President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially unveiled the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT)’s Tram-Urban Mass Transportation System Proof of Concept and Research Centre, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s commitment to Education 5.0 and the National Development Strategy One (NDS1). The initiative aims to enhance the country’s transportation infrastructure with home-grown solutions that cater to local challenges.
During the commissioning, which coincided with HIT’s 15th graduation ceremony on Friday 11th of October 2024, President Mnangagwa took a ride on the City Rail Munhanzva and toured various exhibition stands at the Institute’s Innovation Hub, expressing his enthusiasm for the project. “I am impressed with what I saw today. It speaks to our vision as a government and what the Education 5.0 model can achieve in devising home-grown solutions not only for transportation but addressing other national challenges as well,” he stated.
Acknowledging the contributions of tertiary institutions like HIT, President Mnangagwa highlighted the significance of the philosophy ‘nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’ (the country is built by its people) in driving national development. He emphasised that local universities are playing a critical role in fostering innovative solutions that are tailored to Zimbabwe’s needs.
“I am impressed with what I saw today. It speaks to our vision as a government and what the education 5.0 model can do in finding homegrown solutions to not only the transport situation in the country but other challenges as well, therefore driving the country forward. Today, I saw that the nation fully knows that nyika inovakwa nevene vayo. I have just been in the TRAM and I was assessing and looking at what has been built by our people. Things that are moving, operational things. Long back we would have sent people to go abroad and see how it’s done then we buy from them, but now we can sell products to them,” he said.
He added that learners in the country’s institutions should continuously be pushed to come up with innovations that spur the country’s development. I am 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 is being built by our people and that is what we should encourage our children to do. We no longer have to send people overseas to learn how it’s done; we can create and sell our products,” President Mnangagwa said.
HIT Vice Chancellor, Professor Engineer Quinton Kanhukamwe, shared optimistic plans for the project, indicating that a manufacturing plant for the tram and railway system is expected to be established within the next twelve months. He explained that the entire design and fabrication process involved a team of local scientists, engineers, and technicians, underscoring the capabilities of Zimbabwean graduates.
“Our curriculum is education and competence-based, and this project is a practical demonstration of HIT’s potential to contribute to the country’s development. Those that do artificial intelligence have been deployed to make sure that the tram is compliant with the minimum standards of a universal tram. Instrumentation and control technicians have also been 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.” he said.
Prof Kanhukamwe said the innovation was also proof of HIT’s potential and capacity to contribute to the country’s development.
The commissioned Tram-Urban Mass Transportation aims to complement existing urban transportation initiatives, showcasing the innovation and teamwork of various disciplines, including electronics, mechanical, and manufacturing engineering. Professor Kanhukamwe highlighted that the project illustrates HIT’s commitment to developing practical solutions that enhance the transport system and represent the rich talent within Zimbabwe’s educational institutions.
The Tram-Urban Mass Transportation – City Rail Munhanzva is a significant step towards modernising Zimbabwe’s transport infrastructure while promoting the local expertise necessary for sustainable development.
The President and HIT Chancellor Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa was accompanied by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Professor dr. Amon Murwira and his Permanent Secretary Professor Tagwira.
