Govt Launches Landmark High Performance Computing ...

Govt Launches Landmark High Performance Computing Centre in Strategic China–Zim Alliance

Patience Muchemwa- Senior Reporter

In a powerful moment underscoring Zimbabwe’s leap into the digital era, President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially commissioned and accepted the handover of the China-Aided Zimbabwe Centre for High Performance Computing — Phase 2 — at the University of Zimbabwe.

The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Ambassador Zhou Ding, who described Zimbabwe as “one of the few African nations with advanced high-performance computing capabilities.”

President Mnangagwa highlighted the centre’s critical role in Zimbabwe’s roadmap toward industrialization and modernization under the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, with a particular focus on STEM disciplines.

He emphasised that computational science has become indispensable in solving complex challenges across multiple sectors, ranging from climate modeling, satellite data analysis, and wetlands management to national security, public health, and economic innovation.

The facility is expected to significantly strengthen Zimbabwe’s research and innovation capacity, enabling cutting-edge work in artificial intelligence, big data analytics, cloud computing, cybersecurity, renewable energy, agriculture, mining, tourism, medical training, and robotics.

The President urged academic and research institutions to ensure that access to the centre benefits all, stressing that “no one and no place should be left behind.”

He directed the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development to prioritize the training of academics, researchers, and innovators in fully utilizing the centre, including through virtual laboratories and e-learning platforms.

Ambassador Zhou Ding reaffirmed China’s dedication to Zimbabwe’s digital transformation journey, stating that the commissioning of ZCHPC Phase 2 marks “another milestone in our bilateral cooperation”.

This observation emphasises both the technological significance and diplomatic weight of the initiative, reinforcing the enduring strategic partnership between the two nations.

The commissioning of ZCHPC Phase 2 thus stands as a milestone in the China–Zimbabwe strategic alliance.

It extends cooperation beyond traditional infrastructure into the realm of digital transformation, scientific development, and talent cultivation—anchoring Zimbabwe’s ambition for a modern, innovation-driven future while underscoring the bonds of friendship between the two countries.