By Ndumiso Tshuma
Zimbabwe’s World Robot Olympiad (WRO) National Finals, held in Bulawayo, drew a record 53 teams from all 10 provinces, in what organisers described as a milestone for STEM education in the country.
The event brought together over 400 students and educators competing in elementary, junior, and senior categories. The national finals showcased growing participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields among Zimbabwean youth.
Girls in STEM Trust founding director Victoria Nxumalo said the scale of this year’s competition reflects the rapid growth of robotics education nationwide.
“In 2024, we hosted just 19 teams from three provinces. Today, we have 53 teams representing all 10 provinces,” said Nxumalo. “This is not just about numbers, it’s about changed lives, broken barriers, and a new generation of problem-solvers.”
She said the programme had reached over 5,000 learners across the country this year alone.
The WRO finals are part of a broader effort to make STEM education more accessible, practical, and aligned with global trends. The competition challenges students to build and programme robots to tackle real-world problems.
Director of Education in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Lawrence Mkwala, said the country’s curriculum is shifting towards innovation.
“Learners are no longer confined to textbooks and chalkboards. They are now builders, thinkers, and creators,” Mkwala said. “We have introduced STEP education, ICT integration, and more recently, robotics and coding in our classrooms.”
Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Dingumuzi Phuti, described the competition as a key component of Zimbabwe’s digital transformation agenda.
“Each robot built here, and each problem solved, points to a future Zimbabwe that is innovative, resilient, and globally competitive,” he said.
Phuti added that the event supports the government’s Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1, which prioritise digital infrastructure, internet access, and digital skills development.