24 and 25 at Harare Gardens, with organisers turning the spotlight on artificial intelligence, digital power and the role of young Africans in shaping technology.

Running under the theme “Unruly Algorithms”, the event will bring together students, journalists, creatives, policymakers, academics, activists and technology enthusiasts from across Africa.

Organisers said the two-day gathering would move beyond discussions about the rapid growth of artificial intelligence to examine its practical implications for young people, including how they learn, create and consume information.

Hub Unconference coordinator Takudzwa Musakasa said the event was intended to encourage young Africans to take a more active role in shaping digital systems.

“We didn’t want this year’s edition to be just about what AI is doing to us, we wanted it to be about what we are going to do about it.

“Unruly Algorithms is about young Africans claiming a seat at the table, learning the systems that shape our lives, questioning who built them and why, and having a real say in what comes next,” Musakasa said.

“Unruly Algorithms” will also explore questions around who develops digital systems, how they influence society and how young Africans can participate in decisions about the future of technology.

The conference will feature panel discussions, masterclasses, debates, live podcasts, creative pop-ups and interactive showcases.

Speakers are expected from Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi, including Tanzania’s Angela Kilisungu and Nkumi Mtingwa, Uganda’s Antonio Kisembo and Samuel Eibu, Malawi’s Willson Chivhanga and Zimbabwean journalist Linda Mujuru.

Zimbabwean Member of Parliament Darlington Chigumbu and Joice Svotwa are also listed among the speakers.

A Canva masterclass led by Nicole Njanjari will form part of the programme, alongside pop-up sessions involving organisations including Friendship Bench, Magitare Trust and Defend Defenders.

The gathering will also focus on data ownership and how African countries can use data to promote transparency, civic advocacy, and locally driven innovation.

Participants from Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe are expected to attend.

The Hub Unconference will be held on the sidelines of the Shoko Festival and is free to attend, although participants are required to register.

Previous editions have featured international journalists and speakers including Alice McCool of The Guardian, Robyn Kriel of CNN and Raheela Mohammed of Al Jazeera.

The 12th edition comes as artificial intelligence and digital technologies continue to reshape media, education, creative industries and information consumption across the continent.