Young, bold and brilliant Primary school girls defy age to pioneer ground-breaking idea

IF anyone still doubts that girls are ready to rule the world of innovation, three young pupils from Mahatshula have delivered a powerful and compelling answer — doing so long before even reaching the gates of secondary school.

Their story stands as a reminder that talent, curiosity and ingenuity are not defined by age, and that the foundations of global change can be laid in the most unlikely of places: a primary school classroom.

At an age when many children are still mastering multiplication tables, learning basic literacy skills and navigating playground games, three remarkably bright pupils from Lone Scientist Primary School in Bulawayo’s Mahatshula suburb are already dreaming up solutions with the potential to transform agriculture, healthcare and everyday life. While their peers may still be exploring the basics, these young learners are thinking ahead — imagining a future shaped by technology, efficiency and innovation.

Meet nine-year-old Lorraine Sithole, a Grade Three pupil, alongside Grade Two learners Tinotenda Kadungure and Luba Kyle Nkomo — a trio of young innovators who are already charting a path into the technological frontier. As members of the school’s robotics club, the three pupils have begun developing a prototype application for what they call a “sweat-less grinder”, a smart grinding system designed to eliminate the need for physical human effort. Their collaboration reflects not only sharp intellect, but teamwork, creativity and a shared vision to solve real-world problems.

The concept, which is still at the prototype stage, utilises modern technology to automate grinding processes for maize, herbs and other food substances. By removing the need for labour-intensive manual effort, the innovation has the potential to significantly reduce workload demands while simultaneously increasing efficiency.

Its possible applications extend beyond households into farming industries and even pharmaceutical sectors, where precision and consistency in grinding materials are essential.

Their invention arrives at a time when Zimbabwe is intensifying its efforts to encourage girls and young women to actively participate in technology-driven and innovation-focused sectors.

The country is increasingly recognising that inclusive development in science and technology must involve both boys and girls, ensuring equal opportunities to shape the future.

On Friday, during the Girls in ICT International commemorations held at the National University of Science and Technology, Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, issued a strong call to action. She challenged girls across the country to take centre stage in shaping Zimbabwe’s digital future, especially as the Government rolls out the ambitious National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2026-2030.

Delivering her keynote address under the global theme “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future”, Dr Mavetera emphasised the importance of positioning girls at the very heart of innovation. She underlined that technological advancement must not be dominated by a narrow demographic but should reflect the talents and contributions of all.

“The critical question is: who is writing that code? Who is building those systems? Who is shaping the future of innovation? Our answer as Zimbabwe must be unequivocal: our girls must be at the centre of that transformation,” said the minister.

For Lorraine and her teammates, however, that future appears not to be something distant — it has already begun to unfold in their everyday learning experiences.

Their work represents the practical embodiment of the very vision that national leaders are advocating.

Speaking with a level of confidence that belies her age, Lorraine explained how their proposed application could simplify grinding processes while also supporting key sectors of the economy.

Her articulation of the project demonstrated both understanding and a clear sense of purpose.

“Our application is called a sweat-less grinding system, where people do not have to use physical energy. It can grind maize into mealie-meal, herbs and many other materials that require processing.

“We believe it can help farmers because after harvesting, they can process products much faster and easier. It can also help pharmacists because herbs and medicinal products often need grinding. If our prototype is endorsed and developed further, it could save time and improve production,” she said.

The young Lorraine said their team wanted to create technology capable of solving practical community challenges, highlighting a sense of social responsibility that is often only expected from older innovators.

“We want to build something useful that can help people in their daily lives,” she said.

Their teacher, Rachel Dihwa, said the project has become a significant source of pride and inspiration within the school community, particularly given the learners’ young age. She noted that their work demonstrates not only academic potential, but also the importance of nurturing creativity from an early stage.

What stands out even more profoundly is that girls are leading this innovation at a stage where many still wrongly assume that science and technology are fields reserved for older learners or predominantly for boys. Their achievement challenges outdated stereotypes and reinforces the idea that passion and capability are not limited by gender.

Minister Mavetera has consistently been on record urging girls to overcome and reject stereotypes that discourage women from pursuing careers in technology-related fields. Her message is one of empowerment, inclusivity and belief in untapped potential.

“You belong in laboratories. You belong in boardrooms. You belong in coding academies. You belong in innovation hubs,” she said.

Those powerful words could easily have been written with Lorraine, Tinotenda and Luba in mind — young pioneers who are already stepping into spaces that previous generations may have found difficult to access.

“Their small classroom project may still be in its infancy, but the significance stretches far beyond one prototype. It reflects a growing shift in Zimbabwe where young girls are beginning to see themselves not just as users of technology, but as creators, innovators and future industry leaders,” said Dihwa.