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Kudzaishe Muhamba and Marytise Vambayi
Thirteen machines to be used in making prototypes for new designs in plastic have been commissioned as the Government moves to improve industrial education.
Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira commissioned the Indo-Zim project Phase 2 in Harare on Wednesday, which is expected to play a pivotal role in the implementation of the heritage-based Education 5.0, which supports industrialisation and modernisation of Zimbabwe.
In an interview, Prof Murwira said there were 17 industrial centres around the country which are set to benefit from this initiative.
“We have 17 centres where we are making prototypes throughout the country, giving effect to our heritage-based Education 5.0, which supports innovation and industrialisation.
“So this is a quiet but important event today because we have just inaugurated our new machinery for making things,” he said.
Prof Murwira said innovation, science and technology has been seen as key in the pushing of the country’s national agenda and the attainment of Vision 2030.
The Indo-Zim technology centres were provided a platform for the fabrication of prototypes, including plastic technology.
“This is a high-end technology centre in our Education 5.0 stream we expect that when people have good ideas to make prototypes, there must be machinery to make those prototypes.
“This is an enabler for Education 5.0, in terms of innovations. Once you have made innovation those innovations must be put into production and these technology centres basically serve that purpose,” he said.
The government of India has been supporting the programme for the past few years.
Zimbabwe has now received new equipment to make a number of products including plastic bottles.
Prof Murwira said it was not only about ideas because “we talk about ideas, skills and doing things, so this is the doing part of that”.
He said each of the industrial training hubs had different machinery depending on their line of production.
At the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), there is a honey-making machine.
However, the machines at HIT are the most advanced.
“The country has the capacity to produce more plastic, these are very expensive and they were only being produced by South Africa.
“They give Zimbabwe the capacity to be in control to produce and design its own plastic material according to its own needs and work in import substitution.
“When the President is talking about Vision 2030, he is talking about national capabilities that we had to do, because capabilities are very important things,” said Prof Murwira.
Through Education 5.0, the education sector is anchored on the pillars that include teaching, research, community services, innovation and industrialisation.
Industrial machinery has been set at tertiary institutions across the country to promote Education 5.0 for the industrialisation and modernisation of Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter