Online Reporter
Lloyd Makonya
Correspondent
IN a bold display of home-grown innovation meeting global relevance, Zimbabwean tech entrepreneur, Mr Leonard Muyambo is turning heads with his ground-breaking invention – the Pal Smart Bench – which is a solar-powered, conversational AI bench that is reshaping the future of public infrastructure in Africa.
Developed under his startup, Paltech Africa, the bench recently stole the limelight at the Swedish Embassy’s National Day celebrations in Harare, where it engaged diplomats and policymakers in real-time dialogue about Swedish culture, development, and bilateral relations.
Born and raised in Sakubva, Mutare’s oldest and most populous suburb, Mr Muyambo’s journey reflects a seamless blend of local grounding and global exposure.
A proud alumnus of institutions such as Mutare Junior School, Hillcrest College, Hartzell, and Mutare Boys’ High, he later pursued a BSc in Biomedicine at Eduvos in Midrand, South Africa.
There, he earned a fellowship to teach at Cornell University in New York during a summer debate camp, and later received a Swedish Institute scholarship to study Smart and Sustainable Cities at Lund University in Sweden.
His Pal Smart Bench, developed through Paltech Africa, is a public innovation marvel combining AI-powered conversational capabilities with solar energy, Wi-Fi access, and charging ports for up to 100 simultaneous internet users.
The bench was specially commissioned by the Swedish Embassy for their national celebrations and trained to educate users on Swedish culture and partnerships in Zimbabwe.
High-profile figures including Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Per Lindgärde, British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Pete Vowles, CZI president, Ms Sekai Kuvarika, and several academics and business leaders interacted with the bench at the event.
Speaking on the sidelines of the showcase, Mr Muyambo noted: “Pal is not just a bench, it is a platform for conversation, connection, and community impact.” He further emphasised the importance of aligning innovation with development, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, education, and public administration.
The Pal Smart Bench, a winner of the 2022 POTRAZ Universal Services Fund Innovation Drive, can be tailored for diverse environments from school grounds and hospitals to public parks and bus terminals.
With future plans already underway, Mr Muyambo is training the AI in local languages such as Shona and Ndebele to make it more inclusive and culturally relevant.
“We are working towards launching this multilingual feature soon,” he revealed, adding that the next model will include local storytelling, health tips, and civic education in indigenous languages.
Notably, Mr Muyambo has also sort protection of his design through the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO).
He strongly believes that inventors and students must be empowered with knowledge of intellectual property (IP) from early stages.
“We need to make intellectual property literacy part of the innovation pipeline, learners must know how to protect what they create,” he asserted.
Mr Muyambo’s call to action goes beyond technology.
He urged schools, universities, and community leaders to embrace Government’s Education 5.0 strategy, which emphasises industrialisation and innovation.
He also champions the utilisation of university innovation hubs, many of which now welcome, not only students, but also members of the wider community.
“If we can democratise access to innovation tools and resources, Zimbabwe’s youths will lead Africa’s tech renaissance,” he added.
Through Paltech Africa, Mr Muyambo is not just offering a smart bench, he is offering a vision of intelligent, inclusive, and connected African futures.
And from the alleys of Sakubva to the stages of diplomatic meetings, his story is a reminder that with the right support and protection, innovation can rise from anywhere.
Bongani Ndlovu