Story by Wellington Makonese
THE government has expressed satisfaction with the innovative projects being showcased at the ongoing Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo with most of them poised for the crucial commercialisation phase.
The ZITF has once again proven to be fertile ground for ingenuity, with local innovators displaying a remarkable array of solutions across various sectors.
From institutions of higher learning to private entities, homegrown technologies stand out clearly.
“The standards for this year have gone a notch higher because of the support we got last year and the calls to go for the market,” Belvedere Technical Teachers’ College’s Projects Manager Mr. Andrew Mutevedzi noted.
“ZITF means more markets and more businesses, which we are exploring and pushing more inventions,” Great Zimbabwe University’s Representative Mr. Anderson Chipatiso added.
Government is equally impressed by the exhibitions which are earmarked for commercialisation.
“The year 2025 has seen an improved mark on exhibitions from our tertiary institutions and individual innovators. The level of sophistication and relevance to our national development goals is truly encouraging. Government is equally impressed with the quality of innovations which are earmarked for commercialisation,” the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Honourable Simelizezwe Sibanda said.
“We are putting in place mechanisms to ensure that these brilliant ideas receive the necessary support, from funding to mentorship, to reach the market and contribute to the growth of our economy,”
The focus on fostering local innovation and advancing technology aligns with government’s broader vision of economic growth hence, the ZITF serves as a vital platform in this endeavour.
