Online Reporter
Michelle Musandinyoze, [email protected]
THE Ministry of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services, on Friday launched the 2026 Season of the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, signalling the country’s bold commitment to digital transformation and youth empowerment.
The WRO, established in 2004 in Singapore, has grown into a prestigious global platform, inspiring young people in over 90 countries to develop skills in robotics, coding, engineering, and problem-solving.
The Bulawayo Provincial WRO competitions drew over 12 schools, which participated in the competition under elementary, junior and senior categories running under the theme: “Robotics Meets Culture”.
Masiyepambili Junior School took first place in both elementary and junior category whilst Agape High School took first place in the seniors category, qualifying for the nationals to be held at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in July.
Other schools, which qualified for the nationals, are Lone Scientist Jnr School, Townsend High School and Sizane High School.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister of ICT, Dingumuzi Phuti, highlighted Zimbabwe’s remarkable growth on the international stage, with one team representing the country at the international finals in Turkey in 2024, and five teams competing in Singapore in 2025.
“This growth reflects the expanding reach of robotics education in Zimbabwe and the determination of learners and educators to succeed globally,” he said.
The Deputy Minister noted that the last season marked a historic milestone, with all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe reaching through the WRO programme.
Over 4 500 educators and students were capacitated with practical digital and robotics skills, promoting national transformation.
“The event aligns with National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030, which prioritises digitisation, industrialisation, innovation, and youth empowerment as key drivers of sustainable economic growth, while ICT is not merely about connectivity, but about opportunity, productivity, and empowerment, positioning Zimbabwe as a regional technology hub,” said Phuti.
He commended the Girls in STEM Trust for promoting girls’ participation in robotics and technology education, emphasising the importance of inclusive development.
The Deputy Minister further highlighted Government investments in digital literacy programmes, innovation hubs, and ICT capacity-building initiatives, aiming to create a vibrant innovation ecosystem.
This year’s theme, “Robots Meet Culture” challenges learners to design solutions that are technologically advanced, locally relevant, and socially responsive.
Deputy Minister Phuti encouraged students to innovate boldly and collaborate creatively, demonstrating Zimbabwe’s potential to lead in the digital future.
“By embracing robotics and advanced training, you are shaping a generation capable of driving smart agriculture, digital health solutions, automation, technologies and future industries that will empower Zimbabwe’s economic transformation,” he said.
“The skills you acquire here are aligned with national priorities and global trends as you are not just learning robotics but preparing to lead Zimbabwe’s digital future,” he said.
Girls in Stem Trust executive director, Dr Victoria Nxumalo, commended the Ministry of ICT for supporting the initiative, calling it bold and forward-thinking in adapting robotics and AI as part of the learning experience in Zimbabwe’s schools.
“As of today, 1 000 robots have been dispatched across Zimbabwe using Courier Connect, a division of ZimPost, a powerful testimony to the capability of our national postal system to deliver even to the remote corners of the country,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lexx-Agelo Dube, Blessing Rambanapasi and Ashley Chenjerai from Agape College expressed their optimism for the upcoming nationals, sharing that they will elevate the project in areas that were highlighted for improvement in order for them to be competitive.
Peter Tanyanyiwa