Midlands State University (MSU) students engineered advanced robotic solutions to attain historic first and third-place victories in the Future Engineers Senior Category at the World Robot Olympiad Zimbabwe National Finals 2026, held at UFIC Bulawayo City from 16 to 18 September 2026.
This monumental triumph represents the first time the institution has ever won this highly competitive engineering classification.
Team Apex Nexus, featuring Munyaradzi Namalinga, Tanatswa Mbanje, and Neil Choeni, completely dominated the national competition to secure first place and seize the championship title.
Bringing exceptional ingenuity to the competition floor, Thouphelos Madzinga, Musawenkosi Ngulube, and Rufaro united under the team name The Interns to deliver an electrifying technical presentation and firmly secure third place.
The Innovations Manager for the MSU Research and Innovation Division, Mr. R.G. Chirapa, guided the competing students to transform complex theoretical algorithms into winning physical prototypes.
Bringing sharp industry expertise to the national stage, Business Development Manager for the MSU Research and Innovation Division, Mr. D. Cholele, served as an official competition judge to rigorously assess the finest technological talent across the nation.
These exceptional results reinforce the University’s mandate to produce holistic graduates who actively drive the industrialisation and modernisation of the economy through an entrenched research and innovation culture.
