Samuel Kadungure, Mutare Bureau
In an era of rapid technological advancement and escalating global challenges, research and innovation stand as pillars of sustainable development, Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) Vice Chancellor Professor Albert Chawanda has said.
As such, MSUAS continues to align its teaching, research, and innovation mandate with the broader national aspirations championed by President Mnangagwa.
Speaking yesterday at the 4th graduation ceremony at its Mutare campus where 198 graduates were capped by the President, Prof Chahwanda said the university has secured funding to develop a driver sleep detection system designed to enhance road safety.
“As a university rooted in applied sciences, we are acutely aware that the future belongs to institutions that harness the transformative power of knowledge, science, and technology to propel national and global progress,” he said.
“With the support of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, the university secured research funding to develop a pioneering driver sleep detection system — an innovative solution designed to enhance road safety in Zimbabwe.
“This ground-breaking project harnesses artificial intelligence and machine learning to monitor drivers in real time, detecting fatigue and drowsiness through advanced facial and behavioural analysis.”
Prof Chahwanda said recognising that fatigue, particularly during long-distance night travel, is one of the leading contributors to road accidents, this project represents a proactive and semi-autonomous safety mechanism that is expected save lives and contribute meaningfully to national road safety. I am also pleased to announce that MSUAS has been awarded the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Grant, becoming the only university in Africa to receive this recognition for 2025.
“Through this grant, we will partner with a yet-to-be named European institution to facilitate student and staff exchange programmes, while also supporting international certification of various volunteering initiatives in Zimbabwe.
“In the field of traditional medicine, we are equally proud to be pioneering a digital herbal pharmacy, supported by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), through a research grant,” he said.
This innovation seeks to preserve and promote the country’s rich indigenous healthcare heritage by creating a searchable digital repository of Zimbabwean herbs.
Prof Chahwanda said the platform offers comprehensive information on herbal supplements, their benefits, preparation methods and possible contraindications.
A contraindication is a medical reason, such as a symptom or condition, which makes a specific treatment or procedure inadvisable because it could be harmful to the patient.
“The platform integrates indigenous herbal remedies with conventional therapies, creating a holistic approach to healthcare that honours our cultural heritage while embracing modern scientific practice,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude for Government support towards the establishment of an Innovation and Agro-Industrial Park at its campus in Headlands, which has created new revenue streams while fostering research, innovation and community development.
“The next phase of this initiative will see the establishment of a stockfeed manufacturing plant at the Innovation and Agro-Industrial Park, complemented by the Makoni Community Out-growers Scheme feeding into the business venture. “We are also proud to inform you that plans for the establishment of a game park are now at an advanced stage. We have secured the licensing from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), and the animal stocking process is currently underway.
“This project will enrich our educational programmes, while also promoting tourism and hospitality activities in our region. These achievements, are not solely the result of our ingenuity but represent a collective success story forged by the efforts of individuals and stakeholders who continue to unite their hands and minds for the betterment of our motherland, Zimbabwe,” he said.
MSUAS has forged several transformative collaborations and partnerships with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), Mutare City Council, Tonganyika Trust, Zimbabwe Forestry College in various programmes that are already making impact in communities.
This year, MSUAS’s partnership with Mutare City Council reached another milestone with the establishment of the Institute of Civil Protection.
Prof Chahwanda said this pioneering centre of excellence is dedicated to advancing disaster resilience, emergency preparedness, and fire safety management.
“Born out of a strategic collaboration, the institute bridges academia and practice, equipping professionals with cutting-edge skills in civil protection.
“Through specialised training, research, and community engagement, it empowers individuals and institutions to mitigate risks, respond effectively to disasters, and build safer, more resilient communities,” he said.
Prof Chahwanda added that the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (Zimche) has accredited the university’s three new programmes; the Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Crop Science, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering Honours Degree and Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Horticulture, which are designed to respond to the urgent need for food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate-smart innovation.
The Vice Chancellor said through their staff development programme, the number of PhD holders among its teaching staff has increased from 30 to 37, with a further 16 at various stages of their doctoral studies.
On infrastructure development, Prof Chawanda said the university is constructing two dormitories, now 65 percent complete, each with a capacity of 100 beds.
“We are sincerely thankful to your (President Mnangagwa’s) Government, through the parent ministry, for securing a bus for the university.
“This intervention will go a long way in alleviating the transport challenges faced by both students and staff, thereby creating a more enabling environment for learning, research, and community engagement. “We also extend our gratitude to the Ministry of Transport and Roads Infrastructure Development for rehabilitating the Staire Guthrie Road, a critical lifeline that connects the university to the broader community,” he said.
The university’s products continue to excel, with a Chemical Engineering graduate, Courtney Tadiwanashe Jongwe, representing the country at the Miss World International pageant in India where she came out in the top 40 in the world and top 10 in Africa.
Two other students, Chionesa Mtakiwa and Ausley Takundwa were selected to serve as O3 Young Change Makers, representing the entire SADC region under the auspices of Unesco.
Out of the 198 graduates capped yesterday, 24 graduates received awards, with six achieving first-class passes.
The graduating class comprised 49 percent females and 51 percent males, demonstrating the university’s commitment to promoting gender equity and inclusivity.
Tamia Gwarada was the overall best female student and received The Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Award of US$1 000, while Wonder Chimano was the overall best male student, who also received the same award.
Four others received The Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Awards of US$500 each.
The graduation ceremony ran under the theme, “Knowledge and innovation in action: Building Zimbabwe’s future through applied sciences”.
The theme resonated with Vision 2030 of an empowered upper middle income society, which is predicated on research and innovation to underpin sustainable production, industrialisation and national development.
The ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Dr Frederick Shava, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere and Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza.
Other delegates included senior Government, Zanu-PF and university officials, traditional leaders, industry captains, parents and guardians.
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