FACULTY OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING, INFORMATICS AND

COMMUNICATION

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

WORK RELATED LEARNING REPORT

BY

CHANYAU ROPAFADZO Y

A REPORT IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BSC

HONOURS DEGREE IN CLOUD COMPUTING AND IOT (HCC)

INDUSTRIAL SUPERVISOR: SHILLAR MPOFU

ACADEMIC SUPERVISOR: DR GOMBIRO

JUNE 2025
COMPANY INFORMATION

INSTITUTION: ECONET WIRELESS ZIMBABWE

TRAINING CO-ORDINATOR: SHILLAR MPOFU

POSITION:

ADDRESS:

PHONE:

EMAIL:

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT:

NAME:

SIGNATURE:

ABSTRACT
This report outlines a summary of my experience during my industrial attachment period
undertaken at two different organizations which are at Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and at the
City of Harare. The attachment opportunity spanned from October 2024 to July 2025. It
offered essential hands-on experience in real-world IT environments thereby enhancing both
my technical and soft skills.

At Econet Wireless, I was working with the Business Intelligence (BI) team, where I worked
extensively with Power BI, Apache Hive, and SQL. I was actively involved in the creation,
designing and automation of dashboards, execution SQL scripts for data requests as well as
performing data cleaning tasks. My daily responsibilities included running SQL scripts,
loading tables in Apache Hive using the importer function, daily BI checking that is checking
data trends and outliers in the trends. This opportunity deepened my understanding of data-
driven decision-making and enterprise-level data visualization.

During my time at the City of Harare, I was placed in the ICT Division. At the City of
Harare, I was offering IT support. I gained foundational experience in network
troubleshooting, software and operating systems installation, hardware troubleshooting, LAN
cable termination, operating system installations, resolving trust relationship errors and
Microsoft Outlook email configurations and troubleshooting. I also participated in solving
hardware problems such as printer issues, slow machines, and connectivity errors, thereby
enhancing my technical support and diagnostics capabilities.

This attachment experience allowed me to bridge the connection between theoretical

knowledge and its practical application, with a diversified exposure to corporate
telecommunications analysis and IT public sector services. Knowledge, professional
discipline, and expertise acquired throughout this period have significantly prepared me for
future careers in the information and communication technology field.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who participated to the successful
completion of my industrial attachment. I had the opportunity of being attached to two
organisations which are Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and the City of Harare.

Firstly, I extend my sincere gratitude to Econet Wireless Zimbabwe for the opportunity to be
part of their team. Special thanks go to my supervisor, Ms. Shillar Mpofu, and her team in the
Business Intelligence section. Their guidance, support, and willingness to share their
expertise significantly enhanced my understanding of data analytics and real world business
intelligence environments.

I am also thankful to the City of Harare team for their support and guidance. I would like to
acknowledge Mr. Zihumo, my supervisor, whose mentorship and technical insight helped me
build practical skills in networking, software installation, and system troubleshooting.

Lastly, I would like to thank Dr. Gombiro, my attachment supervisor, and the University of
Zimbabwe, for facilitating and supporting the industrial attachment program. I also want to
acknowledge everyone who supported, encouraged, and guided me during this transformative
learning journey

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report outlines a comprehensive summary of my industrial attachment which took place
from 1 October 2024 to 31 July 2025. The goal of the attachment was to bridge the gap
between theory acquired in lectures and practical skills applied in working environments.

The first phase of my attachment was at the City of Harare, where I was working with the
team in the ICT Division. I was actively involved in offering IT support to the organisation
which include LAN cable termination, operating system installations, Outlook email
configuration, troubleshooting trust relationship issues, resolving hardware problems, and
supporting end-users. This experience allowed me to develop a strong foundation in IT
support services.

The second phase was conducted at Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, where I joined the Business
Intelligence team under AIDI. My work focused on data analytics and business reporting
using tools such as Power BI, Apache Hive, and SQL. I created dashboards, business reports,
handled stakeholder data requests, and performed daily BI data quality checks. This exposed
me to enterprise-level data systems and enhanced my skills in data handling, analytics, and
reporting.

