By Tinotenda Afarasi
The drive to develop Zimbabwe through massive investment in industrialisation and modernisation is not an option, by a basic requirement that every person, from whatever sphere, should work towards, Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) Vice Chancellor Professor Quinton Kanhukamwe has said.
He made the remarks at the university’s 15th graduation ceremony where 709 graduates were capped by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“Your leadership in innovation and promotion of homegrown solutions as enshrined in the heritage-based Education 5.0 and the philosophy, which you have inculcated in the higher education sector, affirms Zimbabwe’s confidence in your capable and able leadership,” said Prof Kanhukamwe.
“As HIT, we want to assure you of our unwavering commitment to the attainment of your vision for a great Zimbabwe, the renaissance of the Munhumutapa empire.
“The industrialisation and modernisation agenda is non-negotiable and is aligned to the mandate you have given us as leaders. The development of our nation in the fourth industrial revolution hinges on our investments and teaching efforts in science, technology and engineering.”
At HIT, all their programmes are Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) compliant regardless of the discipline, be it in engineering, business, health and information communication technologies.
HIT presses on with innovation
From 2018, President Mnangagwa directed all tertiary institutions to embrace the Education 5.0, which emphasises practicals, not just theory, which was promoted under Education 3.0.
A number of innovations have since been made by State universities, υυυ τττ including the production of the masawu drink which is being done by the Bindura University of Education (BUSE) while National University of Science and Technology (NUST) is into DNAs and others, with the Midlands State University (MSU) into the production of fresh juice.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, tertiary institutions helped in different ways including the production of face masks and hand sanitisers to fight off the deadly disease that claimed over 7 million people worldwide.
Now, HIT has unveiled the Tram-Urban Mass Transportation System Proof of Concept and Research Centre, as part of innovations aimed at assisting the country to modernise.
President Mnangagwa officially commissioned the innovation by HIT and said it demonstrates that many people are now fully embracing the mantra, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo”, which he has been championing.
“Today, I saw that the nation is fully aware that nyika inovakwa nevene vayo,” he said.
“I have just been in the Tram concept and I was assessing and looking at what has been built by our people, things that are moving, things that are operational.
“Long back, we would have sent people to go abroad and see how it’s done then we buy from them, but now we are able to sell products to them.”
President Mnangagwa said he was happy with what HIT is doing.
“And I am seeing that the young people who are undertaking their studies here are grasping the philosophy that nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.
“Everything that was not there and is not there but we require (it), is being built by our people and that is what we should encourage our children to do,” said President Mnangagwa.
Competent experts behind Tram Concept
Prof Kanhukamwe said they hope their Tram Concept will complement the mass transport system.
“The design, fabrication and all the components have been done by our scientists here, engineers and technicians,” he said.
“A multiplicity of experts spanning from electronic engineers, mechanical engineers, manufacturing engineers came together to come up with this concept.
“Those that do artificial intelligence have been deployed to make sure that the tram is compliant to minimum standards of a universal tram.”
Prof Kanhukamwe added that instrumentation and control technicians were also part and parcel of the project.
“This is a practical demonstration of HIT’s curriculum. We are hands-on. Our curriculum is education and competence-based and therefore what you see here is the outcome of what we teach.”
It is expected that once the Tram System comes into force, it will transform the mass transport system, in a development that brings order in towns and cities.
At the moment, the small commuter omnibuses, popularly known as kombis, are causing chaos in urban areas resulting in running battles between them and a combination of Municipal and Zimbabwe Republic Police officers.
BUSE keen to plays its part
BUSE Vice-Chancellor Professor Eddie Mwenje says they are determined to support the country’s attainment of an empowered and prosperous upper-middle income economy by 2030.
He was speaking during the university’s 23rd graduation ceremony recently where President Mnangagwa capped 2 394 graduates.
“Your university is fully aware that Vision 2030 sets a broad and ambitious agenda premised on innovation and industrialisation as the country moves towards the achievement of the goals that underpin the vision,” said Prof Mwenje.
“To that end, the university has fully embraced innovation and industrialisation as part of its core mandate.
“Consistent with the Education 5.0 paradigm, your university has not only embraced this shift but has enshrined it as its mission, hence our theme today: ‘Priming Bindura University of Science Education for the delivery of Vision 2030 through innovation and industrialisation’.”
Prof Mwenje said they are confident that their innovative projects will touch the length and breadth of the country as well as generations to come.
“Some of the projects include the cell phone, tablet and laptop project, various software applications, the gold genetic improvement project, the eye lens manufacturing and sodium silicate projects to mention but a few.
“We encourage both the public and private sectors to embrace the local innovations coming out of our institutions as there has been hesitance at times in embracing homegrown solutions.
“The university has fully embraced Artificial Intelligence as demonstrated in part by its appointment of the first professor of AI in the country,” said Prof Mwenje.
