Online ReporterPatrick Chitumba
Midlands Bureau
THE inaugural Midlands Provincial Skills Fair has started at Chaplin High School in Gweru, as the country’s push towards an innovation-led, industrialised economy gains momentum.
The competition, led by the Ministry of Skills Audit and Development, forms part of a nationwide initiative to align skills development with production, value addition and job creation under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
Exhibitors from across the province’s eight districts are showcasing practical solutions spanning mining, agriculture, manufacturing, ICTs and the creative industries to translate ideas into scalable industrial outputs.
Outstanding innovations from the provincial showcase will advance to national finals scheduled for October, as Government intensifies efforts to bridge the gap between education and industry in pursuit of Vision 2030. Director in the Office of the Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube, Mr Masimba Mukondo, said the province had positioned itself as a hub for innovation and industrialisation as it hosts the inaugural Midlands Provincial Skills Fair Competition, a platform designed to showcase local talent ahead of the National Skills Fair in October.
He said the event reflected the province’s commitment to the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, which seeks to close the skills gap by transforming ideas into practical products and services.
“This landmark event serves as a precursor to the National Skills Fair and provides a platform for showcasing the Midlands’ skills base, which is critical for the province’s industrialisation and modernisation as we work towards an upper-middle-income society by 2030,” he said.
Mr Mukondo noted that, according to Zimstat 2024 figures, the Midlands contributes 11,74 percent to the national Gross Domestic Product, making it the third-largest provincial economy after Harare and Bulawayo.
He said the economic output is underpinned by skills across mining, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, tourism and retail, all of which are on display at the fair.
Students from Midlands State University, Kwekwe Polytechnic, Gweru Polytechnic and various vocational training centres are exhibiting problem-solving inventions, including an electronic mining hoist, a gold concentrator, an electric cattle spray race, a Pfumvudza hole-digging machine, an electronic chicken brooder and a hybrid small-grain thresher.
Clothing factories and enterprises such as Auto Savvy and General Solutions (Pvt) Ltd are also being showcased.
Mr Mukondo said the skills fair aligns with NDS2’s pillar on job creation, youth entrepreneurship and development, as well as the creative and cultural industries.
He emphasised that creative and cultural programmes are being recognised as growth drivers, with interventions focused on formalisation and intellectual property protection to generate employment and promote inclusive economic activity.
“There is a clear need to produce more skilled professionals in critical fields such as engineering, agriculture, tourism, commerce, sports, arts and hospitality. These are the engines of our desired socio-economic development matrix,” he said.
Mr Mukondo said the event forms part of broader efforts to support youth entrepreneurship and value addition in line with NDS2.
“The fair will help identify skills gaps while strengthening collaboration between training institutions and industry. The Midlands, often described as the pinnacle, heartbeat and resource centre of Zimbabwe, is leveraging the fair to reinforce its role in the country’s industrial transformation and to inspire young innovators to contribute to national development goals,” he said.
Chief Director in the Ministry of Skills Audit and Development Dr Clifford Matorera said the ministry is hosting provincial skills fairs across Zimbabwe from May 5 to August 21, 2026, to showcase local innovation and promote sustainable rural industrialisation.
He said the inaugural event in Gweru features highlights from youth and female innovators.
“We are building an ecosystem where skills drive production and value addition, unlocking talent and supporting enterprise growth,” he said.