The attachment period gave me practical understanding regarding the functioning of ICT
systems within public organizations and commercial organizations. The experience helped
me develop better employability skills together with improved teamwork and communication
skills and technical competence. The experience gave me essential knowledge about tools
and practices that match my academic emphasis on cloud computing.
ACRONYMS
UZ-UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE
IT- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
ICT- INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
AIDI- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DIGITAL INNOVATIONS
BI-BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
OS- OPERATING SYSTEM
KPIs- KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

The academic program at University of Zimbabwe's Faculty of Computer Engineering,

Informatics and Communications requires undergraduate students to complete industrial
attachment as a fundamental academic requirement for their education. The program connects
classroom theory with actual professional experience through student exposure to industry
settings which match their academic disciplines.

This report documents the experiences, activities and knowledge gained during my industrial
attachment period which was undertaken at two different organisations. The first phase was at
the City of Harare from October 2024 to January 2025 in the Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) Division. The second phase was at Econet Wireless
Zimbabwe, from February 2025 to July 2025, where I was placed in the BI Department.

At the City of Harare, my work focused on IT support and systems administration tasks such
as LAN cable termination, operating system installation, Microsoft outlook email
configuration, network troubleshooting, and hardware maintenance. At Econet Wireless, I
transitioned into a more data-driven role, working with tools like Power BI and Apache Hive.

My attachment gave me better technical skills and an understanding of how professionals

communicate and work together to solve problems and how organizations function in public
and private settings.
ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND
MISSION STATEMENT
To serve by pioneering, developing and sustaining reliable, efficient and high-quality
telecommunications of uncompromising world class standards and ethics

VISION
Creating a digitally connected future leaving no African behind.

VALUES
 Pioneering
 Accountability
 Sustainability
 Service

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
CHAPTER 2
ACTIVITIES
This chapter gives an insight of the activities that the student carried out during the internship
period
DAILY ACTIVITIES
Early in the morning I log in manage engine, view requests assigned to me and checking
progress of the requests I have created. Then renew my Kerberos ticket and login to Apache
Hive. I carried out daily BI checks for base tables identifying anomalies and data out of trend.
Fig 1.1 below shows a snapshot of the manage engine that I used for checking requests.

Fig 1.1

Fig 1.2 below shows the interface for Hive that I used to run different SQL scripts.

Fig 1.2
Dashboard for Fredda Rebecca
I developed an interactive Power BI dashboard for Fredda Rebecca to monitor and track
different organisational KPIs. This involved transforming and cleaning raw data using Power
Query to ensure it aligned with business requirements. The dashboard provided actionable
insights, improved decision-making, and enhanced visibility into operational performance
across departments.

Fig 1.3

Fig 1.4
Report for SMS
I created a comprehensive Power BI report by connecting to a Customer Data Platform
(CDP) using an ODBC connector. This integration allowed for seamless data extraction from
the source system. I also automated an SMS summary report from extraction to dashboard
delivery.

Fig 2.0
Dashboard for Network KPIs
I designed a dashboard to track different network KPIs that allows network engineers to
easily track daily network performances in different regions. I used data from Apache Hive.

Fig 2.1
SQL Scripting in Apache Hive

Ran scripts to extract customer usage data, last connection/usage dates, region reports, and
site names. I also joined datasets and filtered data based on stakeholder requirements.

Workshops and Meetings

I participated in UAT sessions for inventory dashboards. I also attended a training SAGE X3
were I learnt how to navigate through the system. I also attended meetings with external
clients Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital to discuss how to digitalize the hospital. The hospital
wanted theatre system and a complete hospital management system.

I also went to Rusape for dashboard demos to external clients which included pharmacies in
Rusape, tobacco companies and other supermarkets.

Automating Reports and Data Loads

I scheduled Hive jobs and Power BI refreshes to ensure reports remained up-to-date. I also
loaded excel file into hive using the importer function then use the tables for certain queries
which include A30, A90 customer activity, telemetry line reports, recharges and many more.

