18-Year-Old Builds Mini Tractor as 556 Graduate from Harare College

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare

An 18-year-old automotive engineering graduate has drawn attention at St Peter’s Kubatana Industrial Training College after building a mini tractor in just two months, demonstrating how technical and vocational education can translate into practical innovations.

Alexander Paguti said he developed the tractor as part of his coursework, using skills acquired at the Harare-based institution. He designed the project with farmers in mind, hoping to make agricultural work easier. “I made this mini tractor in two months from the skills I acquired at this institution. This innovation was part of my coursework. It was my project, and it will be used by farmers to make their work easier. I made it with farmers in mind,” he said.

Paguti was among 556 students who graduated from the college on Thursday, completing training in technical, vocational and business-related disciplines. The graduating class comprised 353 males and 203 females, representing 63 percent and 37 percent of the total, respectively. Students graduated in fields including Industrial Clothing, Cosmetology, Mechanical Engineering, Information Technology, Hospitality and Business Studies, reflecting the range of practical skills offered by the institution.

College principal Thomas Gatsi said the institution’s goal was to produce graduates capable of creating employment, providing services and contributing to national development rather than relying solely on formal job opportunities. “We are not producing graduates who will carry certificates looking for employment. We are producing graduates who will produce goods, offer services, and create employment for others. Heritage-based education means using our own resources to build our own nation,” he said.

Gatsi’s remarks reflect the emphasis on innovation, industrialisation and entrepreneurship under Zimbabwe’s Education 5.0 model, which seeks to connect education with practical solutions and economic development. The graduation ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Simelisizwe Sibanda, who was the guest of honour.

Sibanda urged institutions and graduates to ensure that artificial intelligence is used responsibly and in line with Zimbabwe’s national AI strategy. “I encourage you all to use AI ethically, following Zimbabwe’s AI strategy. AI without ethics is a dangerous weapon,” he said.

Paguti’s mini tractor offered a practical illustration of the type of innovation technical colleges seek to encourage, particularly in agriculture, where appropriate machinery can help farmers carry out tasks more efficiently.

However, the tractor’s eventual usefulness will depend on factors such as its performance, safety, durability, maintenance requirements and affordability for farmers. As Zimbabwe continues to emphasise skills development and locally driven innovation, projects such as Paguti’s highlight the potential for vocational training to equip young people with the ability to develop practical solutions to everyday challenges.

The college’s latest graduating class also underscores the importance of technical education in preparing young people for careers across manufacturing, agriculture, services and entrepreneurship.

18-year-old builds mini tractor in Zimbabwe