Zimbabwe News Update
herald
6 min read
Wallace Ruzvidzo in BINDURATERTIARY institutions are key to the country’s modernisation and industrialisation efforts as they provide import substitution and spur economic growth, President Mnangagwa has said.He made the remarks yesterday after commissioning Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE)’s Industrial Park, the state-of-the-art PALPO Technologies Production Plant, which assembles laptops, tablets and cellphones, as well as the tertiary institution’s main entrance.He also toured BUSE’s Optometry Clinic and lens production plant.President Mnangagwa expressed satisfaction with strides being made by the country’s institutions of higher learning in advancing development, particularly BUSE.“I am highly impressed by our team here (driving) innovation (and) technology development.
This is what it ought to be across the country, across the board.“Each time we come here, we find that this young man (Vice Chancellor Professor Eddie Mwenje) has new ideas, and that of course means that he is buying more and more time for himself in many ways,” said the President with a chuckle.The locally assembled gadgets at the PALPO Technologies Production Plant will be more affordable than imports, thereby increasing accessibility for all and sundry.At full operational capacity, the plant will produce up to 12 000 laptops and tablets, as well as 3 000 mobile phones.President Mnangagwa caps Paidamoyo Chitate, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Natural Resources Management.
She received the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Award and a US$1 000 cash prize for being the best graduating female student. Pictures by Justin Mutenda.Quizzed on how important innovations by the country’s universities are to Zimbabwe’s development agenda, the President said they were a vital cog.“First of all, you are here asking me because you went through these facilities, that’s how important they are.
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