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Prof Lindiwe Majele Sibanda receiving the 3rd MS Swaminathan Global Leadership Award for Sustainable Development from Indian Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Hon Thiru Sakkarapaniin in Chennai, India.

NATIONAL University of Science and Technology (NUST) Council chair Professor Lindiwe Majele Sibanda has been awarded the prestigious 3rd Swaminathan Global Leadership Award for Sustainable Development in honour of her remarkable contribution to sustainable agriculture and development.

 Prof Majele Sibanda received the award in Chennai, India last week. NUST director of Communication and Marketing Mr Thabani Mpofu said it is an honour for the University that is soon opening a Faculty of Agriculture Science and Technology.

 The award, which is named after the visionary scientist and pioneer of India’s Green Revolution, Professor Mankombu Sambasivan (MS) Swaminathan, celebrates exceptional leadership and dedication to sustainable agricultural practices.

“Prof Majele Sibanda was recognised for her leadership, as chair of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a global partnership that unites organisations. The recognition comes at a time when Prof Majele Sibanda is leading NUST in introducing a Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology. Coincidentally, as she was receiving the global award, the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) was on campus physically assessing facilities for the new programmes,” said Mr Mpofu.

He said the university was introducing a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours Degree in Sustainable Food Production, BSc Honours Degree in Agricultural Genetics and Cell Technology, BSc Honours Degree in Agricultural Information Technology, BSc Engineering Honours Degree in Agricultural Engineering and BSc Honours Degree in Agribusiness, Economics and Management.

“On behalf of the NUST Council, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mqhele E Dlodlo, Senate, Management, Staff, Students and Alumni, we celebrate Professor Majele Sibanda’s achievement. As NUST, we are privileged to be led by such a visionary leader who is committed to creating a hunger-free world through sustainable development,” added Mr Mpofu.

CGIAR where Prof Majele Sibanda is also chair said they were elated with her achievement.

“We take a lot of pride in being the host instituting this award in memory of Prof Swaminathan and we thank Prof Sibanda for coming all the way. The jury has made absolutely the right choice, she is carrying forward Prof Swaminathan’s legacy. There is a tremendous opportunity for the consultative group to have a huge impact. It is wonderful that somebody from a developing country in the global south and a woman is at the head of a system like this,” said the institution.

They said it was notable to have a woman who is a strong scientist who also has very practical knowledge and understands the problems of farming.

Prof Thiru Sathasivam the former Chief Justice of India and former Governer of Kerala gave a brief of Prof Majele Sibandas’s career.

“Prof Majele Sibanda is an animal scientist and a practising farmer with extensive experience serving as a policy advisor to numerous African governments and global institutions. She serves on the Nestle Board and is also the chair of the Council of the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe and is an extraordinary professor at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. She served in several organisations relating to food production,” said Prof Sathasivam.

In accepting her award Prof Majele Sibanda said she was honoured to have been nominated and giving back to the community.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude, particularly to the award committee that has believed in me. I want to use this platform to reaffirm my commitment to sustainable agriculture and to carry forward the torch that has been lit by the legends. In my own country, after retirement, I felt compelled to go and give back and I do work as a chair for the council of the National University of Science and Technology,” she said.

Her influential voice was identified as instrumental in shaping international discourse on climate-smart agriculture advocating for policies that promote resilience, sustainability, and equitable outcomes for vulnerable communities impacted by climate change.

She was recognised for realising the gap between farmers, scientific knowledge and policy actions in the food systems climate change agenda.

Prof Majele Sibanda was also praised by colleagues in the agriculture field who said she was an asset to agriculture and a force to reckon with regarding ending hunger. – Sunday News

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Chancellor of Zimbabwe State Universities Staff Games: Celebrating
transformation of Zimbabwe's education system

The Chancellor of Zimbabwe State Universities Staff Games (CZSUSG) are an annual
sporting tournament held in honour of the Chancellor of State Universities and the President
of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, for his
contribution to the growth and development of higher education in Zimbabwe.
The National University of Science and Technology (NUST), which hosted the inaugural
games in 2012, are hosting this year’s 12th edition of the games under the theme, “Higher
Education a Vehicle to Innovate and Industrialise the Nation”.
President Mnangagwa, through the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation,
Science and Technology Development has implemented a robust, relevant and responsive
education system that is facilitating the transformation of Zimbabwe’s economic
development.
The Heritage-based Education 5.0 model, which has been embraced fully by all state
universities has ushered in a new era of teaching and learning, research, scholarly
community engagement, innovation and industrialisation.
The CZSUSG are, therefore, an opportunity for employees of all state universities to
celebrate the contributions of their Chancellor, President Mnangagwa, in the transformation
of higher and tertiary education institutions.
The new education model has spurred progress in technological developments and
infrastructural developments.
Instead of regurgitating the Eurocentric views, the new education model challenges higher
and tertiary institutions to come up with home-grown innovations and technological solutions
that drive the country’s industrialisation towards the achievement of Zimbabwe’s Vision
2030.

