Story by Bruce Chahwanda
PROMOTING innovation and industrialisation for community transformation dominated proceedings when Chancellor of Great Zimbabwe University President Emmerson Mnangagwa capped more than 3 000 students at the campus in Masvingo on Thursday.
Under the Second Republic, tertiary institutions have become the foundation for driving industrialisation and innovation for the benefit of communities and the nation at large.
GZU Vice Chancellor, Professor Rungano Zvobgo said the institution has registered more than ten intellectual properties ranging from agriculture to urban traffic control systems.
“With regards to intellectual property, the university registered 13 IPs. These include patents, trademarks, and industrial designs. Notable filings include the traditional grains dehuller, roaster and mobile thresher patents. The process innovation for the grain processing plant was also filed as Guyo rokwa Chivi. Our repertoire of IPs also includes drone development. We designed applications in agriculture, mining and security, with brand name Zizi. The University also developed an intelligent mass density system for urban traffic control, with the brand name Change Goal. Many of these are already under examination with ZIPO and ARIPO. This ensures that our innovations are safeguarded and ready for commercialisation. These IPs position GZU as an active university in terms of IP protection,” he said.
Professor Zvobgo challenged graduates to take ownership of national development through positive impact at community and national level.
“You graduate at a time of profound national development and unprecedented opportunity. Your education is not just a personal achievement, it is also a national asset. You will cause development not only at your family level, but at community and national level. I charge you to be architects of your destiny and to take ownership of national development. You are the highly trained human capital responsible for translating national vision into tangible reality. Play your part. Remember your parents and guardians and continue to uplift them as they are behind your success through their sacrifice and commitment,” he said.
The graduating students are alive to the challenges facing communities and believe they have what it takes to foster national development.
After completing their studies, it is now up to the graduates to become entrepreneurs, development champions and policy makers.
