Heritage Based Education 5.0 Rural Industrialisation

This is a partnership with Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Innovation Science and Technology Development (MHTEISTD) on Rural Industrialisation and Implementation of Heritage-Based Education 5.0. Following the Kadoma Conference June 2025, preparations are underway towards Piloting rapid rural-urban industrial integration through Community Industrial Innovation Hub Initiative.

The goal is dismantling the dual economy through direct mass industrial and commercial integration of rural and urban economies. The transformation is in uplifting the majority of the rural population into a rural middle-class population – mass producing, mass processing, and mass consuming their own products and services; and participating directly in agriculture, manufacturing, and tertiary economic activities. The strategy is in establishing pilot Community Agro-Industrial Enterprise Innovation Hubs that harnesses solar energy, harvest water, draw on digital connectivity to promote sustainable farming, manufacturing, commercial and tertiary economic activities, while preserving local heritage and supporting a wide range of rural industries.

Key components and services of an agro-industrial innovation hub include: a) Infrastructure: that is resilient, affordable, and tailored to rural needs; b) Renewable Energy Systems: Solar microgrids, biogas plants, or small hydropower (Minimum25 kV) to power training centers, water pumps, internet infrastructure and micro-industrial machines; c) Water Access: Boreholes, rainwater harvesting, and drip irrigation networks; clean water supply into the hub and possibly nearby homes or agricultural plots; also drill protected wells; d) Broadband Connectivity: Provide reliable internet access for digital training in agro- processing, crafts, hospitality, and e-commerce.

The community hub has Specific Hub Support for Farmers and Artisans alike, such workspaces and tools with light machinery and plant lease-hire-purchase services for light farm production, harvesting storage, etc.; aggregation and processing, market access; training and tools; natural resource based community banking and insurance solutions. The Community hub has: a) Skills Academy for the community offering advanced production and manufacturing knowledge and skills; b) Social Infrastructure: Training Centers; healthcare:; community activity and meeting Spaces; c) Business Support Services: Incubation financial services; legal services etc; d) Sustainability Initiatives: Waste Management etc; and e) Cultural Preservation: Eco Heritage Tourism and Votels for accommodation and hospitality purposes.

Criteria for prioritizing industries: Focus on sectors that align with local resources, reduce reliance on imports, labour intensive create jobs for youth and women, and add value to raw materials.

Through the programme we envision an African Society that is progressive, strong and self-reliant. A society where individuals are able to work for themselves, their families and communities; where they are able to build strong institutions that guarantee peace, stability, social and economic progress, freedom and happiness.