His Excellency President Mnangagwa urges research to drive industrialisation, backs AI strategy for 2030 goals

HARARE – His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged universities, industry and government to move research “beyond the classroom and into practical solutions” as Zimbabwe accelerates its heritage-based Education 5.0 model and a new national Artificial Intelligence strategy.

Addressing the 14th Zimbabwe International Research Symposium on 19 June 2026, the President said Education 5.0 had transformed higher learning institutions “from centres of theory into engines of industrialisation”. He cited innovation hubs and industrial parks now producing tangible products, start-ups, patents and industrial solutions.  Follow us on WhatsApp

“Students are empowered to think critically, experiment, and innovate boldly as inventors, entrepreneurs, and nation-builders,” Mnangagwa said, adding that creativity must deliver “home-grown, practical, and uniquely Zimbabwean solutions”.

The President said government cannot drive technology-led development alone and called for stronger collaboration with the private sector, parastatals and industry. He suggested mining companies partner with universities to develop AI-driven exploration tools to improve productivity and safety.

Mnangagwa also announced that government adopted a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for 2026-2030 earlier this year to guide ethical, inclusive and responsible AI adoption. He said a Bill is before Parliament to transform the Research Council of Zimbabwe into the Research Authority of Zimbabwe and set a national GDP target for research and development funding.

“Collectively, AI, research, and innovation must be harnessed to achieve an empowered, prosperous upper middle-income society by 2030,” he told stakeholders, urging them to strengthen collaboration and speed up the translation of research into life-transforming solutions.

Later at the same event, the President presented awards under the Presidential, Sectoral and Academic categories. Prof. Tembekile Ncube of the National University of Science and Technology received the Female Researcher for Outstanding Research Award worth US$7,500. Prof. Upenyu Guyo, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, was awarded the Robert Gabriel Mugabe Award for Outstanding Research with a US$15,000 prize.