Chronicle EditorTemba Dube Online News Editor
IN a move to bolster the country’s innovation capabilities, President Mnangagwa on Thursday toured the University of Zimbabwe’s (UZ) Innovation Hub and the Vehicle Registration Plate/Tag Facility.
President Mnangagwa is at the UZ’s Diamond Conference Centre to attend the 7th SADC Summit Public Lecture as the Guest of Honour.
The lecture, which will feature President Mnangagwa’s presentation, is centered on the theme “Building Research Capacity and Innovation Ecosystems for a Sustainable Industrialised SADC Economy.”
The exhibition showcased the remarkable strides made by various tertiary institutions across Zimbabwe, including Midlands State University, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Marondera University of Applied Sciences and Technology, Harare Polytechnic, Kwekwe Polytechnic, Danhiko Industrial Training Centre, St Peters Kubatana ITC, the National Biotechnology Authority, and the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC).
During his visit, President Mnangagwa expressed his satisfaction with the innovative solutions and technologies on display, which align with the Government’s drive to promote locally-developed products and services. The exhibitions highlighted the country’s growing capacity to harness its intellectual resources and transform them into tangible, impactful innovations.
UZ’s Innovation Hub, in particular, has emerged as a hub for nurturing and incubating cutting-edge ideas, providing a platform for students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to collaborate and bring their visions to life. The facility showcased a range of prototypes and products, spanning diverse sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and renewable energy.
The Vehicle Registration Plate/Tag Facility, on the other hand, demonstrated the country’s ability to develop its own vehicle registration system, reducing the reliance on imported solutions and contributing to the broader goal of self-sufficiency and import substitution.
President Mnangagwa’s tour of the facilities underscores the Government’s commitment to supporting the growth of the country’s innovation ecosystem, which is seen as a crucial driver of economic development and technological advancement. By empowering tertiary institutions and fostering collaboration between academia and industry, Zimbabwe aims to harness its intellectual capital and transform it into sustainable solutions that address the nation’s pressing challenges.
derick.khumalo