Johnson Progress

In a move that signals a new era for African innovation, Harare-based technology firm Avantis Technology has unveiled its latest creation: the Avantis Parote 1030i laptop.

The launch, which took place, is being hailed as a turning point for Zimbabwe’s growing manufacturing sector, demonstrating that the country is ready to compete on the global stage.

Speaking with palpable pride at the event, Avantis founder and chief executive Ari Goldstein described the laptop as more than just a product but it was proof of local potential.

He asserted that the device reflects a long-held vision of shifting the continent from a consumer of foreign technology to a contributor.

“The Avantis Parote 1030i laptop is a reflection of that vision. Designed and built locally in Zimbabwe to meet international standards, it represents the capability, resilience, and potential of our people. For many years, the continent has imported innovation. Today, we begin contributing to it,” Goldstein said.

The executive also outlined ambitious production goals.

He revealed that the company aims to eventually produce 318,000 laptops annually on its own, with the capacity to reach 1.5 million units through partners in China and South Africa.

“We intend to produce about 318,000 laptops annually across the globe… This year we’re going to produce 60,000 and we are almost at about 25,000 units. We intend to export. We want to export to East Africa first and then South Africa… as well as Mozambique and other countries surrounding Zimbabwe,” he added.

Goldstein noted that a strategic partnership with State-owned TelOne has been crucial, helping with engineering and assembly.

He explained that while Avantis designs motherboards internally, TelOne handles final assembly, boosting local capacity.

He further announced plans to list on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, calling it a vote of confidence in Zimbabwe’s economy.

Information Communication Technology Minister Tatenda Mavetera, who joined Goldstein at the event, praised the innovation as historic.

She argued that the laptop’s launch aligns perfectly with national policies, including the Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Master Plan and the newly adopted National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

“Today’s event is not merely the launch of a gadget. It is a demonstration of confidence in Zimbabwe. It is a declaration that Zimbabweans are capable of building, innovating, assembling, manufacturing and competing on the global stage,” Mavetera said.

With over 25,000 units already produced and plans to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, the Parote 1030i is more than a laptop and it’s a statement that Zimbabwe’s tech future has arrived.