Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
Namibian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr David Asheelo Thomas, has challenged a new crop of development practitioners graduating in Zimbabwe to become frontline defenders against climate change, artificial intelligence – driven misinformation and widening social inequalities.
Representing the Ambassador, Namibian Embassy Defence Attaché Colonel Timothy Amukwaya, said Africa’s future depends on leaders who can turn knowledge into practical solutions for communities.
Col Amukwaya delivered the keynote address at the Frontline Institute graduation ceremony recently, where graduates from four African countries were implored to return home as agents of sustainable development.
He said the world was changing rapidly and demanded professionals capable of confronting complex global challenges while equipping communities with practical skills.
“As teachers and leaders of tomorrow, it is your responsibility to confront these challenges head – on and work towards building a more just and sustainable future,” he said.
He warned that the explosion of artificial intelligence and misinformation required educators and development practitioners to promote critical thinking and media literacy.
“We need to be mindful about artificial intelligence, which is no longer a future concept. It is real and already influencing the way learners access information and interact with educational content. We must guide students to distinguish correct information from misinformation,” he said.
Col Amukwaya commended Frontline Institute for aligning its training with emerging global challenges, including climate change, food security, public health and sustainable livelihoods.
“If schools do not prepare for these realities, humanity risks being overtaken by technologies without ensuring they serve people. Institutions must continuously modernise their training programmes so that graduates remain relevant to society’s needs,” he said.
The graduation brought together students from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, DRC, India, China and Guinea-Bissau, reflecting the institute’s growing regional footprint.
Frontline Institute principal, Mr Doubt Musiiwa, said the institution had trained 6 499 students since its establishment and was continuing to expand both its academic programmes and community outreach initiatives.
He said 80 students had enrolled this year, with 44 graduating from the latest intake in Basic and Advanced Project Management programmes.
Mr Musiiwa said the institute had strengthened its teaching capacity by recruiting lecturers from Mozambique and Zambia, bringing its teaching staff to eight.
Beyond classroom learning, students participated in environmental conservation campaigns, fruit tree planting, climate – smart agriculture, food production, infrastructure maintenance and community development projects.
“Our students are learning by doing. Hunger remains one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century and learning how to produce food has become an integral part of their training,” he said.
The institute now produces surplus food from its farming projects, reducing operational costs while equipping graduates with entrepreneurial skills.
Graduating student, Yemurai Chapurunda, who completed the Advanced Project Management course, said the training had transformed him from a community worker into a development practitioner capable of designing sustainable, people-centred solutions.
He said a two-month cycling expedition across Southern Africa exposed students to the realities of poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, climate change, inadequate health services and drug abuse affecting communities.
“The greatest lesson I learned is that development is not about imposing solutions but about listening to communities, understanding their challenges and working together to create lasting change,” he said.
Ms Chapurunda said graduates had been equipped to promote climate-smart agriculture, environmental conservation, entrepreneurship and accountable project implementation to improve livelihoods across the continent.
Delegates from the embassies of DRC, Angola and Mozambique attended the graduation.
