Three female students from the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) Advanced School of Information Technology have made it to the finals of the UbuntuNet Alliance Women’s Hackathon.
This is a continental competition that promotes innovations supporting climate change adaptation and mitigation while addressing the gender gap in software development across Africa.
The finalists representing Eswatini are:
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Nonduduzo Mkhaliphi
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Asiphe Malangwane
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Phumlile Dlamini
They will compete in the second phase of the competition, to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from October 27 to 29.
RSTP Proud of Student Achievements
RSTP Communications Officer Senzo Malaza confirmed the development and praised the students:
“We are happy for our students, and this is proof that we provide quality education. This opportunity gives them a platform to network, compete globally, and learn outside our borders. It also shows that the education we provide equips students to be innovative and ready for the global stage.”
Finalists Speak on Their Achievement
Nonduduzo Mkhaliphi described the selection as a milestone in her journey as a woman in technology:
“I am honoured and excited that we have been selected as finalists in the UbuntuNet Alliance Women’s Hackathon and will be advancing to the final phase in Harare. This journey is about more than just coding and competition. For me, as a woman in technology, it is a powerful validation that our ideas have value, our voices deserve to be heard, and our contributions are crucial in shaping an inclusive digital future.”
Her teammate, Asiphe Malangwane, highlighted the practical impact of their project:
“I have been stressed about finding a job, but this opportunity has given us the chance to create an app that provides solutions to rural areas where waste is not collected by municipalities. The app will assist communities and create job opportunities for others. More importantly, this competition will expose us to networking with other students across Africa.”
