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Blessings Chidakwa
Herald Reporter
THE Second Republic’s decision to avail funding for innovations, while also giving youths an opportunity to pursue their dreams and flourish is paying off for the nation, President Mnangagwa has said.
Given a platform to innovate, youths have been at the forefront of creating solutions that are addressing local challenges nationwide, including the National Transtech Solutions Centre at the University of Zimbabwe, which is running the vehicle number plate production plant that was toured by the President yesterday.
He also toured several exhibition stands by local tertiary institutions and youths, who were showcasing their products including drones, and power stations at the 7th SADC Summit Public Lecture held at UZ.
After the tour, President Mnangagwa said the work being done by youths is a clear testimony that a country is built by its own people in line with his mantra, “nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”.
“I am also happy that the exhibitions show the innovativeness of our young generation. From stand to stand, we have been seeing many young people having come up with products that were not there before. As a result of innovation and allowing our young people to dream, they are producing wonders for us,” he said.
On the production of number plates, President Mnangagwa said it was a pleasure that solutions for the country were being addressed by locals.
The Government sees research as a vehicle for the country’s modernisation and industrialisation drive anchored on the Zimbabwe’s Education 5.0 policy.
Education 5.0 is based on five major components that include teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialisation.
“I am aware that our university is producing number plates for the nation. It is a technology we didn’t have in the past.
“We now have the technology and it is based at this university. I am happy that we are doing it ourselves. Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, that is what we are doing,” President Mnangagwa said.
Sadc Executive Secretary Elias Magosi described the lecture delivered by the President as educative.
“Such lectures ignite critical intellectual inquiry and provoke various subjects,” he said.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said President Mnangagwa is one of Africa’s visionary leaders, a liberator and revolutionary.
“He is a remarkable leader who possesses exceptional business acumen and has demonstrated a unique ability to rally people, communities, institutions and nations together.
“Under his leadership there has been concerted efforts to foster collaboration between the public and private sectors,” he said.
Vice President Kembo Mohadi said the lecture by President Mnangagwa was incisive and thought provoking.
“I take your lecture as testament to your commitment to the development of education. It convinced us of the link between education and industrialisation,” he said.
Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, thanked President Mnangagwa for setting aside his time to deliver the public lecture which he described as timely.
“This is happening at a time when Zimbabwe is undergoing deep transformation in its education system, through your leadership of course. The deep transformation in our education system is clearly informed by our quest to transform the lives of our people.
“By meeting their needs, food, shelter, water, connection, Your Excellency, would you allow me to repeat this statement, ‘poverty and education cannot be used in one sentence’,” he said.
Online Reporter