Great Zimbabwe, located near modern-day Masvingo, Zimbabwe, stands as a testament to the ingenuity and technological prowess of its ancient inhabitants. Beginning around 1100 C.E., the city flourished as the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, a Shona (Bantu) trading empire, until its abandonment in the 15th century.
The word "zimbabwe" itself means "stone houses" in Shona, reflecting the impressive stone structures that characterize the site. Great Zimbabwe was a vital hub in a large and wealthy global trading network. Archaeologists have discovered pottery from China and Persia, as well as Arab coins, within the ruins, indicating extensive trade connections.
Aerial view of Great Zimbabwe. Source: Wikipedia
Ancient Innovations and Technologies
While discussions on the origins of science often focus on the Greeks and Romans, many of their discoveries came long after African developments. The remarkable civilization in Egypt and the sophistication and impressive inventions throughout ancient sub-Saharan Africa demonstrate a rich history of technological advancement.
Many modern high-school-level concepts in mathematics were first developed in Africa, including the first method of counting. Egyptians scripted textbooks about math more than 35,000 years ago, which included division and multiplication of fractions and geometric formulas to calculate the area and volume of shapes. Distances and angles were calculated, algebraic equations were solved, and mathematically based predictions were made of the size of floods of the Nile.
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Several ancient African cultures birthed discoveries in astronomy, with many of these being foundations on which we still rely. Egyptians charted the movement of the sun and constellations and the cycles of the moon, dividing the year into 12 parts and developing a yearlong calendar system containing 365 ¼ days. A structure known as the African Stonehenge in present-day Kenya (constructed around 300 B.C.) was a remarkably accurate calendar.
Many advances in metallurgy and tool making were made across the entirety of ancient Africa. Advances in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda between 1,500 and 2,000 years ago surpassed those of Europeans then and were astonishing to Europeans when they learned of them.
Various past African societies created sophisticated built environments. There are the engineering feats of the Egyptians: the bafflingly raised obelisks and the more than 80 pyramids. The largest of the pyramids covers 13 acres and is made of 2.25 million blocks of stone. Later, in the 12th century and much farther south, there were hundreds of great cities in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. There, massive stone complexes were the hubs of cities. One included a 250-meter-long, 15,000-ton curved granite wall.
Great Zimbabwe Tower. Source: iStockphoto
The Chimurenga Concept
Chimurenga refers to means and ways of defending or fighting among vedzimbahwe (those of the houses of stone, dzimba dzemabwe or dzimbahwe), who since colonial times have been called the Shona. The spiritual aspects of chimurenga have received treatment only with respect to the 1896-1897 and 1960s-1970s wars.
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The historical genealogies of vaRozvi in particular are explicit about the role of Murenga in guiding these immigrants from Guruhuswa to Dzimbahwe. They say a voice called Tovela “led them on their way, keeping them safe from dangerous places, feeding them. The voice could speak from any object,” from grass, trees, infants, even stones.
Vedzimbahwe generally believed that mhondoro had power over all zvisikwa (creations)-humanity included. As the keeper of makona (the clan’s war medicines), zimbuya guru (great ancestress), popularly known as mbonga or sviba, was the most important person in the community after the chief.
VaMhani were not alone; vaNhohwe too paid homage to their mbonga, Nyamita, “Mubvakure, makabuda nomumvura, nehwai dzikapera [One who came from far away, who came out through the waters, losing all her sheep in the process]”.
Gold Production at Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe (CE1000-1600) is world famous for outstanding cultural innovations and localised and globalised entanglement with trans-Africa and trans-Indian Ocean exchange. New excavations yielded fragments of over a hundred gold processing vessels comprising reused pottery and purpose-made crucibles from stratified contexts in the Eastern Ridge Ruins and adjacent areas.
All ceramics were made of alumina-rich clays and contain minerals common to granite-derived lithologies typical of the area, although it is possible that particularly refractory clays were selected to make crucibles locally. These technical ceramics were used for refining and collecting gold at high temperature, most likely producing not only relatively standardised ingots but also finished objects. The composition of the gold prills set in crucible slag is consistent with that of natural, unalloyed gold, while the variability in silver levels and minor impurities point to heterogeneous sources of the gold.
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The discovery of staggeringly productive auriferous deposits on the Rand in South Africa in the 1880s prompted Cecil John Rhodes to colonise territory between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers in anticipation of rich and diverse gold deposits.
Crucible fragments at Great Zimbabwe. Source: ResearchGate
Modern Science and Technology in Zimbabwe
Science and technology have been a priority for Zimbabwe since 1980, with the state adopting several policies to harness scientific inventions and capabilities. This has been done to ensure improved socio-economic livelihood for the whole population of Zimbabwe and Africa. In 2021, Zimbabwe was ranked 113 by the Global Innovation Index.
Zimbabwe is currently ranked in the top 10 in Africa for being one of the most technological countries. The policy was supported by a US $1.5 million allocation of funds by the government toward research and development.
Examples of Zimbabwean innovations include:
- The Ventilated (Improved) Pit Latrine developed by Dr. Peter Morgan, adopted by the United Nations and implemented worldwide.
