Online Reporter
MY child failed his O-level. What next? A vocational training institute is the answer. Zimbabwe has many Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) located across different provinces, including Mata—beleland, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Midlands and Harare Province.
These centres provide practical, hands-on training in various fields such as motor mechanics, carpentry and joinery, brick and block laying, electrical engineering, cosmetology, hospitality, agriculture, horticulture and business studies.
VTCs offer an important alternative pathway for students who may not go to university, helping them gain employable skills and become self-reliant. Through technical and entrepreneurial training, these centres contribute significantly to skills development and national growth.
Examples of these vocational training centres include,
Magamba Vocational Training Centre
Location: 15 km Mutare–Harare Road (Manicaland)
It offers Commercial Agriculture; Clothing and Textile Technology; Hospitality and Tourism Management; Secretarial Studies; Brick and Block Laying; Plumbing; Carpentry and Joinery; Auto Electrics; Motor Mechanics; Metal Fabrication; Horticulture; Business Studies.
Matabeleland North Province
Umguza Vocational Training Centre — Located along the Bulawayo Victoria Falls Road. It offers courses such as Motor Mechanics, Hotel and Catering, Clothing and Textile Technology, Building, Solar Installation, Plumbing, Welding, Cosmetology and Agriculture.
Don Bosco Technical College in Hwange is another VTC that offers a dual academic-technical curriculum focusing on Brick and Block Laying, Carpentry, Motor Mechanics, Electrical Engineering, Solar Installation, Food Preparation, Clothing Design and Tourism.
Other designated VTCs in the region include district centres like Binga, Tsholotsho and Sivomo has had skills training programs in areas like solar drying, soap making, 3D printing and beekeeping.
Matabeleland South
There are multiple vocational training centres in Matabeleland South Province and graduates from them take courses in fields like Brick and Block Laying, Carpentry and Joinery, Clothing and Textiles, Hospitality and Tourism, Motor Mechanics, Metal Fabrication, Electrical Engineering, Horticulture and Cosmetology. These include centres in Phangani (Filabusi), Avoca, Esigodini, Thuli and Guyu.
In Bulawayo there is Westgate, Ehlekweni, Jairos Jiri, Elangeni and Tshaka Vocational Training Centres that offer a wide array of courses.
Kukwanisa Vocational Training Centre
Location: Dapp Centre, 50 km Mutare–Nyanga Road, Manicaland
It offers Clothing and Textile Technology; Carpentry and Joinery; Motor Mechanics; Metal Fabrication. Mutare Vocational Training Centre
Location: Old Matida, Sakubva, Paulington, Mutare (Manicaland)
It offers Clothing and Textile Technology; Plumbing; Carpentry and Joinery; Motor Mechanics; Metal Fabrication.
Chipinge Vocational Training Centre
Location: Grasslands Farm, 21 km Chipinge–Mt Selinda Road
It offers Clothing and Textile Technology; Horticulture; Carpentry and Joinery; Brick and Block Laying.
Nyanyadzi Vocational Training Centre
Location: Nyanyadzi Business Centre, Manicaland
It offers Clothing and Textile Technology; Horticulture; Brick and Block Laying; Carpentry and Joinery; Business Studies.
Buhera Vocational Training Centre
Location: Buhera Business Centre (Manicaland)
It offers Carpentry and Joinery.
Marange Vocational Training Centre
Location: Near Mutare (about 78 km on Marange Highway)
It offers Motor Vehicle Mechanics; Automobile Electronics; Building; Carpentry and Joinery; Catering Studies; Clothing and Textile.
Chaminuka Vocational Training Centre
Location: Pfura, Mt Darwin (Mashonaland Central)
It offers Auto Electrics; Cosmetology; Motor Mechanics; Clothing and Textile Technology; Metal Fabrication; Carpentry and Joinery; Brick and Block Laying; Electrical Engineering; Tourism and Hospitality; Hotel and Catering Studies; Horticulture; Agriculture; Plumbing; Secretarial and Business Studies.
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11. Mt Darwin Vocational Training Centre
Location: Mt Darwin
Courses: Electrical Engineering; Motor Mechanics; Clothing and Textile Technology; Carpentry and Joinery.
12. Rushinga Vocational Training Centre
Location: Mazowe Bridge, Rushinga District
Courses: Carpentry and Joinery; Brick and Block Laying; Horticulture; Clothing and Textile Technology.
13. Chawarura Vocational Training Centre
Location: Chawarura
Courses: Horticulture; Agriculture; Carpentry and Joinery; Brick and Block Laying.
14. Bindura Urban Vocational Training Centre
Location: Bindura Town
Courses: Electrical Engineering; Motor Mechanics; Clothing and Textile Technology; Carpentry and Joinery.
15. Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre
Location: 30 km Kwekwe–Gweru Highway (Midlands)
Courses: Brick and Block Laying; Carpentry and Joinery; Metal Fabrication; Motor Mechanics; Cosmetology; Clothing and Textile Technology; Leather Studies; Tourism and Hospitality; Auto Electrics; Business Studies.
16. Gutu Vocational Training Centre
Location: Gutu–Chivhu Road
Courses: Motor Mechanics; Clothing and Textile Technology; Metal Fabrication; Carpentry and Joinery; Electrical Engineering.
17. Mt View Vocational Training Centre
Location: 90 km Harare–Mutare Road (Mashonaland East)
Courses: Motor Mechanics; Clothing and Textile Technology; Brick and Block Laying; Horticulture; Environmental Health; Secretarial; Tourism and Hospitality; Hotel and Catering.
18. Tabudirira Vocational Training Centre
Location: 120 km Harare–Nyamapanda Road
Courses: Carpentry and Joinery; Computer Studies; Cosmetology; Electronics; Tourism and Hospitality Management; Motor Mechanics; Metal Fabrication; Brick and Block Laying; Environmental Health Technician Studies.
19. Nyakasoro/Nhakiwa Vocational Training Centre
Location: Uzumba–Maramba–Pfungwe District
Courses: Brick and Block Laying; Clothing and Textile Technology; Carpentry and Joinery; Cosmetology.
20. Marondera Urban Vocational Training Centre
Location: Marondera Town
Courses: Brick and Block Laying; Clothing and Textile Technology; Metal Fabrication; Carpentry and Joinery; Electrical Power Engineering.
21 .Mudzi Vocational Training Centre
Location: Kotwa Growth Point (Mashonaland East)
Courses: Brick & Block Laying; Clothing and Textile Technology; Carpentry and Joinery; Agriculture; Horticulture.
22. Ruwa Vocational Training Centre
Location: 23.5 km Harare–Mutare Road (Harare Province)
Courses: Carpentry and Joinery; Electrical Power Engineering; Automotive Electronics; Brick and Block Laying; Electrical Installation; Cosmetology; Clothing and Textile Technology; Welding; Leather Studies; Interior Decoration.
DR Manners Msongelwa is an author, educator and youth coach. He can be contacted on +263 771 019 392
