Staff Reporter
Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) is set to make history by launching full-scale production of corrective lenses at its newly established, high-tech optometry lens production laboratory.
The facility is Zimbabwe’s first of its kind and will begin operations by the end of this month and has the capacity to manufacture up to 1 200 pairs of lenses within 24 hours.
This milestone project marks a significant step in Zimbabwe’s drive to industrialise higher education under the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, which encourages innovation and production-orientated learning within tertiary institutions.
The state-of-the-art facility is housed within BUSE’s optometry school and clinic, ensuring that patients can receive prescription lenses within an hour of diagnosis.
Speaking on the development yesterday, BUSE Vice Chancellor Professor Eddie Mwenje said the facility will transform the country’s eye care services by drastically reducing turnaround times and improving accessibility to essential eye health products.
“Full-scale production is going to start by the end of this month, and we anticipate that it will ease many of the challenges in the eye care sector. All services will be offered under one roof, which will ease the burden on patients. This facility will not only serve the local community but the entire nation, as there is currently no other centre that can match this level of efficiency,” he said.
In addition to its optometry success, Professor Mwenje also shared updates on the progress of the National Goat Genetic Improvement Centre.
The university has now incorporated five foreign goat breeds into its genetics programme, aiming to improve local herds by distributing crossbreeds to farmers.
Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister, Ambassador Frederick Shava, toured the university’s flagship projects this week and expressed confidence in the institution’s innovation capacity.
He urged BUSE to fully commercialise its innovations.
“We expect the university to embark on a full commercialisation drive to bring its products and services to the market. Institutions must also implement the innovation and industrialisation ordinances by rewarding inventors and innovators while carrying out risk profiling and mitigation for industrial parks,” he said.
Beyond the lens production lab, BUSE is rapidly evolving into a centre of applied innovation.
Its growing industrial park houses projects, such as a software development hub, a garment factory, and a gold analytical centre that supports the mining sector.
Meanwhile, the university’s innovation hub is producing a range of products from the indigenous Masawu fruit—including jam, juices, and cosmetics—highlighting the vast potential of local resources.
With these strides, BUSE is not only redefining tertiary education in Zimbabwe but also proving that innovation can directly serve national development.
