By 
By Ross Moyo
Zimbabwe’s E-Lab Robotics have revealed that Drones go beyond educational tools for schooling purposes indicating they are used for surveillance, security like the Zimbabwe installed drone technology Covering 700 km of the Forbes Boarder Post offering Real-Time Intelligence, Quick Arrests, both Reducing and Deterring Smuggling which was the order of the day by Zimbabwe’s border with Mozambique.
E-lab, a local initiative by Zimbabweans to teach robotics from the lowest ecd level to the highest University level partnered ECOCASH, Econet, Nyaradzo, Wiklet, US Embassy, British Council, Zimbabwean government through its relevant ministries of both primary and secondary education (Mopse) and its older sisterly Ministry of Science, Innovation, Higher and Tertiary Education, for their upcoming 27 June 2025 Senior Robotics Championships to be held at Belvedere Teachers College and 25 July Junior Robotics championships to be held at Westridge Primary School.These will lead up to E-labs Robotics Festival and Symposium from primary to University level with drone technology made in Zimbabwe by Zimbabwean young innovators taking centre stage as a part of a chorus of other successful inventions beyond drones.
This was revealed in an exclusive interview between TechnoMag and E-lab Robotics Director
Justice Gumbochuma.
Gumbochuma revealed various key stakeholders have including government used their e-lab made technology as,
“Smart wheelchairs, assistive technology for the visually impaired as the country itself “deployed drones along Mozambique border to curb smuggling as well as other ports of entry including using them for surveillance by security agencies.”
In light of Zimbabwean government having a field day in its educa ministries were pupil’s are showcasing their intelligent skills in robotics at their level, government has also intensified efforts to clamp down on smuggling along the country’s porous eastern border with Mozambique through the full-scale deployment of drone surveillance technology – a move officials say is already yielding tangible results.
Wit E-lab holding its inaugural championship last year, this year’s championship, festival and symposium will see drones, operational since May 1, 2025, at Zimbabwe-Moza border also being used extensively along key smuggling hotspots, including the Forbes Border Post, which links Manicaland Province to Mozambique’s Manica Province. The new surveillance initiative has reportedly led to a decline in smuggling activities and an increase in arrests.
E-lab head Operations Kudakwashe and E-lab team leader and Projects Manager Brian Chikuni praised the resilience that the children they tutor robotics have shown immensely excelling in their fields.
E-lab head projects Kudakwashe confirmed this development praised the role drones are playing in bolstering border security even jovially stating this interviewer could patent his own security robot which the interviewer had asked on how it can be done.
“You can have a patent on the security robot you asked me about. Drones and other kind of robots can secure your house.We have seen a notable decline in smuggling cases. Even across the world were drones have been employed and in Zimbabwe and elsewhere, security forces are vigilant and on top of the situation, thanks to the added surveillance capabilities provided by the drones,” said the Head of E-lab Projects as he practically demonstrated each type of drone made by learners at their institutions.
E-lab Head Operations Brian Chikuni also weighed in that,
“Following in His Excellencey President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s National Development Strategy NDS1 and 2 blue print, we are working hand in glove with the government and our partnerships across the board and spectrum to let the robotics minds of these kids shine without limitations.We have drones that are also serving as a deterrent and helping to identify individuals involved in illegal activities.”
“On the competitions front, we also have trips set for America’s Tesla, Arizona State University from 27 November to 6 December.Prior to that we are traveling with a huge contingency of school kids to tour China’s high tech facilities sometime in August this year whilst a Britain visit is also on the cards sometime as our genius whizkids share knowledge with other tech savvy companions.”
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