Address:Mutare Polytechnic,P O box 640 Mutare,Zimbabwe | Email:principal@mutarepolytechnic.ac.zw|principalmutarepolytechnic@gmail.com
We lead ,We Inspire,We Innovate #Pacesetter#
Educating Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s World.
Mutare Polytechnic is an innovative, student-focused institution dedicated to academic excellence, leadership, and community impact. For over 50 years, we have nurtured minds and shaped leaders across diverse industries.
Mission
To Develop Skilled Human Capital through Heritage -based Education 5.0 for quality goods and services
Vision
Heritage Based Empowered Human Capital for Industrialization and Modenization by 2030
Core Values
Equity - quality of being impartial,just and fair
Innovation- translating an idea or invention into a product that creates value
Integrity- steadfast to strict moral and ethical principles/firm adherence to code of conduct
Accreditation
Fully accredited by the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education and recognized by global academic boards.
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The Principal
Ms.P Watema
Ms P Watema is a distinguished academic leader, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) strategist, and institutional executive with over 38 years of experience in Zimbabwe’s education sector. She currently serves as the Principal of Mutare Polytechnic, a position she has held since 2014, and through which she has driven a period of remarkable institutional transformation.
Her career reflects a trajectory of progressive academic and administrative excellence. She began as a lecturer at Masvingo Polytechnic in 1993, advanced to Vice Principal, and ultimately assumed the helm at Mutare Polytechnic. She is widely recognised for pioneering the Embedded Live Project Training Model — an innovative, industry-integrated pedagogical approach that engages students in real-world commercial projects, bridging the gap between theory and practice. This model has significantly enhanced graduate employability and positioned Mutare Polytechnic as a leader in applied education across Zimbabwe.
Education & Background:
Watema holds a Master of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management and a Bachelor of Education in Home Economics, both from the University of Zimbabwe. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Entrepreneurship and Business Management at Chinhoyi University of Technology, further deepening her scholarly engagement with the challenges and opportunities facing TVET in Africa.
Research & Scholarly Contributions
Watema is an emerging contributor to scholarship in TVET, hospitality, and tourism education, with a particular focus on inclusivity and curriculum transformation. Her research interests span:
- TVET transformation and innovation
- Inclusive education in hospitality and tourism
- Skills development and employability
- Entrepreneurship and industry-linked education models
- Gender inclusion in technical fields
Her peer-reviewed publications include:
- Zengeya, R. N., Cheure, M. M., Chabwera, S., Mutumwa, A., Watema, P., & Kwembeya, M. (2026). Re-envisioning access to inclusive hospitality and tourism education in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Zimbabwe. Journal of African Education and Traditional Learning Systems, 7(1), 167–187.
- Cheure, M. M., Zengeya, R. N., Mutongoreni, N. A., Kwembeya, M., Watema, P., et al. (2026). Harnessing AI and Data Analytics: A Psychological Perspective on Consumer Behaviour and Personalised Digital Marketing in an African Country Context. In Digital Marketing in Africa: Opportunities, Challenges and Transformative Futures (pp. 181–212). Springer Nature Switzerland.
Notable Work:
Watema’s excellence in leadership has earned her recognition at institutional, national, and continental levels. Her awards include: • CEO of the Year — Silver Award, Megafest Business Awards • Women’s Top Leadership Excellence in Higher Education • Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Award (Runner-up) • First runner-up, Best Training Brand Institution — Sanganai/Hlanganani Travel Expo 2023 • First female Tertiary Sports, Arts and Recreation Patron at a polytechnic in Zimbabwe — a historic milestone for the sector
Achievements:
Under her leadership, Mutare Polytechnic has been significantly transformed. Student enrolment has grown steadily to over 4,200, reflecting the institution’s growing reputation and community trust. Key infrastructure and development achievements include: • Internet connectivity upgraded to approximately 600 Mbps, enabling a modern digital learning environment. • Refurbishment of hostels, lecture rooms, the canteen, guest house, and administration offices. • Installation of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Security System in the library. • Design and manufacture of a hoist (lift) system for students with disabilities, advancing institutional inclusivity. • Establishment of the Wood Technology Centre of Excellence — a hub for furniture design, manufacturing, innovation, skills development, and applied research targeting institutional, commercial, and export markets. • Establishment of a fully equipped on-campus gymnasium. • Construction of a perimeter wall around the institution. • Leading the establishment of a Vocational Training Centre in Chipinge
Ms P. Watema's Vision
Ms P Watema envisions Mutare Polytechnic as a leading institution that not only produces graduates with exceptional academic skills but also nurtures ethical leaders ready to make a global impact.
Staff Members
Mutare Polytechnic Admin Staff
Dr. S Chabwera
Vice Principal Academic
(Ph.D. in Educational management)
Dr Chabwera holds a doctorate of Education in Educational Management from University of South Africa and University of Zimbabwe Certificate in Education from Gweru Teachers College Bachelor of Arts in Communication and English from the University of South Africa,Master of Education in Educational Management from Zimbabwe Open University.
Mr T Chinganga
Accountant
(B com degree in Accountancy)
Mr Chinganga holds vast experience in auditing.
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