Tynwald High School students who represented Zimbabwe at the Global Robotics Challenge in Geneva, Switzerland scooped a gold medal amid dark time as fellow pupils who perished in the Nyanga Road accident were laid to rest.
This year’s Global Challenge was held under the theme ‘Carbon Capture’ and focused on finding climate solutions to reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere by augmenting natural processes or creating new technologies.
Zimbabwe emerged first in a tightly contested event featuring 183 countries, as they produced solutions to climate change problems using science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem).
The robotics team was comprised of Tynwald High School students, Micheal Mukwakwani, Makanaka Chimiso, Tanatswa Charemba and Marlon Chipfakacha who were coached by senior master and computer science teacher Charles Matanga.
Speaking to the press upon arrival from Switzerland, one of the students Makanaka Chimiso said, “First of all, as a team we want to dedicate this precious and prestigious win to our fellow learners who succumbed to the horrific accident that claimed some of our school mates.”
Michael Mukwakwani echoed the same sentiments adding that upon hearing about the tragedy back home the team almost abandoned their mission and only proceeded with the competitions in honor of their departed colleagues.
Team member Marlon Chipfakacha added that, “It is a tough time for us, but we would like to thank our coach and the school for making us travel to all the competitions that we had till we triumphed at the world stage.”
The Harare school put in hard yards for the global showcase as they had emerged fourth bost at the continental competition early in July.
“It was an eye opener, we had to work hard and put in extra hours in order to perfect our craft and as you can see, we came out victorious because of our determination,” Matanga said.
Tynwald Schools board of governors chairperson, Ms Florence Mabungu said the win was bittersweet due to the tragedy that befell their school.
Charles Matanga, the national robotics coach, said, “As a discipline we have invested in artificial intelligence and science in line with the 5.0 education system that was introduced by the government. We want to train school children to create jobs and not to be job seekers. We believe the future of any nation depends on science.”
According to Matanga, teaching of robotics in schools should be expanded in the country including in rural schools to ensure innovation and skills development.
“Currently, very few schools are teaching robotics in schools and it is high time this issue of robotics is taken to government schools as well,” Matanga said.