- The development of SR52, a maize hybrid adopted and used across the globe.
- Afrosoft's fully integrated banking system for local and regional use.
- A hydro engine developed by Jeremiah Sundire, recognized by the World Intellectual Property Organisation and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (Aripo).
- Inventions by Maxwell Chikumbutso, including a radio frequency-powered TV and the green generator, through his company Saith Technologies.
Zimbabwe’s Space Program: The Rise of an Unlikely Space Power | Zimbabwe Development Programs
Ruvimbo Samanga: Pioneering Space Law and Policy
Ruvimbo Samanga, a graduate in Trade and Investment Law, specializes in space law and policy research for the African and global space sector. Recognized as an African Space Leader, an Emerging Space Leader, and a Young Space Leader, she contributes to policy, business, education, and outreach. She represented Zimbabwe on the Space Generation Advisory Council, advocating for the next generation of space leaders.
Samanga emphasizes the importance of Zimbabwe's participation in the space movement from a policy development and sustainable development standpoint. Government policies, such as the Education 5.0 plan, prioritize ushering the country into the fourth industrial revolution through innovation and industrialization.
In 2019, Samanga launched AgriSpace to connect farmers with aerial data, including satellite data, to help them make smarter agricultural decisions. She believes this will play a huge role not only in sustaining African livelihoods, but world livelihoods as well.
Ruvimbo Samanga. Source: New America
Zimbabwe's Space Program
Zimbabwe announced plans to launch its first satellite to gain insight into climate and land cover issues. Samanga believes Zimbabwe is positioning itself to be a tech manufacturing hub, with the development of tech hubs, innovation hubs, and technological parks. The first hub was launched in collaboration with the National Space Agency and is housed at the University of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe aims to involve itself in Earth observation for sustainable development impact, as well as wildlife conservation and disease surveillance. A geospatial capabilities program has been awarded a US$10 million grant by the Ministry of Finance to map A1 and A2 farms through satellite imagery for the issuance of leases and permits.
The first CubeSat, ZIMSAT-1, is expected to launch soon, with future plans including Earth observation, navigation, and telecommunications satellites to support broadband, since Internet penetration stands at about 40 percent generally across the African region.
Motivations for African Space Programs
Samanga notes that the rapid growth in African nations' space programs is primarily driven by economic needs but also influenced by geopolitical strategy. Africa has a deep need for space-based infrastructure, with many space programs intending to use space for sustainable development.
By 2025, there will be at least 114 new satellites, with 10 countries currently developing their first satellite. New opportunities to launch satellites are also arising, with Africa wanting to launch satellites from home terrain. In 2021, the budget for all space agencies across the continent was US$548 million, a 9 percent increase from 2020 and a 94 percent increase from 2018.
Africa's biggest partner is Europe, followed by China, with isolated instances of partnerships with Russia, Italy, and France. China-based investments are usually linked to some form of infrastructural development, but there are also policies which [focus on] capacity-building; China has committed to educating about 300 Africans in the next few years through scholarships and grants.
The Value of Space Exploration for Africa
Samanga highlights the value of Zimbabwe or other African nations potentially going beyond satellites and launching missions to the Moon, Mars, or further in space. Over 2,000 spinoff technologies have been developed from space exploration, including the MRI scan, the vacuum cleaner, and firemen’s suits.
Developing or pushing these frontiers opens us up to new technology, new innovation, and new ways of solving problems. Vertically integrated agriculture, using the least amount of resources to develop a crop system that is sustainable, healthy, and viable, is one technology currently being tested on the ISS that could greatly benefit Zimbabwe.
Vertical farm concept for space exploration. Source: European Space Agency
The African Space Agency
Plans are ongoing for the formation of an African space agency. The host country is expected to be Egypt, and the headquarters will be in Cairo. A continental approach will only work from a proactive policy viewpoint. Africa has a real opportunity to show what a proactive public-oriented space program looks like.
The goal with Africa's space industry is to foster cooperation, to share resources, and to share the developmental impact of what we're embarking on. The matter of cash contribution and the matter of the benefits of space will pose a challenge, but if these two issues can be overcome, then there is no issue with the African Space Agency coming to fruition.
Table of Key Innovations and Technologies
| Innovation/Technology | Description | Origin/Developer | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventilated Pit Latrine | Improved waste disposal system | Dr. Peter Morgan | Assists local communities to live healthy lives; adopted by the UN worldwide. |
| SR52 Maize Hybrid | Drought-resistant and high-yielding crop | Zimbabwean Agrarian Sector | Adopted and used across the globe. |
| Integrated Banking System | Fully integrated banking system | Afrosoft | Used locally and regionally. |
| Hydro Engine | Engine powered by water | Jeremiah Sundire | Recognized by international property organizations. |
| Radio Frequency-Powered TV | TV powered by radio frequency | Maxwell Chikumbutso | Groundbreaking tech developed by Saith Technologies. |
| AgriSpace | Service connecting farmers with aerial data | Ruvimbo Samanga | Helps farmers make smarter agricultural decisions. |
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