Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
When President Mnangagwa mooted the idea of establishing innovation hubs and industrial parks at universities, his vision was clear: higher learning institutions had to go beyond theory and drive industrialisation through home-grown innovations.
Bindura University of Science Education has answered this call in a spectacular manner, establishing a state-of-the-art industrial park that is poised to transform the local technology landscape and stimulate economic growth.
At the heart of the facility is “Palp Technologies,” a production plant assembling laptops, tablets and cellphones.
At full production capacity, the plant can manufacture up to 12 000 laptops and 12 000 tablets per month, along with at least 3 000 feature phones.
The gadgets, branded under the university’s “Palp” label, come with specifications ranging from Core i5 to Core i7 processors and are expected to be priced well below imported alternatives.
The feature phone with WhatsApp and internet costs US$7, the laptop costs US$350, while for a tablet or smartphone, one has to part with only US$80.
This pioneering initiative positions BUSE as the first local university to launch a homegrown cellphone and gadget assembly line.
The industrial park is designed to provide affordable digital devices for both students and the wider population, reducing the burden of expensive imports.
Each device is embedded with applications developed at BUSE’s innovation hub, enhancing their usefulness of software engineering.
Speaking during a tour of the facility, BUSE Vice Chancellor Professor Eddie Mwenje said the project was a direct response to the President’s call for universities to become engines of industrialisation.
“His Excellency gave us the vision when he said universities must innovate and industrialise. We took that call seriously,” said Prof Mwenje.
“Today, we are assembling laptops, tablets and cellphones that are not only affordable, but also tailored to the needs of our people. This is the beginning of a homegrown technology industry right here in Zimbabwe.
“We have a large population of students who need laptops and tablets for learning. For many families, imported gadgets are beyond reach.
“By producing them locally, we are lowering costs, creating jobs and building skills among our youth. This is practical innovation at work.”
Currently, around 30 young Zimbabweans are employed at the park, most of them recent graduates trained by the university.
As demand grows, the workforce is expected to double to around 60 or more, creating sustainable employment opportunities for the local community.
The BUSE industrial park, which sits on more than two hectares, is not only focused on technology.
It also houses a chemical production plant, an initiative that began during the COVID-19 pandemic when universities were called upon to produce sanitisers.
What started as an emergency response has now expanded into the manufacturing of household detergents, school laboratory chemicals and industrial cleaning agents.
Another innovation spin-off from the university’s research hub is a mouthwash production line, set to be commissioned for the first time alongside the park.
This factory highlights how academic research is being converted into commercial ventures with a real impact on daily life.
To ensure accessibility of its products, BUSE is constructing a shopping mall within the park.
Once complete, it will serve as a one-stop retail hub where consumers can purchase laptops, tablets, phones, detergents, mouthwash and other products manufactured on site.
Prof Mwenje described the industrial park as a “living laboratory” where research, innovation and entrepreneurship converge to meet Zimbabwe’s developmental needs.
“This is not just about BUSE. It is about responding to the national vision of creating a modern, industrialised economy,” he said.
“The products we are making here, whether it’s a laptop, a bottle of detergent, or a packet of chemicals for schools are proof that Zimbabwean universities can innovate, produce and compete. It’s about building a legacy for future generations.”
The commissioning of the BUSE industrial park comes at a time when Zimbabwe is prioritising value addition and import substitution as pillars of economic growth.
By assembling ICT gadgets locally, the university is not only reducing reliance on imports, but also nurturing a new generation of engineers, chemists, and entrepreneurs.
For many students and households, the promise of affordable gadgets could be transformative, bridging the digital divide and supporting the country’s education sector.
For the local community, the park represents jobs, training, and a new commercial hub.
For the nation, it is a tangible symbol of how the President’s vision of industrial parks is being realised.
BUSE’s industrial park stands as a landmark achievement and proof that with the right vision, Zimbabwean institutions can turn innovation into industry and industry into livelihoods.
