Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
MILESTONE College once again hoisted the national flag high when they came out tops at the Africa Mars Rover Challenge held in South Africa last week.
Their team of high school learners outsmarted 70 teams drawn from universities and colleges across Africa to scoop the overall first prize.
They settled for second place in the robotics category to earn the best astronomy support mission award.
The competition required participants to design and build small, mobile mars rover prototype, capable of wireless control and powered independently.
The event attracted participants from universities from Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
The winning team comprised Makanaka Bonyongwa (18), Lionel Munuwa (17), Kudakwashe Jonga (17), Dineo Shonhiwa (17), Sedilaka Nyoni (17), Gamuchirai Sumani (17), Tinotenda Ndemera (17), Tatenda Chingono (18) and Nokutenda Ndemera (15).
The team’s software engineer, Sedilaka Nyoni said they were thrilled to represent the country and emerge victorious.
“We were thrilled to represent Zimbabwe on the international stage, and emerge victorious. We are proud to bring the awards back home, and as a team, we look forward to applying these skills in our future endeavours. Our winning prototype is a smaller version of what can go to Mars, analyse data and come back with samples that can help us understand what the planet is like,” said Nyoni.
Another team member, Ndemera, said they were elated to hoist the national flag high through their quest for STEM – an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
“We believe that we have set a path for our peers out there who think they cannot do it when it comes to STEM. The competition taught us the importance of teamwork in building robots, and together we can build a greater nation,” she said.
The winning prototype had an on-board weather station that could measure temperature, humidity and wind speed, and transmit data to the control centre in real time.
It could carry more than two kilogrammes of load, and was able to transmit a live video using its on-board camera. With six wheels, the robot was powered by electric motors, with a gearbox.
Team mentor, Mr Stewert Mderere said their innovative prototype rover, designed to navigate Martian terrain, impressed the judges with its advanced features, including temperature and humidity sensors, wind speed measurement capabilities and rock analysis software.
“The competition was tough, but the team’s collaboration and problem-solving skills set them apart. I am incredibly proud of their achievement, and grateful for the opportunity to guide them. This achievement showcases the talent and potential of Zimbabwe’s youths. We are committed to supporting our learners’ passion for STEM education and encouraging innovation.
“The team competed with students from universities, and was somewhat sceptical of whether they would win or not, because they are just high school learners. However, they adequately presented their project strategy, design and the capabilities of their manufactured rover. They were also given the opportunity to showcase their knowledge of Mars geology rock types, crater formations, weather conditions and astrobiology,” he said.
Mr Mderere said this was made possible by Government’s Heritage-based Education 5.0 Policy, which continues to unlock the innovative potential among primary and secondary school learners.
“Government’s framework continues to unlock the innovative potential of our learners, while equipping them with the practical skills needed to thrive in a competitive global environment. As a result, as a club, we are now mentoring schools in remote areas in Manicaland in robotics,” he said.
This year alone, the Milestone College robotics team has scooped a number of accolades.
In March, a blended team of learners from Milestone College and Tynwald High School represented the country at the 2024 First Tech Robotics competitions in Italy where they scooped the Judges choice award.
In July, one of the college’s robotics team members, Tinotenda Nyoni scooped a US$15 000 cash prize, which was accompanied by a scholarship to study at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York after she competed in the Genius Olympiad competitions.
This allowed the teenager and other robotics team members from the school to go on a Silicon Valley, USA tour where they met Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the US, His Excellency, Tadeous Tafirenyika Chifamba.
The team also participated in the ZimScience Fair Awards in February, where they won, and will be part of the team that will be representing the country at the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition to be held in China next year.
The club’s junior members also participated in the Africa Science Buskers competition held, where they won an award that earned them a ticket to travel to Abu Dhabi to represent the country in 2025.