Lan cable termination and testing

I assembled a Class A LAN cable, cutting CAT 6 cable to length, stripping insulation, and
arranging wires according to TIA-568-A which is stripe-green, solid-green, stripe-orange,
solid-blue, stripe-blue, solid-orange, stripe-brown, and solid-brown. I cut surplus wire and
crimped it after firmly inserting it into RJ-45 connector. I used a cable tester to verify the
cable's functionality.

Microsoft Outlook Configuration and Troubleshooting

I followed the step-by-step email configuration steps as provided by City of Harare. So
basically, I entered the mail.hararecity.co.zw mail provider as well as the given user’s email
address and credentials.

Os installation
I used a bootable flash to install Windows 10 Pro, 11 machines. First, I pressed the f9, f12 to
open the boot menu, then selected the usb flash as the booting device and started the
installation process.

Network Connectivity Troubleshooting

I diagnosed and fixed network faults due to faulty Ethernet cables, poorly attached ethernet
cables as well as network configurations.
CHAPTER 3
DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSION
In this section the student will write about what has been drawn from this period of
attachment. The author will also recommend appropriate measures that companies can take to
ensure the safety of their employees and the organisation as well as advice that can be given
to educational institutions. The student will also highlight the general challenges faced during
the internship period.
WHAT I LEARNT

My industrial attachment was a crucial learning experience that significantly enriched my

technical, analytical, and professional skills. During this period, I had the opportunity to
apply theoretical concepts in real world settings, gain exposure to modern tools in the IT
environments.

At the City of Harare, I gained hands on experience in offering technical IT support. I learnt
how to terminate and test LAN cables, install and configure operating systems, resolve
network issues, and provide desktop support. I also became proficient in setting up Microsoft
Outlook for users and addressing trust relationship errors. These tasks enhanced my
understanding of networking fundamentals, system troubleshooting, and the importance of
maintaining stable IT environments.

At Econet Wireless, I developed essential skills into the data analytics and business
intelligence system. I became proficient in using Power BI to design dashboards that
communicate key performing indicators. I also utilized Power Query to clean and transform
datasets. I also learned how to write and execute SQL queries in Apache Hive, automate
reporting tasks, and perform routine data integrity checks. This environment taught me how
large organizations leverage data for informed decision making and service optimization.

My technical development went hand in hand with the acquisition of essential soft skills that
included communication skills and teamwork abilities together with problem-solving
capabilities and time management expertise. Through my work experience in both corporate
and municipal settings I learned to value proper professional conduct and teamwork and how
important it is to match IT solutions with organizational objectives.

The attachment opportunity provided practical experience which strengthened my interest in

cloud computing and data engineering alongside systems support. The experience served as a
basis for my upcoming academic and professional development in technology sector.
CHAPTER 4
DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
I found great satisfaction from working full-time as an employee with real job responsibilities
while following professional workplace protocols. The responsibility of handling tasks with
deadline requirements showed me how the professional world functions. My technical skills
development merged with overall competency growth because of the obstacles I faced and
achievements I reached during this period. I discovered that every concept I learned in school
had immediate practical value when applied to industrial operations. This time period was
essential for developing my character. When I took on leadership duties that demanded self-
starting behaviour along with coordination skills and decision-making abilities I developed
stronger accountability and self-discipline. The experience allowed me to develop both
professionally and personally thus equipping me for the demands of the professional world. A
key transformation I wish to witness across Africa involves organizations adopting stronger
teamwork practices. The practice of teamwork creates opportunities for idea sharing while
bringing multiple viewpoints to problem-solving activities. Organizations that implement
team-based approaches will create innovation opportunities while making development
processes more exciting thus enabling sustainable progress despite difficult conditions.
RECOMMENDATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

Based on my experience during the industrial attachment period, I would recommend the
following to the University of Zimbabwe

The university needs to add more practical, industry-based laboratories and projects to its
curriculum which utilize current technologies to replicate workplace conditions.

The university needs to build stronger ties between public and private sector companies for
obtaining a larger number of quality attachment placements. Through this approach students
will receive placements which match their professional career objectives.

The university should establish a program which enables students together with employers to
submit organized feedback following their attachment period. The collected feedback must
undergo evaluation to enhance both academic delivery methods and upcoming attachment
program frameworks.

