Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo, Zimpapers Business Hub
Global telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies continues to drive significant investments and growth in Zimbabwe’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector. This momentum helped Zimbabwe secure third place at the Regional Huawei ICT 2024-2025 Competition.
Huawei’s ICT competition highlights global talent and the crucial role of AI in education, showcasing innovation and collaboration among over 210,000 participants. As demand for skilled professionals rises, initiatives like this aim to bridge the talent gap and prepare students for a digital future.
In an interview, Ms. Getrude Chihumbiri, one of three students who won third prize at the regional competition, called the Huawei ICT competition a game-changer. She said it offers students opportunities to learn, network with experts, and grow professionally.
Ms. Chihumbiri, a student at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), excelled in the preliminary exams and the national preliminaries. She joined two other students from the University of Zimbabwe and Chinhoyi University of Technology to represent Zimbabwe as a team at the Regional Competition.
Balancing schoolwork and competition preparations was challenging for Ms. Chihumbiri, but her dedication and motivation helped her succeed.
“After the preliminary, I went to the national level, where I found myself in the top three and we became a team, with me being the only girl,” she said.
“The Huawei ICT competition has opened multiple opportunities for me.”
Huawei Zimbabwe partners with local universities—including NUST, UZ, and CUT—to close the ICT skills gap. The company provides mentorship and initiatives to students from related faculties.
Huawei also launched an ICT Academy, an online platform offering free courses to ICT students from partnered universities. Its frameworks include the Huawei ICT Academy, Huawei ICT Talent Ecosystem, and Huawei Seeds for the Future programmes, all designed to cultivate ICT skills among youth worldwide.
At the Huawei Campus Recruitment event held at NUST on Friday, Mr. Sibangiso Ngwenya, NUST’s Head of Computer Science Department, praised Huawei’s initiatives. He said they provide valuable insights and motivate students, especially since Huawei offers jobs through graduate training to top achievers with first-class and 2.1 degrees.
“We request you to keep on exploring, innovating, and leveraging technology to drive positive change in our society,” said Mr. Ngwenya.
“We also request you to stay connected and look forward to future collaborations and learning opportunities. Huawei has opened up a space for esteemed development as well as employment opportunities, so take it seriously.”
He added that Huawei is empowering both students and staff in various institutions.
According to Huawei Zimbabwe, this ICT competition is in its 10th edition, with Zimbabwe advancing to the Global Finals for two consecutive years.
