BINDURA University of Science Education (BUSE) Vice Chancellor, Professor Eddie Mwenje, was named Best Performing Vice Chancellor for 2025, following a series of high-impact innovation and industrialisation projects at the institution at the 2025 Performance Evaluation Awards and Performance Contracts Signing Ceremony held at the Harare International Conference Centre recently.
The award ceremony was presided over by President Cde Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, recognising Professor Mwenje’s leadership in advancing initiatives aligned with the heritage-based Education 5.0 framework and Vision 2030.
The accolade came amid growing support for performance-based contracts introduced by the Second Republic, which academics and business leaders say are driving transformation through research, innovation and industrialisation.
Under Professor Mwenje’s leadership, BUSE has undergone a significant transformation, anchored on practical, production-oriented projects.
Among the flagship developments is the Industrial Park featuring Palpo Technologies – a tablet, laptop and mobile phone assembling facility. The plant has a production capacity of 12 000 gadgets per day, with over 800 schools already ordering tablets, while several universities have placed orders for laptops.
The institution has also developed the “Chiringa” dashboard, a monitoring and evaluation tool now adopted by government and is currently in use across 23 ministries under the Social Services Cluster.
Professor Mwenje attributed the recognition to teamwork and alignment with national development priorities.
“We are really excited about the vision of the country, Vision 2030, as enunciated by His Excellency, the President, and as Bindura University, we are just playing our part to ensure that we contribute towards a prosperous and empowered society in line with Vision 2030.
“As a University, we are excited and more so we thank the government for the support we have received over the last five years to set up the industrial parks, to set up the innovation hubs,” he said.
Beyond manufacturing, the university has expanded community-focused services, including an optometry and audiology clinic, and developed “Titus”, an application capable of speaking 19 local languages.
Construction of the Masawu Manufacturing Plant in Muzarabani is also nearing completion at 95 percent.
The Chairman of Council, Eng Dr Farai Mavhiya-Bhiza, congratulated the Vice Chancellor on behalf of the University community saying:
“Your visionary leadership has steered BUSE into becoming a leading technology hub, delivering practical solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing contemporary challenges.
“Groundbreaking initiatives such as the Chiringa Monitoring and Evaluation Dashboard, Palpo Technologies Assembly Plant, OpTech Lens Manufacturing, and the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies exemplify BUSE’s outstanding implementation of the heritage-based Education 5.0 framework, as well as the National Development Strategies 1 and 2.
“May this prestigious recognition propel you and BUSE to even greater heights of excellence and service to Zimbabwe and the world,” read her statement.
Several BUSE partners also congratulated Prof Mwenje.
In a congratulatory message published in Nehanda Guardian, Fuller’s Aggregate said:
“This prestigious recognition is a clear testament to your (Prof Mwenje) outstanding leadership, dedication and unwavering commitment to academic excellence and institutional growth. Your achievements reflect the transformative impact of effective leadership in shaping a brighter future for education and national development.”
Sports Balls also sent a congratulatory message to the Vice Chancellor saying, “Your (Prof Mwenje) vision and dedication have truly elevated the Bindura University of Science Education.”
As Zimbabwe transitions from NDS1 to NDS2, Prof. Mwenje says the University is scaling up innovation-driven projects aimed at delivering tangible benefits to communities and contributing to national development.
By Tapiwa Machemedze and Tinashe Chuma – ZBC News/BUSE Reporter