The country’s vision entails that graduates must be equipped with skills acquisitions that
empower them to become innovative towards societal development through transformative
science and technology knowledge application that delivers goods and services.
Today, over 16 industries have been established at various universities and polytechnics
while more than 100 start-ups by students have been commercialised.
We have all the reasons to celebrate the contributions of the Chancellor of all State
Universities and President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa, to the
transformative growth of higher and tertiary education institutions.

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the Environmental Management Agency have embarked on an 18–month study to determine the impact of waste generated by internet use and how this could be mitigated for a sustainable future of the country. Principal investigator and NUST senior lecturer, Mr Smart Ncube told The Herald at the launch of the study recently, that there were none or a few high-level studies that had been done on carbon emissions of the Internet as a whole and the toxins and waste generated by Internet use. The joint study titled: “Towards a Green Internet Ecosystems Framework for Zimbabwe,” aims to develop a comprehensive framework for a sustainable internet ecosystem in Zimbabwe. “The major aim of this study is to develop a green internet ecosystems framework for Zimbabwe that mitigates the negative environmental impacts of internet-related activities while promoting sustainability and economic growth,” he said. “This project places Zimbabwe on the global map and helps the country to amplify its voice on the global arena in terms of our presence in solving environmental problems. As a country we have always been on the receiving end in terms of the dumping of e-waste. “This study can inform our policy makers to come up with robust measures to curb e-waste dumping. We can place a limit in terms of the electronic products that can be allowed into the country if they are second hand.

We can also pile pressure on the producers by telling them that we can only buy products that meet the requirements in terms of environmental compliance. “If they don’t meet, then we are not going to accept them. Africa has been the dumping ground and this should not be allowed to continue.” Ncube said the study will also assess existing green-friendly policies, evaluate compliance with green practices and examine green knowledge and attitudes. In addition, researchers will identify challenges and opportunities, develop a comprehensive green internet framework and promote stakeholder engagement and awareness. The research is funded by the Internet Society Foundation. “No one has the facility or infrastructure to recycle e-waste in Zimbabwe,” said NUST director of ICTS, Prof Vusumuzi Maphosa. “Only Econet is shipping e-waste to Dubai, where a Zimbabwean–owned firm is recycling the waste.” He said e-waste had a lot of negative consequences on Africa’s environment and human health. “Africa is only recycling 0,1 percent of e-waste. About 80 percent of global e-waste is shipped to the global south. The north industrialised countries are shifting the burden to the poor countries in the south,” Prof Maphosa said. “The impact can be dire and e-waste has a lot of negative consequences on human health. A cell phone battery can contaminate 600 000 litres of water. We need to enact e-waste policies quickly to protect our environment and human health.” Environmental Management Agency (EMA) official, Mr Maxwell Maturure said: “The research project we are gathered here to discuss on has been necessitated by the need for the country to formulate a sustainable framework that covers all facets of internet ecosystems with a clear guide to strategic decision making. 

ZIMBABWE must take practical steps to integrate green practices into technological and scientific advancements to ensure a sustainable digital economy, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, said yesterday.


He made the call in a speech read on his behalf by his Deputy Simelisizwe Sibanda at the launch of an 18-month study titled: “Towards a Green Internet Ecosystems Framework for Zimbabwe” in Harare.

“I challenge higher and tertiary institutions to integrate green practices into our technological and scientific advancements,” Prof Murwira said.

“By doing so, we are not only fostering innovation but also ensuring that our progress in achieving a digital economy does not come at the expense of our environment.”


The project, a collaboration between the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), aims to develop a comprehensive framework for a sustainable internet ecosystem in Zimbabwe.

This project involves a multifaceted approach, including the development of green policy frameworks, promotion of environmental awareness, and implementation of sustainable practices across various sectors.

This transformative research initiative, Prof Murwira said, dovetails with the Second Republic’s efforts to ensure that Zimbabwe achieves a digital economy, in line with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030.


“To realise the vision of transforming our economy through digital technologies we must fully embrace the Heritage-based Education 5.0, which requires us to be innovative and use Zimbabwe’s abundant raw materials to produce ICT-related hardware and gadgets,” he said.

