Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka [email protected]
PREPARATIONS for the fourth edition of the National Education Summit Zimbabwe (NESZ) 2026 to be officially opened by President Mnangagwa in Bulawayo this month are at an advanced stage, with organisers saying the high-level gathering will mark a major turning point in the transformation of the country’s education sector.
The four-day summit would be held at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES) at the end of this month and is set to attract a diversity of delegates drawn from Government, the education sector, development partners, financiers, and private sector players.
The summit is being organised by Action for Empowerment Zimbabwe (AEZ) in partnership with Business Diary and in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
“Zimbabwe will host the 4th edition of the National Education Summit Zimbabwe (NESZ 2026) at the ZITF grounds in Bulawayo from 27 to 30 May 2026, convening the country’s largest and most influential gathering of education stakeholders across the full value chain,” AEZ president, Mr Alson Darikayi, said.
He said the event would run under the theme: “From Policy to Practice: Driving Innovation and Investment in Zimbabwe’s Education System” with a focus on accelerating the implementation of education policies while unlocking new opportunities for innovation, partnerships and sustainable financing.
“His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, is expected to officially open the Summit as Guest of Honour,” he said.
“The President’s role as guest of honour affirms that education reform is a matter of national strategic importance and reinforces the Summit’s objective of aligning policy, investment and implementation.”
The summit represents the evolution of the National Education Conference and Exhibition (NECE), which has now grown into a comprehensive national platform for policy dialogue, coordination and implementation, said Mr Darikayi.
“This transition reflects strengthened public-private collaboration and positions NESZ as a high-level national platform for policy alignment, stakeholder coordination and education sector transformation.”
He said since its inception in 2023, the NECE platform had progressively developed into a credible national convening platform bringing together policymakers, education leadership, financiers, innovators, development partners and civil society organisations.
The summit is also expected to focus on strategic pillars aimed at modernising and strengthening Zimbabwe’s education system.
These include sustainability through strengthening governance and innovative financing, empowerment through advancing teacher professionalisation and welfare, inclusion through ensuring equitable access and modern school infrastructure, and future-readiness through digital transformation and industry-aligned skills, said Mr Darikayi.
“We also seek to enhance synergy through stronger public-private partnerships and stakeholder collaboration,” he added.
The event comes at a time the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in implementing the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model while mobilising investment and financing partnerships for education priorities.
Mr Darikayi said the event will feature high-level plenary sessions, technical breakaway discussions, investment roundtables and a National Education Expo designed to bridge the gap between policy discussions and implementation.
“It will also showcase private sector solutions supporting education delivery, including technology, logistics, manufacturing, content development, energy, transport and innovative services aligned to the education sector,” he said.
“The summit will culminate in the development of a comprehensive Communiqué providing strategic and actionable recommendations to strengthen Zimbabwe’s education system and support national development priorities,” said Mr Darikayi.
Vusumuzi Dube