Overview

The Zimbabwe Centre for High Performance Computing (ZCHPC) is a national facility that provides advanced computational infrastructure such as supercomputing, cloud, and data services to support research, innovation, and development. It is located in Harare at the University of Zimbabwe’s Science Park area and was officially commissioned in February 2015.

Mission and Objectives

Mission: To develop accessible and sustainable cyberinfrastructure for national research and innovation.

Vision: To be a leading provider of high-performance computing solutions in Zimbabwe and beyond.

Core Objectives:

Provide high-end computing facilities that are accessible, affordable, and reliable.

Support research across disciplines including science, engineering, life sciences, and geospatial studies.

Foster innovation, training, and capacity building.

Encourage regional collaboration in advanced computing and data science.

Infrastructure and Capabilities

Supercomputer: Zimbabwe’s first supercomputer was installed at the facility, with a peak performance capacity of 36 teraflops at launch.

Cloud and Hosting: Offers cloud computing, storage, and virtual server hosting for data-intensive applications.

Data Centre: Provides computational power for simulations, modeling, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics.

Usage Policy: The centre operates under a formal HPC usage policy covering account management, security, and responsible use.

Users and Activities

Target Users: Researchers, universities, government agencies, and businesses requiring advanced computational resources.

Applications: Climate modeling, geospatial science, engineering simulations, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and life sciences.

Training and Outreach: Hosts student tours, organizes cluster competitions, and provides training in areas such as big data and AI.

Collaborations: Works with international partners and supports national innovation initiatives.

Recent Developments

In 2025, the ZCHPC was upgraded and officially handed over in a ceremony attended by national leaders and international partners, marking a major step in Zimbabwe’s technological advancement.

The centre is now positioned as a modern hub offering scalable cloud computing, secure data storage, and advanced performance for multiple domains.