Online Reporter
Sifelani Tsiko
Fact Check Editor
FIVE Zimbabwean innovators have been honoured and recognised among the exceptional global innovators recognised at this year’s TechWomen 2025 programme in the United States.
In this highly competitive programme, the team got a seed grant to develop a social impact project that is expected to bring profound change in the livelihoods of people in the country.
This achievement adds to Zimbabwe’s technology and innovation thrust, which centres on Education 5.0, which integrates teaching, research, innovation, industrialisation, and community service to develop goods and services and achieve Vision 2030 goals.
This important feat also showcases Zimbabwe’s talent in the global technology and innovation space.
“No, I really feel encouraged in that, you know, we are doing something in this journey, in the science journey as women, because we have lately started to feel like, you know, there’s very little progress in terms of advancement of women in talent intake in Zimbabwe,” said Dr Melody Ndemera, a technology expert from Harare Institute of Technology (HIT).
“This just validates us that we are actually doing positive things that are even recognisable in the global scientific space. We competed against 21 other countries and this is really, really a validation that our ideas are not minimal when we compare to other people from other countries.
“So it’s a very proud moment for us and for Zimbabwe as a whole.”
TechWomen, a US professional exchange and mentorship initiative, connects emerging women leaders from Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe with mentors in Silicon Valley and Chicago.
The programme is designed to strengthen leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while fostering cross-cultural collaboration and professional growth.
Each year, thousands of applicants from across the world compete for a place in this prestigious programme.
In 2025, nearly 6 000 women applied, but only 108 were selected and this included five Zimbabwean scientists – Dr Melody Ndemera, Gcinithemba Sherilyn Maphosa, Nyaradzo Nancy Murira, Chiedza Chabikwa and Tafadzwa Muusha.
