HARARE, Jul 10 (NewsDay Live)- Government has commended India for strengthening Zimbabwe's human capital development through an expanded scholarship programme aimed at addressing the country's critical skills shortages.
Speaking during a farewell ceremony for 20 Zimbabwean students going to India for further studies under the 2026–2027 Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Scholarship Programme, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology permanent secretary Fanuel Tagwira said the initiative aligns with Zimbabwe's drive for a knowledge-based economy.
He urged the departing students to verify the accreditation of their academic programmes with the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) before leaving the country to ensure smooth recognition of their qualifications upon their return.
"The programmes you are pursuing fall within Zimbabwe's critical skills gap areas. As the economy continues to grow, the demand for highly qualified professionals will increase," he said.
He described India as an important development partner whose advances in innovation, science and affordable technology offer valuable lessons for Zimbabwe's industrialisation agenda.
Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brahma Kumar said the scholarship programme has become one of the strongest pillars of educational cooperation between the two countries since Zimbabwe joined the ICCR initiative in 2010.
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He announced that India had doubled Zimbabwe's annual allocation under the Maitri Scholarship Scheme from 10 to 20 fully funded scholarships for the 2026–2027 academic year after Zimbabwe consistently utilised every scholarship slot offered over the past 15 years.
Kumar said the scholarships cover tuition fees, accommodation support, monthly living allowances, return air travel, medical insurance and research support where applicable.
"As you travel to India, you become ambassadors of Zimbabwe. Your conduct, integrity and commitment to excellence will strengthen the enduring friendship between our two nations," Kumar said.
Several scholarship recipients described the awards as life-changing opportunities that would equip them with skills to contribute to Zimbabwe's development on their return.