An innovative Shamva student has invented a solar cooker made from cardboard boxes and aluminium.
REPORT BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
Noel Mubaina (30), who graduated with a diploma in advanced project management at DAPP Frontline Institute in Shamva last week, said the idea was motivated by the desire to help people in the face of regular power cuts.
Mubaina, who exhibited the solar cooker at the graduation ceremony, said the cooker was environmentally-friendly and did not contribute to global warming.
“This country has serious electricity problems and there is need for alternative solutions like the solar cooker,” he said. “Again the other thing is the world is under fire from global warming and the cooker can do much to curb the phenomenon since it does not emit gases into the atmosphere.”
Mubaina said the solar cooker can produce heat of between 82 and 121 degrees celsius.
The cardboard box is covered by an aluminium foil which absorbs and reflects sun rays to a black pot.
“The pot is covered in plastic to prevent the heat from escaping,” he said.
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When cooking, one is not allowed to stir as heat would escape.
“The cooker can only be used to cook meat, beans, eggs and other types of relish, but it’s not for sadza as one is not allowed to open the lid for heat will escape,” he said. “Most food cooks at or below 82 degrees Celsius. It takes an average of two hours to cook meat or rice.
The time taken to cook varies depending on the amount of sun, wind, thickness of pot and quantity of water or food. Speaking at the ceremony, Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Jeitendra Tripathi hailed the institution for producing graduates concerned with tackling global warming.
“Man-made global warming and climate change is one of the major issues that we need to face, adapt and mitigate,” he said. “As evidenced by the exhibition, it is crystal clear that the graduating students that have acquired the much-needed skills that will enable them to fight global warming.”
More than 30 students drawn from different countries obtained diplomas in advanced project management at Frontline Institute, a college run by the Development Aid from People to People (DAPP), a subsidiary of Humana People to People.
