Zimbabwe is finalising preparations to host the third edition of Africa Skills Week (ASW) from 12 to 16 October 2026, with hundreds of delegates from across the continent expected to converge in Harare for discussions on skills development, industrial competitiveness and employment creation.
The continental event will take place at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), bringing together policymakers, educational and training institutions, industry players, innovators and development partners to explore ways of aligning skills development with Africa’s economic needs.
Addressing a press conference in Harare, on Thursday, Skills Audit and Development Minister, Jenfan Muswere, said the country was ready to host the gathering, which will be held under the theme: “Skills for Resilient and Competitive African Industries: From Training to Value Creation.”
“More than 644 international delegates and over 1,000 local participants are expected to attend, alongside several African cabinet ministers and more than 60 exhibitors,” he said.
Muswere said invitations had been extended to African Union member states, diplomatic missions, development partners and more than 150 Zimbabwean institutions to ensure broad participation.
He said Zimbabwe’s preparedness had also been assessed by an African Union Evaluation Mission that visited the country from 9 to 11 September and confirmed its readiness to host the event.
The Host Agreement between the African Union Commission and the Government of Zimbabwe is expected to be signed on 11 October, paving the way for the official opening the following day.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to officiate at the opening ceremony on 12 October before touring exhibition stands. The programme will also include a Ministerial and Parliamentary Roundtable Meeting and a welcome dinner.
Participants will further engage in a Youth Summit and field visits to selected educational, technical and industrial institutions to gain insights into Zimbabwe’s skills development initiatives.
The institutions lined up for the visits include the Harare Institute of Technology, Belvedere Technical Teachers College, the University of Zimbabwe, Zengeza 2 High School, Msasa Industrial Training Centre and the Geo-Pomona Waste Management Centre.
Muswere said hosting the continental event presented Zimbabwe with an opportunity to demonstrate its progress in skills auditing and development while strengthening cooperation between education providers, industry and investors.
He said the gathering was expected to facilitate partnerships, broaden access to training opportunities and promote the development of skills that respond directly to the requirements of the productive sectors of the economy.
“Africa Skills Week is about turning training into jobs, enterprises and shared prosperity for our young people,” Muswere said.
The event comes at a time when African countries are intensifying efforts to modernise technical and vocational education and training, improve youth employability and prepare their workforces for evolving industrial and technological demands.
For Zimbabwe, the gathering is expected to provide a platform to exchange expertise with other African countries, showcase local training initiatives and explore opportunities to translate skills development into employment, entrepreneurship and industrial growth.
