MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Zimbabwe continues to lose billions of dollars in potential revenue due to weak linkages between universities and the productive sector, a situation that has slowed innovation, industrialisation and economic growth, a leading business entrepreneur has revealed.
Dr. Tinashe Manzungu said the country could unlock vast economic opportunities if academia and industry forged stronger partnerships to drive research-based solutions to national challenges.
He was speaking during the Midlands State University (MSU) Research, Innovation and Industrial Expo held in Gweru last week.
The Expo, running under the theme “Linking Academia and Industry to Forge a Path of Sustainable Growth,” brought together researchers, business leaders, innovators, and policymakers to explore ways of translating research into practical solutions for industry.
“What we see displayed here today is not merely a collection of projects, it is tangible proof of this university’s vibrant potential,” said Dr. Manzungu. “Traditionally, academia and industry have operated in silos, with universities focusing on theory while industries chase profits. The result is that local research gathers dust on library shelves while companies import solutions from abroad.”
He said the gap between academia and industry had cost the nation billions through lost opportunities, underutilized talent, and dependence on foreign technologies, a model he described as unsustainable in the 21st century.
“If we are serious about economic transformation, job creation, and industrialisation, we must bridge this gap and forge a dynamic, mutually beneficial partnership between academia and industry,” he said.
Dr. Manzungu noted that the skills mismatch between university graduates and industry needs remained a major concern, with many graduates possessing theoretical knowledge but limited practical experience, a trend contributing to unemployment and low productivity.
He added that industries failing to tap into local research often end up importing costly technologies or relying on outdated systems, increasing production costs and weakening competitiveness, particularly in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, ICT, and manufacturing.
Drawing from global examples, Dr. Manzungu said countries that had successfully integrated academia and industry built thriving innovation ecosystems and high-tech economies, while those that ignored such partnerships continued to lag behind.
“A healthy innovation system requires a steady flow of ideas, talent, and resources between universities, industries, and government. Without this synergy, we end up with fragmented innovation and minimal national impact,” he said.
He urged universities to rebrand themselves as strategic partners in national development rather than functioning solely as academic institutions.
“To our faculty and researchers, I encourage you to look beyond the campus walls and identify real problems where your expertise can make a difference. And to our students, your energy and digital-native skills are the most valuable currency in this new ecosystem,” said Dr Manzungu.
He further emphasized that under the Second Republic’s Education 5.0 philosophy, institutions of higher learning must go beyond teaching and research to embrace innovation, industrialisation, and community engagement.
“Education 5.0 compels universities to produce not just graduates, but problem-solvers, entrepreneurs, and creators of wealth,” he said, adding that research must align with national priorities such as agriculture, energy, health, mining, and manufacturing.
The construction business mogul added that bridging the academia–industry gap was crucial if Zimbabwe was to attain Vision 2030, the goal of achieving an upper-middle-income economy with innovation and collaboration.
Shelfer Phiri a social scientist said Dr. Manzungu was perfectly correct, but as long there is no budget allocation from the central government nothing will move.
“While it is of paramount importance for local industry to benefit from institutions of higher learning in the country who are into innovation to reduce costs of doing business, but as long as there is no buy in from our government especially the treasury, we are not going anywhere.
“We can have as many inventions as possible but if we do not invest in research and development like China, USA, India etc we will still get expensive technology from outside, a good example is Bindura University which is producing cheaper cellphones, unfortunately we are hearing nothing from the authorizes on how they intend to take the issue further,” said Phiri.
Phiri added that developed countries allocate more than 6% of national budget for R&D but developing countries only put less the 0.5% for the same cause, a sign that they are not interested in innovation.
