Inaugural Presidential Innovation Fair 2023
His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa was the Guest of Honour at the Inaugural Presidential Innovation Fair 2023 at the Rainbow Towers, HICC.
The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Inovation Science and Technology Development organised the annual Presidential Innovation Fair in a bid to showcase the strides that Zimbabwe is making in innovation that is anchored in the newly adopted education philosophy of Heritage Based Education 5.0. The Presidential Innovation Fair aims to build and reinforce a thriving innovation ecosystem through exhibitions and expos of current work from Tertiary Education Institutions while attracting venture capital (local and international) in an environment which permits idea sharing, benchmarking and standardisation of innovation initiatives. President Mnangagwa toured 35 exhibition stands at the Inaugural Presidential Fair, including 2 stands of campus radio stations which were broadcasting live at the fair.
President Mnangagwa was interviewed live on the Great Zimbabwe University campus radio. After the tour President Mnangagwa proceeded to the main auditorium to present his speech as well as to present the Presidential Innovation Awards. In his speech President Mnangagwa encouraged tertiary institutions and students to be torch bearers of innovations that aimed at producing quality goods and services. He emphasized leveraging of local resources for the production of goods and services required by Zimbabweans. President Mnangagwa presented the Presidential Innovation Awards which saw Verify Engineering walking with the grand prize the Presidential Innovation of the Year Award. The winner of the award was judged based on their contribution in the fight against Covid-19, industrialisation in the country, and import substitution.