Story by Lisa Masuku-Kurira
BULAWAYO’s industrial sector is showing signs of revival, with young innovators at the forefront of modernised manufacturing operations driving production, design, and technical processes.
As factories upgrade machinery and adopt new production methods, youths from institutions such as Bulawayo Polytechnic College and Chinhoyi University of Technology are applying technical skills to support a skills-driven industrial comeback.
“I have learnt a lot here, and what I like about this organisation is that they allow us to explore our talent.
“I came here as a student designer, but today I can safely say that after enhancing my practical knowledge, the organisation went on to give me a job, and I am very grateful for this opportunity,” students said.
The revival also creates pathways for previously unskilled youths, providing on-the-job training and expanding opportunities for economic participation.
“I came here with no skill whatsoever, but now I am really grateful for this opportunity. I do not take it lightly,” another beneficiary said.
Deliberate investment in modern machinery and skills development drives Bulawayo’s gradual return as Zimbabwe’s manufacturing hub after over two decades of industrial decline.
Carousel Managing Director, Mr Menfree Tanyanyiwa, said policy interventions under the National Development Strategy One (NDS1) strengthened collaboration between industry and academia.
“NDS1 has had a profound impact on how we do business. It has helped build linkages between industries and tertiary institutions. We believe such collaboration will be instrumental in ensuring the city reclaims its position as the country’s industrial heartbeat,” he said.
The shift towards retooling is enabling industries to move away from outdated equipment, enhancing productivity and positioning Bulawayo as a key driver of Zimbabwe’s broader economic transformation.
