GWERU – 18 September 2025 — Midlands State University (MSU), in partnership with NMB Bank and its tech subsidiary XPlug, launched a high-energy Hackathon aimed at harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and location intelligence to redefine customer loyalty programmes and bridging the gap between academia and Zimbabwe’s fast-evolving digital economy.
Held under the theme “Loyalty Reimagined: Rewarding Trust with AI and Location Intelligence,” the competition brought together the university’s innovative students to develop cutting-edge solutions with real commercial potential.
Acting Executive Director, Research and Innovation, Professor G. Mehlana, outlined the event’s four key goals: accelerating digital innovation, strengthening ties between industry and academia, nurturing future-ready talent, and identifying scalable projects for commercialisation.
Speaking while launching the competitions, MSU Vice Chancellor Professor V.N. Muzvidziwa framed the Hackathon as more than competitions but a launchpad for transformative ideas.
“Today is more than just the launch of a competition.
“It is the ignition of ideas, the forging of partnerships, and the birth of solutions that could shape Zimbabwe’s digital future,” he declared.
The Hackathon, born from a strategic MoU between MSU and NMB Bank, was hailed by Professor Muzvidziwa as a living testament to the University’s drive to produce graduates who don’t just chase jobs—but create them.
NMB Digital Banking Manager Ms. T. Mabvumbe echoed Professor Muzvidziwa’s sentiments, calling the Hackathon a springboard for industry-disrupting innovations.
“Hackathons are more than competitions, they are a launch pad for ideas, ideas that can shape industries, transform communities, and even change the world,” she reiterated.
In a clash of tech titans, formidable teams unveiled functional prototypes blending AI-powered customer personalisation with centralised dashboards for data-driven loyalty management, solutions that could redefine Zimbabwe’s fintech landscape.
After intense deliberations by a joint NMB-MSU judging panel, Smart Rewards project by Takudzwa Mahachi and Nonokai Siziba claimed the top prize of USD1,500 while Bank Loyalty System project led by Tinotenda Murinye secured second place worth USD1,000 and AI Powered Voice Transaction Manager App project by Talent Chigwagwa and Anopa S. Maisiri took home USD500 as third-place finishers.
In his closing remarks, Acting Deputy Director, Research and Innovation Dr. S. Chitima applauded participants and sponsors who made the event a success.
With academia, banking, and tech leaders rallying behind the next generation of innovators, the event signals a bold step toward a homegrown digital revolution.
