A research team from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has won the African Innovation Award’s gold medal for engineering a low-cost solar-powered cold storage unit designed for off-grid rural clinics.
The unit, dubbed “iCold”, maintains vaccine-grade temperatures for up to 72 hours during power outages and is built largely from locally sourced components. Lead researcher Dr Sipho Maphosa said the design was inspired by the practical challenges faced by Matabeleland South clinics.
“We weren’t trying to build the cleverest fridge in the world. We were trying to build one a nurse in Beitbridge can fix with a Phillips screwdriver,” Dr Maphosa said.
Talks are now underway with UNICEF Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Health to scale production. NUST has also been approached by partners in Malawi and Mozambique.
on June 7, 2026
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