Chronicle Editor
Amos Mpofu, [email protected]
NORTHLEA High School clinched the trophy at the second edition of the Grassroots Innovation Launchpad competitions, held on Friday at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust). This year’s event focused on Financial Technology (Fintech).
The competition featured 14 local high schools, with young innovators presenting projects designed to revolutionise financial management and technology. The initiative aims to harness young talent at the grassroots level and support the growth of their innovations.
The event highlighted innovative money platforms in Zimbabwe, including InnBucks, EcoCash, OneMoney, and Omari, showcasing examples of Fintech innovations already in use.
The winners of the competition were a group of innovators from Northlea High School, who developed a mobile solution that allows parents to pay school fees from the comfort of their homes. This innovation alleviates the burden of queuing at banks and the stress of visiting school offices to make payments.
The group’s presenter, Belinda Ndlovu, explained their software.
“Our software is used to pay school fees safely, securely, and more efficiently. It can process payments for many schools under it alone, which means that it’s an institutional app and allows parents with children in different schools to manage payments easily.”
The winning group was awarded US$200 by Nust to further develop their innovative initiative and expand it into a viable business. In second place was Sikhulile High School, who presented their livestock seller application designed to help communities sell livestock more easily. They explained that the app streamlines the selling process by integrating the necessary departments, such as the police and veterinary services, reducing the labour involved in obtaining clearance.
The software facilitates transactions by connecting sellers and buyers while ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements. The Sikhulile team received US$150 to further pursue their innovative ideas and bring their project to fruition.
Third place went to Hope Secondary School, who showcased their innovative software that enables e-money service providers to transact with one another seamlessly. Their application allows services like EcoCash to transfer funds directly to Mukuru or HelloPaisa without the need for users to first withdraw cash and visit an agent, simplifying the transaction process.
Other schools also delivered impressive and practical presentations, although they did not win. The organiser of the competition was Elevate Trust. It was represented by Ndimenhle Moyo.
“This is our second round of the Grassroots Innovation Launchpad competitions, and I would like to say there has been quite an improvement in today’s output from the competitors. We conducted training with those in our clubs, where we teach the characteristics of good innovations.
“While not all participants are in our groups, the input was clearer this time. We are committed to nurturing young people’s innovative ideas and boosting their talents to enhance their educational experiences,” said Moyo.
He emphasised that the power of innovation lies in identifying the problems that need resolution. “In order for them to be innovative, they must understand the problem they want to address. Once they grasp the issue, they can apply their knowledge of science to combine various elements and develop innovative solutions to solve that problem,” he said.
Moyo added that young innovators should understand programming and navigate the technology landscape to avoid mistakes in their innovations. He underlined the importance of being well-versed in technical skills to enhance their projects’ effectiveness.
The programme aligns with the goals of Education 5.0, as it promotes a practical and integrated approach to education that fosters creativity and entrepreneurship among youth. Students are encouraged to think critically and develop real-world solutions through this initiative.
As students presented their projects, the event underscored the importance of nurturing local innovation to address financial challenges and enhance technological advancement in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter