Zimbabwe Calls for Accelerated Industrialisation Through Education and Innovation at SADC Meeting

Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Professor Fanuel Tagwira, has called on Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to fast-track regional industrialisation by investing heavily in education, innovation, and science and technology.

Speaking at the opening of the SADC Ministers of Education, Training, and Science, Technology and Innovation meeting held at the Harare International Conference Centre, Prof. Tagwira emphasised that no nation can rise above the level of its education system.

“Education, Science, Technology and Innovation are pivotal to national development. Today, we stand at the crossroads of opportunity,” said Prof. Tagwira.

Central to Prof. Tagwira’s remarks was a strong endorsement of the SADC University of Transformation (SUT), a flagship initiative he described as “no longer a concept but a living institution.”

He urged member states to ratify and support the university, which is designed to align academic curricula with regional value chains in agriculture, ICT, and mining.

He also highlighted the SADC Qualifications Framework (SADCQF) and the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ) as transformative tools for labour mobility and skills development across borders.

“A nurse trained in Zimbabwe should be able to work in Zambia without unnecessary barriers. These frameworks are game changers,” he noted.

Prof. Tagwira raised alarm over findings from a recent baseline study showing that over 30% of SADC youth lack basic competencies, citing UNESCO data.

He called for the scaling of initiatives like the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) and the digitisation of foundational learning through the FutureLifeNow! Programme, in partnership with the Gates Foundation and UNESCO.

“Foundational literacy and numeracy are the bedrock of productivity. Without them, our dreams of industrialisation are hollow,” he warned.

Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) also featured prominently in his address, with Prof. Tagwira stressing the need for SADC to adopt cutting-edge tools in artificial intelligence, smart agriculture, and digital health.

He announced plans to bolster the Regional Innovation and Technology Support Programme, aimed at incubating startups and helping SADC reach its US$5 billion digital economy target.

“We must invest in ICT and harness digital technologies to ensure our education systems are future-proof,” he said.

Prof. Tagwira urged member states to adopt the Revised TVET Strategic Framework (2024–2030) and endorse the SADCQF CAT and RPL Guidelines to ensure regional qualifications are standardised and inclusive.

He concluded by acknowledging the role of development partners such as the ILO, OBREAL, UNESCO, and the Gates Foundation, whose contributions have helped shape policies and frameworks for inclusive education and skills recognition.

“The time for deliberation is over. The time for action is now. Together, let us build a SADC where no skill is wasted, no innovation is siloed, and no learner is left behind,” said Prof. Tagwira.

The SADC meeting continues with member states expected to adopt a raft of resolutions aimed at harmonising education and innovation strategies across the region.