In today’s changing world, knowledge alone is not enough; exposure is the new education. For Zimbabwe, real development will not come only from academic success but from engaging with the wider world through exposure. Exposure broadens our perspectives, fuels creativity, and turns knowledge into action. It helps citizens compete, lead, and thrive in a global economy. Rethinking Zimbabwe’s path to development means recognizing that education should go beyond theory to real-life experiences. It connects local talent with global opportunities, turning potential into progress.
In Shona culture, we have a saying: “Chitsva chiri murutsoka,” which means “what is new lies in the feet.” This suggests that we can only discover new perspectives and opportunities by venturing into the unknown. Evolution does not come to those who remain still; it comes to those who explore and engage with the world beyond their comfort zones.
Those who know me understand my strong views on exposure. I believe society is built around it. The true measure of development, in all its forms, depends on how exposed a society is to other cultures. A closed society cannot grow. It may preserve tradition, which is admirable, but it cannot evolve. In my most candid discussions with peers, I often argue that, if resources allow, every Zimbabwean should travel both near and far, locally and internationally, not to imitate others’ lifestyles but to appreciate new ideas, different cultures, and how they function. Exposure opens our eyes in ways that no classroom or textbook can.
What is exposure?
Simply put, exposure is the process of seeing, experiencing, and interacting with realities beyond one’s familiar environment, culture, or way of thinking. It involves taking in perspectives that challenge your current knowledge and broaden your horizons. Make no mistake, exposure doesn’t always require money or travel; it starts with purpose and curiosity. It’s a mindset that says, “There’s more to learn beyond my own experience.”
In today’s world, exposure can happen with a click. Through the internet, Zimbabweans can attend virtual conferences in New York or Geneva, watch startup pitches in Rwanda, or collaborate online with peers worldwide. It’s all about stepping beyond the familiar and turning knowledge into experience, and experience into change. In essence, exposure links knowledge to transformation. Education provides information; exposure provides context. Education fills the mind; exposure opens it.
From Knowledge to Application
As Zimbabwe rebuilds its economy and repositions itself in the world after years of sanctions and isolation, exposure to new technologies, innovation, cultures, and global markets is becoming the most powerful form of education. For decades, Zimbabwe has taken pride in its strong education system. Its literacy rate, among the highest in Africa, is a badge of honor. However, a painful reality confronts the country: too many educated young people remain unemployed, underused, or uninspired. Many graduates roam the streets, while some have turned to drugs out of frustration. Our best chance for a better Zimbabwe — a happy, peaceful, and prosperous Upper Middle-Income Economy by 2030 — lies in embracing the new reality that the world has changed, and so must our understanding of being “educated.”
Opportunities are no longer limited — if they ever were — to academic achievements. Learning now occurs as much through life experiences as through formal education. Exposure — observing how others live, work, and innovate — is what truly turns potential into progress. A young Zimbabwean spending time in Israel might see how drip irrigation transforms arid land into productive farms. In Brazil, they might learn how satellite mapping and AI are reshaping agribusiness. In nearby South Africa, they could observe how smallholder farmers use mobile apps for market access and weather updates. Traveling to Kenya, they might study how fintech startups like M-Pesa have revolutionized access to finance. Imagine if every university student in Zimbabwe spent a semester gaining experience in industry or a month interning in a regional startup hub. Imagine if Zimbabwean farmers regularly learned about water harvesting and climate-smart agriculture from across Africa. Each of these experiences offers lessons that no textbook can teach—lessons in adaptability and innovation, the true currency of success today.
The Power of Exposure for National Growth
Countries that develop quickly are not always the most educated or well-resourced; they are the most exposed. Singapore, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates understood early that exposure to global systems speeds up progress. Zimbabwe can follow suit. I believe our diaspora, spread across different continents, holds a wealth of exposure ready to be tapped. Every returning citizen brings back more than new trends and technologies; they return with new mindsets, work ethics, and practices. They carry lessons learned from the world’s classrooms, boardrooms, and factories.
A remarkable movement is underway across the country: members of the diaspora and urban dwellers are returning to their rural roots. Landscapes that once had modest homes now feature modern houses. Fields that lay fallow for years now host thriving agricultural ventures — goat and pig farms, fish ponds, and free-range chicken projects. Names like Nhema Chickens, KwaTerry, and Mr. Tsuro are transforming rural Zimbabwe. Solar systems power boreholes, small-scale processing plants are emerging, and local economies are reviving. Exposure to new standards, efficiency, and innovation fosters the belief that what works elsewhere can also work here. It is not just money returning from abroad; it is a mindset that transforms rural areas from places of retreat into engines of progress.
Thanks to bloggers and YouTubers like Chitima and Biriot, this revolution is being highlighted, shared widely, and celebrated. Internet access is critical today, as it connects communities, spreads ideas, and fuels innovation. Moving forward, the government, private sector, and civil society must invest in exchange programs, digital learning platforms, innovation labs, and global partnerships. Local schools should invite entrepreneurs, scientists, and artists to engage with students.
A New Educational Vision
The future of Zimbabwean development lies in combining education with exposure. A well-informed mind without global exposure is like a candle under a basket — it shines but cannot light the world. If Zimbabwe is to advance, we must stop just teaching what is known and instead start showing what is possible. Exposure is not a luxury; it is the new curriculum, the new education.
Written by Mr. Ndudzo Tugwete, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zimbabwe to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official positions of the Government of Zimbabwe or The Southern African Times.