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

The university should develop collaborative programs with certification bodies or provide
budget-friendly courses for students to gain industry-related skills in cloud computing,
cybersecurity and business intelligence tools.
Industrial tours together with guest lectures and job-shadowing opportunities must be
arranged during the second year to provide students early exposure to professional
environments so they can properly direct their educational paths.
Students would benefit from career guidance and motivation through a mentorship program
that connects them with industry professionals from the alumni network. The curriculum
receives valuable feedback from alumni regarding its alignment with actual job requirements.

ORGANISATION
My industrial attachment at Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and the City of Harare provided me
with valuable learning opportunities which I deeply appreciate. Future students would benefit
from enhanced industrial training programs through the following recommendations that I
propose: The establishment of collaborative environments which respect intern contributions
both promotes creative thinking and boosts intern engagement. Interns together with
permanent staff should participate in teamwork activities because this approach promotes
knowledge transfer and diverse problem-solving approaches.
CHALLENGES FACED
My industrial attachment at the City of Harare together with Econet Wireless Zimbabwe
presented various obstacles which enhanced my educational experience and individual
development. The various difficulties tested my flexibility along with my ability to solve
problems and my technical abilities. The shift from academic life to organized workplace
structure demanded adaptations to new daily patterns alongside professional communication
norms and full-time employment standards. The initial challenge involved understanding
organizational culture along with learning effective collaboration methods within established
hierarchical structures. The main challenge was managing various assignments while
fulfilling performance standards within strict timeframes especially during times of intense
workload. I needed to develop both task prioritization skills alongside pressure management
techniques.
CHAPTER 5
In this chapter the author will provide relevance of their degree programme to what they have
been doing during the internship programme and conclude their report.
RELEVANCE TO DEGREE PROGRAMME

The industrial attachment experience was highly relevant to my Bachelor of Science in Cloud
computing and IOT degree program at the University of Zimbabwe, as it allowed me to apply
academic knowledge in real world environments and gain practical exposure to concepts
taught in the classroom.

At the City of Harare, I was involved in offering IT support which is directly related to
modules such as Computer Networks and Operating Systems. I applied theoretical knowledge
about LAN configurations, IP addressing, domain integration, and operating system
deployment while working on real systems. Tasks like LAN cable termination, printer
troubleshooting, and trust relationship resolution provided first-hand experience in
maintaining and managing IT infrastructure.

The internship period at Econet Wireless Zimbabwe demonstrated strong connections to

Database Systems and Data Analytics together with Cloud Computing modules. My database
management courses taught me to work with Apache Hive and SQL in order to query large
datasets. I created Power BI dashboards using principles of data visualization and reporting
and business intelligence. Through this experience I connected theoretical concepts with real-
world enterprise data management systems that form essential capabilities for modern cloud-
based analytics environments.

The attachment strengthened my academic base and boosted my problem-solving and

technical abilities while revealing the practical applications of Computer Science principles
in real world environments.
CONCLUSION

My industrial attachment experience at both Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and the City of
Harare was a transformative and enriching phase of my academic journey. It provided me
with practical exposure to the diverse applications of computer science in real-world
environments, ranging from technical support and infrastructure management in the public
sector to data analytics and business intelligence in a fast-paced corporate setting. The
attachment allowed me to apply theoretical concepts learned in class to practical tasks, build
hands-on skills, and gain insight into workplace dynamics. I improved my competencies in
network troubleshooting, systems installation, SQL scripting, data transformation, and
dashboard development using Power BI. These experiences were not only technically
empowering but also fostered personal growth, discipline, and professional confidence

The chance to work across various environments taught me how different workplaces
approach teamwork and problem solving which strengthened my flexibility while expanding
my view of organizational practices. The attachment as a cloud computing student allowed
me to better grasp fundamental cloud service systems and demonstrated how crucial data is
for organizational success. The attachment program provided me with vital capabilities and
understanding which will help me succeed in upcoming ICT industry positions. The
experience strengthened my technological interest and built essential groundwork for my
professional development. I believe that my acquired knowledge and work experience will
direct me toward advanced academic pursuits as well as certification achievements and
professional career development within cloud computing and other areas.
REFERENCES