Gibson Mhaka in Moscow, Russia
ZIMBABWEAN students studying in Russia have pledged to bring home the specialised skills, technological knowledge and international experience they are acquiring abroad to help drive the country’s development and modernisation.
The students said their studies were guided by Zimbabwe’s development aspirations and Vision 2030, pledging to translate their qualifications into practical solutions for challenges facing their home country.
Their commitment follows President Mnangagwa’s call for Zimbabweans studying abroad to regard their education as a national investment and use their expertise to support the country’s transformation rather than viewing academic qualifications as an end in themselves.
Addressing the Zimbabwean students based in Russia, on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, the President said their decision to study abroad was not merely a personal pursuit, but a contribution to national development.
“Your decision to pursue your studies in the Russian Federation is therefore not only a personal investment, but a national investment. It is an investment in the motherland. You are our investment,” he said.
President Mnangagwa challenged the students to identify practical ways of applying their knowledge to Zimbabwe’s development.
“Ask yourselves what problem your knowledge can solve back home, what technology you can develop, what enterprise you can establish, what institution you can strengthen, and what contribution you can make to the development of your motherland,” he said.
For medical student Rodwell Munyama, who is studying at Pirogov Medical University, that contribution could include introducing artificial intelligence (AI) into Zimbabwe’s healthcare system.
Munyama said he was complementing his medical studies with additional training in AI applications in medical practice, which he believes could help modernise healthcare delivery.
“This is something that Zimbabwe actually is looking for right now, because as the rest of the world is developing in the digitalisation of medical practice, Zimbabwe would also benefit by implementing some of these technologies to better health,” he said.
Munyama said the experience gained in Russia could help students introduce innovative medical solutions at home, stressing that their mission should extend beyond acquiring qualifications.
“Not to want to stay here and just give back to their economy, but to take what we have learnt here, including the main things we came to study and also other things that are related to it, to come and give back to our community,” he said.
Peacemore Chisupa, a student at Russia’s Higher School of Economics, said his academic journey had evolved from undergraduate studies in aircraft engineering to postgraduate studies in international affairs, including doctoral-level studies.
He said his changing academic interests were driven by the need to understand how international knowledge and technology could be transferred to Zimbabwe.
“I found out there was a gap between international knowledge and technology in terms of what can be transferred to our nation,” he said.
Chisupa said Russia’s experience in sectors such as energy, agriculture and technology offered opportunities for Zimbabwe to strengthen its development through knowledge-sharing and investment partnerships.
He also cited an internship at a medical technology company, where he gained exposure to digital solutions and efficient service delivery, as an opportunity to acquire skills that could be adapted to Zimbabwe’s needs.
“I think this is interesting as well as Russia to gain this skill so that we can transfer them back to Zimbabwe and give an opportunity and enhance the growth and development of our country,” he said.
Zimbabwean Students Association in Russia president Tanaka Chiraramire said students were united by a shared commitment to contributing to their country’s development.
“We have chosen these fields based on speaking directly to our Vision 2030,” he said.
President Mnangagwa urged the students to remain focused on their studies, preserve their Zimbabwean identity and avoid distractions. He also assured them that Government was working to create opportunities for returning graduates to contribute meaningfully to national development.
