Online Reporter
Admire Masuku in LUANDA, Angola
INSTITUTIONS of higher and tertiary education from Zimbabwe made their debut at the Luanda International Trade Fair (FILDA) here, with 10 institutions showcasing their academic programmes as the country steps up efforts to attract international students and strengthen academic partnerships with the Southern African country.
The fair, which began on July 21, is running under the theme “Produce and innovate locally, compete globally”.
The participating institutions are Chinhoyi University of Technology; Marondera University of Science and Technology; Bindura State University; Great Zimbabwe University; Harare Polytechnic; Kwekwe Polytechnic; Mutare Polytechnic; Gweru Polytechnic; Bulawayo Polytechnic; and Masvingo Teachers’ College.
Their participation marks the first appearance by Zimbabwean higher education institutions at Angola’s premier trade fair following the signing of a memorandum of agreement during the Zimbabwe-Angola Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation in May 2024.
The memorandum provides a framework for collaboration in research, innovation, technology transfer, and staff and student exchange programmes.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Angola Major-General (Retd) Dr Thando Madzvamuse, who toured the Zimbabwean pavilion on Tuesday, said FILDA offered an ideal platform to showcase Zimbabwe’s Education 5.0 model while expanding cooperation with Angolan institutions.
He said Angola presented enormous opportunities for trade and investment, adding that the innovations and products exhibited by Zimbabwean institutions reflected the country’s growing capacity for import substitution.
“The quality of goods and services on display demonstrates Zimbabwe’s potential to replace imports with locally developed solutions,” he said.
Amb Madzvamuse said demand for Zimbabwean education in Angola was “very high”, noting that many Zimbabwean professionals were already working in Angola as lecturers.
He said the embassy was engaging stakeholders to secure scholarships for Angolan students wishing to enrol at Zimbabwean institutions.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Mrs Memory Mukondomi said FILDA provided institutions with an opportunity to forge new partnerships, deepen existing cooperation and market
Zimbabwe’s higher education sector through the “Study in Zimbabwe” campaign.
Launched in 2023, the campaign seeks to position Zimbabwe as a regional education hub, promote the country’s higher education sector and attract international students.
Zimbabwe, she said, treated international partnerships as strategic instruments for economic transformation and African integration rather than purely academic engagements.
She said the growing collaboration between Harare and Luanda reflected the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which promotes shared prosperity, mutual recognition of qualifications, academic mobility and a skills revolution driven by science, technology and innovation.
“The participation of our institutions at FILDA broadens cooperation beyond politics and trade into education, research and innovation,” she said.
“As African nations, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen South-South cooperation by learning from one another, celebrating our linguistic diversity and building education systems that advance our shared aspirations for sustainable development and continental prosperity.”
Mrs Mukondomi said the ministry’s exploratory mission to Angola in 2023 generated strong interest among prospective students.
“The applications we received from Angolan students confirmed the enormous potential for deeper collaboration. Our presence at FILDA demonstrates our commitment to turning bilateral agreements into tangible and mutually beneficial outcomes,” she said.
Chief director for economic cooperation, international trade and diaspora Mrs Rudo Faranisi welcomed Angola’s participation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Free Trade Area, saying it had created favourable conditions for stronger economic and educational cooperation.
She said Zimbabwe’s participation at FILDA, barely two years after the signing of the memorandum of agreement, underscored both countries’ determination to transform diplomatic commitments into practical partnerships.
Zimbabwe and Angola are expected to convene another session of the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation in Harare later this year to explore additional areas of bilateral cooperation.
FILDA will be running until July 26.
leeroy