Cimas Health Group has officially amplified the call for the nation’s brightest minds, tech innovators, and dreamers to step up with the launch of Healthathon 3.0. Announced at Borrowdale Office Park in Harare, this national initiative is designed to crowdsource homegrown, technology-driven solutions to address real-world healthcare challenges, from improving affordability and access to enhancing patient experiences.
By Tafadzwa Gambiza
Under the bold theme, “Reimagining Healthcare Through Disruptive Innovation,” Cimas is shifting the conversation. In a major move to unlock creativity, Healthathon 3.0 is doing away with strict, pre-defined categories. Instead, Cimas is presenting a single, open innovation challenge. As detailed in the Speech by Cimas Health Group CEO, Mr. Vuli Ndlovu, at the Launch of Cimas Healthathon 3.0, this approach gives participants the freedom to reimagine healthcare from any perspective, encouraging greater depth and diversity of ideas across the sector.
The digital rhythm of Zimbabwe’s healthcare ecosystem is about to get a major upgrade.
The rules of engagement, highlighted in the Speech by Cimas Health Group CIO, Mr. Foster Akaketwa, on the Eligibility and Participation Guidelines for Cimas Healthathon 3.0, emphasize multidisciplinary collaboration. The challenge is open to Zimbabwean innovation hubs, tech startups, university teams, and independent product development groups. Teams must consist of between three and five members, bringing together diverse skills such as software development, design, business strategy, and healthcare expertise.
Cimas Health Group’s Chief Information Officer, Mr Foster Akaketwa
While teams are free to identify their own problem areas, they must clearly demonstrate why the issue matters, who it affects, and how their proposed technology offers a practical, locally relevant solution to earn a place among the top 20 entries. From there, a rigorous screening process will narrow the field to six finalist teams who will compete in the final stage of the competition.
The high-energy journey culminates in a live Demo Day on August 28, where the six finalists will pitch their solutions before the Cimas Executive Committee and a panel of industry experts. The winning team will receive US$3,500, while the second- and third-placed teams will take home US$2,000 and US$1,500 respectively.
However, the real prize extends beyond the cash awards. The top innovators will gain the invaluable opportunity to pilot their solutions with Cimas Health Group, giving them access to a structured incubation pathway and the potential for real-world implementation.
To get involved, mark your calendars: registration opens on June 22, and applications close on July 12. If you have the skills, the vision, and the determination to make Zimbabwe’s healthcare system smarter, more accessible, and more inclusive, this is your opportunity to make an impact.
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