Bulawayo turns to research to boost economic growth

THE City of Bulawayo is utilising research based solutions to tackle various challenges and boost economic growth. This strategy has led the local authority to sign three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with different higher education institutions.

The city aims to translate research activities into practical projects that will provide solutions to issues such as water, sewerage, housing, and other urban challenges, while also promoting industrialisation. Industrial entities are expected to collaborate with these research institutions.

Bulawayo’s Economic Development Manager, Mr Kholisani Moyo, said the council had compiled a book of research abstracts from the recently held Bulawayo Economic Development Conference. These abstracts will be developed into actionable concepts for implementation.

“Looking into the research side, we had to sign MoUs with different organisations. So far, last week we signed three MoUs with Zimbabwe Open University, the Research Council of Zimbabwe, and Bulawayo Polytechnic.

“With the MoU signed with Bulawayo Polytechnic, we have already linked them with Venda in Limpopo Province, where they are now undertaking various programmes through the connection we facilitated. With the Research Council of Zimbabwe, we are now working on a programme to ensure that research activities taking place in the city are translated into tangible projects,” said Mr Moyo.

Mr Moyo said that the city had also engaged local industry to follow up on ongoing research activities.

He noted that the city recently hosted the Bulawayo Research and Innovation Seminar, where numerous innovations related to water and tourism were presented. The local authority will follow up on their implementation.

“We are focusing on various sectors of the economy. In tourism, there are initiatives underway; in culture, we are also active. In industry, we are working with universities to strike a balance between academia and industry.

“We have brought together industry players and institutions of higher learning.

“Industry should benefit from university-led research. They should approach universities with their challenges and receive tailored, commercialised solutions in return.

“We have also introduced policies to guide research and innovation within the city, as we previously lacked a framework for managing these activities. That is what we are working on now,” said Mr Moyo.

Mr Moyo further revealed that in the coming weeks, the city would begin calling for expressions of interest in various projects and would continue to present investment opportunities to potential partners.

Meanwhile, Mr Moyo said that during this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, the city engaged with several potential investors, including those from the creative economy, with interests in arts, culture, and sports.

He said these investors were keen to understand the potential within these sectors, and the city is now exploring how to leverage sports, arts, and culture to drive economic development.

The arts sector, in particular, is a key economic driver in Bulawayo, and the city is committed to ensuring its growth and broader economic participation.-herald