Story by Tamuka Charakupa

THE introduction of technology and innovation hubs at tertiary schools is promoting innovation in the country, with one of the beneficiaries of the programme from Chipinge proposing to introduce a drone education programme in schools.

Location is not a limiting factor for a dedicated heart as is the case of the 30-year-old Harare Institute of Technology trained electronic engineer, Donald Mlambo Mazwati, who has been assembling drones and robots.

Operating in a tiny workshop in the heart of Chipinge, Mazwati is not deterred by his environment and is even dreaming big.

“Since college, I have been assembling drones some from scratch as well as programming robots. Right now I have done a lot of innovative electronic projects that can be prototyped and now focus is on taking STEM to primary and secondary schools so that they embrace technological skills from an early age,” he said.

Mazwati believes Zimbabwe is on the right track in terms of technological advancement, thanks to the introduction of innovation hubs at tertiary institutions.

“The government has set the right tune through the introduction of innovation hubs which obviously are inspiring creativity and innovation. They are providing the right platform to test innovation and ideas and we further implore the government to provide the required machinery because we have the brains to do everything so that we cut the import bill,” he said.

Mazwati’s exploits come at a time when another young man from Chipinge’s Gaza high density suburb is trying his hand at assembling a solar-powered car.