Technology vital in achieving sustainable socio-economic development

Bulawayo (New Ziana)-Technology is a vital cog in achieving sustainable socio-economic development as it enhances efficiency of resource utilisation, President Mnangagwa said on Friday.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Technovation Centre Building at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).

President Mnangagwa said technology also plays an important role in improving food production, delivery of quality services and increased industrial output.

He said the Technovation Centre would promote knowledge and technology driven initiatives that would empower students to embrace innovation mindsets.

“This is a welcome development as it bolsters our quest to strengthen, deepen and align the country’s science technology and innovation ecosystem in a world where national human development is accompanied by rapid changes in technology.

“I congratulate the university for setting the centre. This facility will go a long way towards empowering our students to embrace an innovation mindset as well as facilitating development of new technological products to answer our socio-economic needs,” said President Mnangagwa.

He said the centre and innovation hub would propel the university technology entrepreneurship curriculum, which sought to transform students to job and wealth creators, he said.

“It is my expectation that as a centre for excellence, this facility together with the innovation hub will propel the university technology entrepreneurship curriculum that seeks to transform student to job and wealth creators as envisaged under the Heritage Based Education 5.0 philosophy.”

President Mnangagwa said the government would put in place the requisite infrastructure to enhance the use of technology to cut across all sectors of the economy and facets of life.

“This includes supporting technologies infrastructure, value addition and beneficiation initiatives in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing among other sectors of the economy.

“Our focus must never shy away from producing modern high quality tech goods and services. Ultimately this should augment the import substitution drive and domestication of value chains as key pillars of the ongoing modernisation, industrialisation as well as the growing of our economy,” he said.

President Mnangagwa applauded NUST for introducing new degree programmes that would help fill the national skills gaps identified in the fields of science, technology ,engineering and mathematics.

“The ongoing teacher capacity programme is also commendable as it enhances the teaching of sciences and domestication of science, technology innovation systems right at the lower tiers of our education sector.

“This will undoubtedly positively impact the nurturing of science and technology and innovation talent among our boys and girls,” he said.

He challenged the university to move beyond the piloting level in the use and application of technology, innovation, and inventions.

“You must seek to record a new growth millstone through scaling up the deployments and use of science, technology and innovation across the economic spectrum, while also coming up with strategies to reduce the risk associated with rapid technological changes.

“This is more so, as science and technology hold the key to the future, from climate change mitigation and adaption, better service delivery, engendering and inclusive society.

He exhorted the university to amplify the discourse on how Zimbabwe could harness the positive impacts of emerging fronters of technology.

“I challenge you to remain alive to the Second Republic’s work ethic and culture whose emphasise is on results, and action, not excuses and complaints.

Meanwhile, President capped 3 087 graduands at the university, at least 1 410 of whom were female.

New Ziana