BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE — The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has once again solidified its reputation for driving real-world impact, as the team representing its Civil and Water Engineering Department, has emerged victorious at the 2026 Wetskills Water Challenge Zimbabwe.
The prestigious 10-day innovation sprint, which concluded this week in Bulawayo, was co-hosted by NUST’s Civil and Water Engineering Department in close collaboration with the Wetskills Foundation and the Bulawayo City Council. The event served as an international melting pot, uniting students, young professionals, and industry experts from across the globe to co-create solutions for Zimbabwe’s most critical water and sanitation hurdles.
Driving Innovation: The "Thabisa Blue Initiative"
Following an intense program featuring high-energy "Brain Hurricane" sessions and rigorous collaborative design, the grand finale saw an elite panel of judges award top honors to an all-NUST team composed of current students and alumni.
The winning innovators include:
- Darlington Nyakudya (Class of 2023)
- Mbuluki Ncube (Class of 2024)
- Kholwani Gwebu (Class of 2026)
- Michael Kumirai (Class of 2026)
The team captured the championship with their groundbreaking proposal, the "Thabisa Blue Initiative." The concept outlines a visionary, scalable water stewardship framework designed specifically to secure a sustainable and climate-resilient water future for the City of Bulawayo.
According to university representatives, the framework perfectly embodies NUST’s foundational institutional motto, "Think in Other Terms," by translating academic theory into a tangible blueprint for municipal resource management.
A High-Profile Endorsement
The closing ceremony was a high-profile affair, underscored by the presence of His Excellency Matthijs van Eeuwen, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, who praised the participants' out-of-the-box thinking and global collaboration.
The event highlighted the deep international partnerships required to combat modern environmental challenges, particularly the ongoing water security issues facing urban centers like Bulawayo.
"We are incredibly proud to see our students leading the way in innovation and tackling the most pressing water challenges of our time," NUST stated in a congratulatory brief. "Your hard work, creativity, and dedication to our city’s future are truly inspiring."
The success of the 2026 Wetskills Water Challenge marks another milestone for NUST, reinforcing the university's pivotal role as a hub for engineering excellence and sustainable development in the region.
