President Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) to take a leading role in advancing Zimbabwe’s entrance into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Dubbed Industry 4.0 in the technology sector, the fourth industrial revolution is a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres, collectively referred to as cyber-physical systems.
HIT has been established as Zimbabwe’s citadel of inventions which makes the institution a strategic arm to spearhead technological skills development in the country.
President Mnangagwa said HIT has teaching personnel with competencies that cover new generation technologies such as Nanotechnology, Bio Informatics, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Bio medical engineering among others.
“I urge HIT to change Zimbabwe’s narrative from that of technological want and aspirations to the acquisition of real and tangible research and innovation outputs which add value to the lives of the people through the set-up of new industries and companies that promote import substitution.” added President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa also added that Universities, and in particular HIT must drive the innovation and commercialization of technologies that result in the creation of enterprises that will create jobs for the benefit of Zimbabwe in all its sectors. He challenged HIT to assist in the mechanization of the agricultural sector and retooling and modernization of industries, as well as improving the processing and manufacturing capacities of SMEs.
The President was giving his acceptance speech at his Installation as Chancellor of the Harare Institute of Technology and also officiating the University’s Ninth Graduation Ceremony two weeks ago. The event was attended by Government Officials, Diplomats, Captains of Industry and Commerce; Parents and Guardians.
