Zimpapers Logo

Sifelani Tsiko

Innovations Editor

It was the pain and suffering his father endured when a worker swindled money from their grinding mill business – his father’s only side hustle for the survival of the family in Domboshawa that motivated John Muchingami, a 25-year-old University of Zimbabwe geomatics engineering student to develop an engine monitoring device that can show the number buckets milled and the sales figure.

His father was an agricultural extension worker and constantly wrestled with cash flow from the poorly scoped and managed grinding mill business. All this combined with personal trauma and the lacklustre performance of his business, it left his father practically running on empty and with no energy left to move ahead.

“My father owned a grinding mill at Mutake village in Domboshawa and a worker was always stealing from the business as there were no systems to monitor the number grain milled and the amount of money generated,” John told the Herald at the UZ Research Innovation and Industrialisation Week event.

“My father would complain to no avail. He was always complaining to me about this. It was his only side hustle that enabled him to pay my tuition. The problems burnt him out.”

The situation got worse in 2017 and John was forced to drop out of university for a year.

“In 2017, my father could not afford to pay for my university tuition and I had to defer my studies for a year. He asked me to run the grinding mill to raise money for fees. And this was the time I saw all the loopholes that come with a business with no devices to enhance transparency and accountability,” he said.

Suddenly, John hit upon an idea: “I said why not design a device that could monitor engine performance, calculate the amount of fuel used, the number of buckets milled and the actual sales relayed via a mobile or IT communication application.”

“A grinding mill is the simplest, cheapest and most convenient way for one to earn a living. With my own investment which I fully funded on my own, I designed this very small technology that could provide solutions to people running grinding mills, taxis, kombis, trucks, mining equipment such as excavators, water pumps, vehicle engines and power generators among others.”

The device dubbed: ‘East Prime Device,’ is an electronic accounting and engine monitoring gadget that can show when the engine was turned on, switched off, the fuel used, the duration and give engine maintenance alerts.

John said the device also does bookkeeping automatically, for example, when integrated to a grinding mill, it can tell you the number of buckets milled and the sales made.

It can assume a stand – alone position or it can be integrated as instrumentation on engines giving out information fuel consumption, performance – giving operators the critical data they need to maintain the best, most efficient performances from their engines.

“The device can be installed on Kombi, bus and truck engines. It can show you the number of trips made, plied and the real – time location,” John said.

“It can help operators calculate the direct costs such as fuel cost and revenue that is generated. It can also give you engine performance alerts, for example, if engine rings and other components are worn.”

This device has the potential to bring about positive economic and social benefits: increase in income, employment opportunities and better time management.

“I started working out on the project in 2018 when I resumed my studies. I finally produced a working prototype in January this year. It was tested successfully and I feel proud about my achievements,” John said.

“I am so passionate about this product. It has the potential to enhance accountability and transparency in both small and large businesses.

“It’s unfortunate that my father – John Muchingami Senior died last year in August before he could see this device which I designed. 

“How I wish he was here to witness this prototype. He could have been overjoyed by this.” The engine control system has a virtual engine model software and is linked to his mobile via a communication application.

It gives an instant electronic message on one’s phone — showing machine use, availability and utility, number of trips or outputs made, fuel consumption, performance monitoring and accounting.

“Developing my application did not cost me much. My dream is to mass produce the gadgets, patent it and set up my own start – up business. I also plan to develop this device further. I want a small miniature device compared to the one I developed now which measures 15cm x 9cm,” John said.

Zimbabwe’s adoption of Education 5.0 – a five-mission model of teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialisation is now bearing fruit.

It’s now a pivot for Zimbabwe’s innovation and knowledge-driven economy.

Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira says Education 5.0 is helping Zimbabwe to transform into a country that can produce its own food, provide health services, clean water, build infrastructure such as roads and bridges, provide shelter for its people and other such basic needs.

He says the Government has committed itself to making sure that education is used as a driver towards achieving Vision 2030 that seeks to have an upper middle-income economy.