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Valerie Mpundu-Youth Interactive Writer

Engineering genius Kudzaishe Chole (19) has developed a sustainably eco-friendly way of harnessing electricity through peanut shells.

Her project involves di-ionising water from any source and soaking the peanut shells for extracts complemented with applying the principles of electrochemistry and using non-conducting electrodes to check on voltage.

“Kukuh”’, as she is affectionately known, is a hoarder who often finds herself stacking loads of stuff with no idea as to what to do with it.

She just enjoys collecting stuff.

A habit that has grown in her and in 2022, the former St George’s College student found herself collecting peanut shells.

In an interview, Kukuh, a rather timid character, explained how her resourceful idea came about as she highlighted growing environmental concerns affecting climate.

“I started keeping peanut shells in 2022 and my mom would often call this trash. I had no idea why I kept collecting yet I could not stop.

“I was captain of the Science Fair Club in high school and everyone had to submit a project ahead of the Fair and there I was a whole captain without a project.

“Pressure prompted me to come up with this project. I believe I work best under pressure,” she recalled.

A young phenomenal woman passionately driven by her love for chemistry, art and sports, she reckons her project adopted some principles from chemistry.

“I wanted my project to use one of the chemistry principles,” she said.

Often open to experiments, Kukuh has never stopped experimenting as discoveries and inventions are an exploration to her.

“I always want to push myself out of my comfort zone and try to do better as the only child in my family. I am always trying new things every single time in a quirk to find my true self,” she said.

A very bright mind, Kukuh is stuck between her next invention and a pending cardiac surgery as she cannot separate her love for the two while choosing a major in tertiary studies.

“In context to me starting my project of harnessing electricity using peanut shells, ideally studying chemical engineering would be my best option.

“While on the other hand I have always wanted to study medicine and have always dreamt about becoming a cardiac surgeon, so I am not really sure,” she said.

She acknowledged how society is increasingly embracing technology and renewable energy innovations like solar.

“As environmental concerns grow there is a push for sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives from traditional energy sources. People are more open to learning about innovative solutions that address energy shortages and reduce waste,” she said.

However, she reckoned community may need time to understand the full potential of such inventions like her project. “Widespread acceptance often depends on awareness, accessibility and affordability. People may need more time to understand full potential of such inventions. With the right education and support society can benefit and integrate these technological advancements into daily life,” she added.

Helping to shape a greener more sustainable future, Kukuh highlighted the need for society to believe in innovative concepts.

“Society typically believes more in physical evidence rather than virtual concepts. Once they do not see anything then they believe an idea does not exist.

“However I am very positive that as time moves on people will realise an idea does not need to be physical for it to be considered,” she stressed.