Kadoma has entered a new chapter in technical and vocational education with the opening of its first-ever tertiary technical institution, the Kadoma College of Technical Education (KCTE), which has officially opened its doors for the August 2026 intake.
The college is operating from the former Kadoma Cotton Training Centre along the Kadoma–Patchway Road, marking a significant milestone for the city and Mashonaland West province.
For decades, students seeking technical qualifications were forced to travel to Harare, Gweru or Bulawayo.
The establishment of KCTE is expected to expand access to technical education, reduce the financial burden on families and produce a skilled workforce to meet the demands of local industry.
Existing infrastructure at the Cotton Training Centre has been repurposed into classrooms, workshops, laboratories and administrative offices, allowing the institution to begin operations while plans for future expansion are developed.
College officials said the decision to use the site was strategic.
"By locating the college at the Cotton Training Centre, we are leveraging existing resources while bringing quality technical education closer to the people. This gives us a strong foundation as we work towards expanding the institution," an official said.
Speaking during a press conference, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Marian Chombo described the college as a major step in decentralising technical and vocational education.
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"This institution is not just a building but a centre of opportunity, a beacon of decentralisation and a specialised hub designed to bring technical skills closer to the people of Kadoma and the surrounding region," Chombo said.
She said the establishment of the college aligns with the government's drive to decentralise technical education.
"Having a technical education college in Kadoma means more young people can acquire skills without leaving their homes, and that strengthens local economies," she said.
Kadoma mayor Nigel Ruzario said the institution would play a key role in supporting the city's industrial growth.
"Kadoma is strategically positioned as an industrial and mining hub in Mashonaland West. The establishment of this college serves not only the residents of Kadoma but also communities in Chegutu, surrounding mining operations and our rural and agricultural areas," Ruzario said.
He described the college as a game-changer in equipping young people with practical skills required by industry.
"This institution will equip our youth with technical and vocational skills that match industry needs, helping reduce unemployment while supporting Zimbabwe's industrialisation agenda. As the City of Kadoma, we fully recognise the transformative potential of this national project," he said.
Ruzario added that education remains the cornerstone of economic development.
"The coming of a technical college to Kadoma expands access to tertiary education, creates opportunities for innovation and provides a pipeline of skilled artisans, technicians and technologists for our local economy," he said.
The college will offer HEXCO-accredited national certificate programmes in Information Technology, Fashion, Clothing and Textiles, Plumbing and Drain Laying, Motor Mechanics, Fabrication and Building Technology.
The programmes will run for between one and three years.
Through a partnership with the University of Zimbabwe, the institution will also offer a Diploma in Technical Education under the Pedagogics Programme.
The 18-month diploma will include specialisations in Information Technology, Textile Technology, Building Technology, Wood Technology and Machine Shop/Fabrication Engineering.
Officials said the curriculum has been designed to produce graduates who are both employment-ready and capable of creating their own businesses.
Stakeholders believe the college comes at a crucial time for Kadoma, where mining, agriculture and small and medium enterprises continue to drive the local economy.
The institution is also expected to establish partnerships with industry and local authorities to facilitate apprenticeships, industrial attachments and graduate employment.
A prospective student from Rimuka welcomed the development.
"We have been waiting for this for a long time. Now I can study Motor Mechanics here in Kadoma instead of travelling to Harare. It will save my family a lot of money," she said.
