By Dorcas Mufiri
The Harare Institute of Public Health (HIPH) has opened a state-of-the-art 120-seater computer laboratory, upgraded from an 80-seat facility, and equipped with CCTV surveillance as the institution strengthens digital learning and expands the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and mathematical modelling in health research.
The facility, opened at HIPH’s Parklane campus in Harare, is designed to improve students’ access to technology for learning, research and computer-based examinations.
HIPH Head of Marketing and Business Development Elizabeth Dumbreni said the investment was part of the institution’s commitment to strengthening learning systems in tertiary education.
“The institution has opened a state-of-the-art computer laboratory equipped with CCTV surveillance as part of its commitment to strengthening learning systems in tertiary education,” Dumbreni said.
She said the laboratory had been expanded from 80 to 120 seats, significantly increasing the number of students who can access the facility at a time and providing them with modern technological resources aimed at improving their academic experience.
The development effectively creates a one-stop computer facility where students can undertake academic work and examinations while accessing digital resources required for their studies.
HIPH Head of Information Technology Reconcile Makamure said the investment goes beyond providing computers for conventional teaching, with the institution increasingly integrating technology into research and innovation.
Makamure said HIPH was incorporating artificial intelligence and mathematical modelling into research, particularly in drug discovery, where the technologies can assist researchers in analysing complex scientific data and identifying potential drug candidates.
The institution hopes the research could eventually contribute to Zimbabwe’s pharmaceutical sector by generating knowledge and technological solutions capable of supporting and optimising local drug manufacturing.
AI and mathematical modelling are increasingly being used in scientific research to process large volumes of data, simulate biological processes and identify potentially promising compounds before researchers proceed to more costly laboratory and clinical stages.
For HIPH, the move represents an attempt to position computers not simply as tools for administration and classroom instruction, but as infrastructure for scientific research and innovation.
The latest investment also comes as the institution expands its emphasis on digital teaching methods. HIPH has been participating in the European Union-backed Sustain-IT Project, which focuses on sustainability, inclusive teaching and digital pedagogy in vocational education and training.
Earlier this year, the institution hosted training involving educators, trainers, academic staff and programme officers under the project as part of efforts to strengthen the use of technology and innovative teaching methods.
HIPH is also preparing to host the third edition of the Public Health Symposium on November 25 and 26, 2026, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The symposium, scheduled for Cresta Lodge in Harare, will run under the theme “Heritage-Based Solutions for Building Resilient Public Health Systems” and is expected to bring together public health professionals and stakeholders from Zimbabwe and beyond.
Before that, attention will turn to HIPH’s annual graduation ceremony scheduled for September 4, when another cohort of students is expected to graduate.
The opening of the 120-seater laboratory, following its expansion from 80 seats, adds to HIPH’s broader drive to place technology, research and innovation at the centre of its academic programmes, with the institution seeking to strengthen the link between tertiary education and practical solutions to Zimbabwe’s public health challenges.