“In producing the hardware and other ICT equipment, we must be mindful of their environmental impacts.

“We must put in place policy frameworks and strategies for managing e-waste and promote the use of renewable resources in order to achieve sustainable economic growth.”


Speaking at the same event, NUST Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mqhelele Dlodlo, said:

“The research project seeks to influence policy framework towards adopting practices and policies that reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact of internet-related activities.

“Our objective is to Conduct a Baseline Survey to assess current practices and trends related to greening the internet in Zimbabwe.”

This project, he said, will examine factors such as energy consumption, e-waste management, data centre operations, and renewable energy adoption within the internet ecosystem.


It will also identify key challenges and opportunities associated with greening the internet in Zimbabwe including barriers to adoption, technological limitations, policy gaps, and potential areas for intervention.

The outcome of the research is expected to guide the development of a legal framework for greening the internet ecosystem in Zimbabwe.

THREE first-year students from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) have achieved global recognition for developing an innovative smart agriculture irrigation system.

The system, which aims to promote precision agriculture, leverages advanced sensor technologies to optimise the irrigation process. By doing so, it significantly reduces water costs while ensuring plants receive the optimal amount of water needed for their growth.

Tanaka Gudza, a computer science student, who was the team leader, Ebenezer Chisare, a data analyst and Tatenda Murwira, a technical co-ordinator participated in the global Innovation Seed Fund competition which was held at the University of Oxford, and they came first.

For their efforts, they were awarded certificates and a medal. Their innovation is part of the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 initiative, which mandates that educational institutions should focus on creating solutions that address real-world social challenges. Heritage-Based Education 5.0 emphasises the integration of heritage, technology and innovation in the curriculum to produce graduates who are not only knowledgeable but also capable of generating practical solutions to societal issues.

Since the adoption of Heritage-Based Education 5.0, several university students have been producing prototypes to address national challenges.

Through Education 5.0 the Second Republic wants to produce graduates who can solve problems, a departure from the inherited colonial education system which promoted innovation graduates with a worker mentality who did not innovate to create jobs.

The smart agriculture irrigation system developed by the three students exemplifies how academic learning can be directed towards impactful innovations. By focusing on precision agriculture and water conservation, their project directly addresses critical issues such as resource management and sustainable farming practices, which are vital for both local and global communities.

In a statement yesterday, Nust said the students lifted the country’s flag high by shrugging off competition from other global competitors to bag the second prize.

“The students presented an innovation on Smart Irrigation System for Sustainable Agriculture. The innovation aims to implement advanced technology solutions to optimise water usage in agriculture. It involves the installation of sensor-based irrigation systems that monitor soil moisture levels, weather conditions and crop water requirements,” said Nust.

The students developed a software platform to analyse the collected data and provide real-time insights and recommendations to farmers for optimised irrigation.

 “The innovation also focuses on promoting water conservation practices and efficient water use in agriculture through training programmes and awareness campaigns. The impact of the smart irrigation systems is assessed through monitoring and evaluation activities, including measuring water savings, crop productivity and environmental sustainability,” said Nust

The university said through the innovation, farmers would significantly save water while improving crop yields and ensuring reduced cost of irrigation as well as increasing climate resilience and environmental conservation.

“By integrating technology, data analysis and water conservation practices, the Smart Irrigation System for Sustainable Agriculture revolutionises agricultural practices and promotes sustainable agriculture in Zimbabwe and other countries grappling with water scarcity and climate change challenges,” reads the statement.

Nust communication and marketing director, Mr Thabani Mpofu said the students have embraced the Heritage-based Education 5.0.

“We are excited that our students are developing globally competitive smart innovations that address pressing climate change impacts and promote sustainable agriculture. This is evidence that the Heritage-based Education 5.0 has redefined students’ learning experience and challenges them to embrace technology and apply critical thinking to solve real-life problems,” said Mr Mpofu.

Nust Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation and Development, Dr William Goriwondo said the students’ innovation is in sync with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which require universities to contribute to national growth.

He said the students’ innovation will complement the revolution taking place in the agricultural sector, which has seen the country achieving national food security.

“Agriculture is an important pillar for the provision of food security and it is innovations like these that benefit the nation. We are going to assist the students to develop the innovation further until it is fully commercialised into a start-up business,” said Dr Goriwondo.

He said as the university works to complete its innovation hub and the Prof Phineas M Makhurane Technovation Centre, such innovations will be incubated as the country is on a drive to promote knowledge-driven development. — @nqotshili, Chronicle