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Zimbabwe Computer Whizkid Breaks Barriers


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Bongani Jubani in the NUST computer lab

Bongani Jubani, in the NUST computer lab, was introduced to computers in high school. Many schools in rural Zimbabwe are without electricity.

But how does someone like Bongani Jubani, born and bred in the remote area of Zimbabwe, become computer literate when they have never used a computer, let alone switched on lights either at school or at home?

Few can fathom how a poor 21-year-old rural boy who never owned a cellphone until he was at Dadaya High School can cope with the computerized atmosphere at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).

Jubani, a poor rural boy who walked 26 km to and from school every day, with no lunch box or pocket money but tattered books, is now a third year Computer Science student at NUST. The rough diamond from the remote area has risen to be one of the best upcoming computer programmers.

"Jubani is a good student, a hard worker, and very passionate of his studies. His hunger to learn is an inspiration," says Kernan Mzelikahle, Jubani's computer programming lecturer. "His background is not limiting him at all."

From The Zimbabwe Mail
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