By Idriss Julius Manganda, Own Correspondent
In a milestone event, Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Tertiary Education, Simelisizwe Sibanda, bid farewell to 32 National Certificate Millwright students from Harare Polytechnic’s Mechatronics Class of 2024 as they head to Ningbo Polytechnic in China for world-class training in Mechatronics Engineering.
“This moment marks a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s pursuit of international educational collaboration,”Deputy Minister of higher Education and Tertiary Education, Simelisizwe Sibanda said.
“Our partnership with China has evolved into a dynamic collaboration across multiple sectors, including education.”
The students will undergo a dual certification program, with 12 months of study at Harare Polytechnic and 18-24 months at Ningbo Polytechnic. The program aims to equip students with technical expertise to drive industrial transformation in Zimbabwe.
Tatenda Takaruva, a beneficiary of the scholarship, expressed gratitude to the government for the “life-changing opportunity” to learn how to operate different machinery.
Another student, Tawanda Nyagupe, will have the chance to fulfill his dream of becoming an engineer, thanks to the program.
“This is a dream come true for me,thanks to the government of Zimbabwe and the government of republic of China for making this dream come true,” he said.
Rumbidzai Nyagupe, Tawanda’s mother, thanked the government for granting her child this opportunity. “We say to the kids, you are carrying the flag of Zimbabwe, go and do us proud,” she said.
This initiative has already yielded positive results, with 30 students who traveled to China in 2023 securing positions at Chinese enterprises operating in Zimbabwe. With the departure of this latest cohort, the total number of students benefiting from this program will reach 90, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s commitment to skills development, job creation, and economic transformation.
Deputy Minister Sibanda urged the students to seize this opportunity to acquire expertise that will contribute to Zimbabwe’s vision 2030 – transforming the nation into an upper-middle-income economy saying ,”You are not just students, you are ambassadors of Zimbabwe, entrusted with the responsibility of driving innovation, industrialization, and economic growth,”said the Deputy Minister
The Deputy Minister extended his gratitude to the government of the Republic of China for its generous support in providing scholarships and training opportunities highlighting tha this, “This partnership exemplifies a shared vision for education and development,” said,deputy minister Simelisizwe Sibanda.
Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field that integrates mechanical, electrical, and electronic engineering, playing a crucial role in automation and robotics, industrial manufacturing, smart systems, and precision engineering.