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Talent Chimutambgi and Mutsawashe Mashandure
Herald Correspondents
Chinese multinational technology company, Huawei, has handed over appliances to students who participated in the Huawei Information Communication Technology (ICT) competition aimed at improving Zimbabwe’s technological advancement as outlined in the country’s national developmental goals.
The Huawei Future Winners Awards ceremony was presided over by the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Tatenda Mavetera
The appliances were a token of appreciation to the students for raising the Zimbabwean flag high during the Huawei ICT competition hosted in China recently.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Minister Mavetera said the gadgets will go a long way in improving efficiency in digital technology in Zimbabwe as the country gravitates towards international standards to foster national development by 2030.
“According to President Mnangagwa, we expect to go digital by 2030 in line with the national priorities, but our target as the Ministry is the year 2028,” she said. “We also need to come up with a national policy that will see the national start-up policy to propel the digital initiatives.
“We also need to commercialise them to ensure that they contribute to national development.”
Minister Mavetera paid tribute to Huawei for investing in young people and recognising their potential, insisting the gesture would enhance their desire to embrace national development.
“Huawei is doing a very distinguished programme that will encourage young people to participate in the national development,” she said. “I am sure these gadgets will increase to 155 by next year.”
Speaking at the same occasion, Huawei director ICT and academic instructor Mr Bernard Mapako outlined the process used to select participants who qualify for the ICT competition.
Mr Mapako said the initiative was an opportunity for young Zimbabweans to able to gain the necessary skills to build functional digital systems.
“The Huawei ICT competition is as a great opportunity for the students to secure as much knowledge as possible so as to contribute to the economy of Zimbabwe,” said Mr Mapako.
“This programme is to find out the ICT talented students. Through that, we are holding the ICT Huawei competition in four stages. The first one, which is the preliminary stage, students seated for the exams, and from there they proceed to the national level. Successful students will then proceed to the regional level, and finally at global level.”
Tinashe Mahweku, a graduate from the University of Zimbabwe pursuing electronic and telecommunications, applauded Huawei for the exposure they get.
“With this competition, I am so happy because I have managed to see the talent that is in me,” he said. “I want to thank Huawei for allowing me to show what I am capable of and also expose other students to some of the advanced technologies and current trends in the digital era.”
Another student, Vimbai Toziva, said the programme was a great opportunity that would enable her to exhibit the knowledge she acquired at college.
“This is a very important programme, and by joining it, it helps me to gain experience in digitalization and exhibit the knowledge that we get at the university, like now we are looking at 5G focusing on cyber security,” she said.
Online Reporter