Four Zimbabweans have won the United States government-sponsored Applications for Africa (Apps4Africa): climate change contest to develop innovative, web-based and mobile technology solutions to local climate change challenges.
The Southern Africa regional contest was meant to build on the outcomes of regional climate change adaptation workshops organised by the Adaptation Partnership, which included the US and over 20 other countries.
The competition specifically targeted inventions that can fight the changing climatic conditions.
The Zimbabwean winners — Hugh Sado, Mercy Sado, Tinashe Marshall Sado and Tonderai Marshall Sado’s project “UnsApp” — was voted third earning them $3 000, behind Botswana and Madagascar.
Their project seeks to spread awareness through a web forum where adaptive management techniques could be considered in improving food security in the country in the future.
Three other young Zimbabwean innovators — Tanaka Mutakwa, Chido Warambwa and Tonderai Shamuyarira — were also hailed for creating “Varimi” and “Oraniq” projects respectively, portals to provide key farming information to registered users to help them adapt to weather projections or provide answers to commonly asked agricultural questions and promoting information about using chemicals by farmers in the hope that they produce organic foods instead of chemically enhanced crops.
The regional winners were announced at the Apps4Africa gathering in London last week.
The first prize of $15 000 went to Donald Taboka Masole, Patricia Motsumi, Mosetsanagape Motlhabane, all from Botswana, for their “My Health” project which seeks to help users to take precautionary measures by providing information about climate and diseases related to the weather like diarrhoea and malaria.
It also helps the user to schedule an appointment with a doctor to receive appropriate care.
Madagascar’s Andrianomanana Endrehina, Marie Laure Rahaingomalala, Jean Baptiste Paul Joseph Arsène, Fenitra Andrianomanana, Miora Sarobidy, Haingonirina Marie Violette, Faniry Andriamampianina, who came second, walked away with $7 000 for their “Service Anti-Cyclone” project, which seeks to alert users to pending cyclones common in the Southern Africa island country. Ramaroson Rindra Harifidy, Randriamiadana Derasoa, Rasoloaritafika Mahefa Nirina, Raveloarisoa Noro Lalao received special mention for their “AgriLife” project which also seeks to urge users to participate in reforestation projects to help locals recover from cyclone damages in Madagascar.
