By Fidelis Manyange
THE agony of cycling long distances to his various workstations has led an Epworth young man to fuse existing bicycle technology into a prototype motorbike which has turned him into an overnight celebrity.
Taona Talent Chikumene, who lives in Epworth’s Overspill, has proved to his peers and community at large that he is, indeed, a rare talent after assembling a four-wheeled motorcycle by welding two bicycles together powered by a petrol engine.
The two bicycles’ front wheels are controlled by standard motorcycle handlebars which he has modified so that they turn both front wheels in tandem.
Now a common sight to Epworth residents, the unique bike has also attracted the attention of several local businesspeople who see potential in Talent’s fertile imagination.
No wonder, Chikumene is worried his ideas might be ‘highjacked’ by ‘poachers’ before his invention sees the light of day. “Whenever I ride my bike interested onlookers gather around me to get a closer look at it as well as take pictures and videos. My biggest worry is that some of my works will end up in the hands of ‘pirates’, who will claim the credit for it. Even the police manning the roadblocks often stop me to get a closer look at this special bike.”
A qualified motor mechanic and auto-electrician, Chikumene says his bike consumes about one litre of fuel for every 60km and boasts a maximum speed of 60km/hour.
What makes Chikumene’s invention unique is that he merged two bicycles into a single motorised vehicle on four wheels. He is envisaging a few more improvements before he patents the bike for the market.
“I want to make my own frames for the bike instead of relying on those from established brands which I am using now. I really also would like to have my own tyres which are robust enough to withstand the high speeds which wear out the standard bicycle tyres, make it difficult to control the bike.”
Powered by a car battery, Talent’s bike is equipped with lights, a horn and speedometer. It also has a pillion seat for one passenger.
Born in Sadza, Mashonaland East Province, in 1996, Chikumene studied for his City & Guilds certificate in mechanics at Speciss College at Gazaland, Highfield.
His interest in mechanics goes back to his primary school days at Chizungu during which he dismantled radios, televisions and bicycles at home and re-assembled them just in time before his parents returned home from their jobs.
“Sometimes I was unlucky; my parents would get back home before I had re-assembled the gadgets and I would be severely punished for it,” recalls Chikumene.
Even the sky is not the limit for the Epworth genius who is planning to invent an engine which uses brake fluid instead of the traditional fossil fuels.
The talented mechanic joins other local inventors such as Dr Peter Morgan, who developed the bush pump which has been largely adopted in Zimbabwe and many developing countries to ease water shortages.
Jeremiah Sundire invented a hydro engine which was recognised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO). The engine is capable of generating enough electricity for domestic use using 40-60 litres of water.
Also on the list of local inventors is Maxwell Chikumbutso, who invented the world’s first ‘green’ power generator which produces electricity using radio frequencies. He also invented an electric car and a multi-fuelled helicopter, among others.
Chikumbutso has since relocated to the US.
Of course, this list of local inventors would not be complete without mentioning Daniel Chingoma, who hogged the headlines with his two helicopters assembled from scrap metal and disused car engines.
However, Chingoma’s Zimcopters never took off after the Government insisted they posed a hazard not only to the community at large but the airline industry in general.
Science and technology have taken centre stage in Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 when the Government adopted several policies to promote the harnessing of innovative ideas and inventions. The advent of STEM and industrial hubs in tertiary institutions are some of the strategies being spearheaded by the Second Republic to nurture young minds and stimulate interest in the scientific and technological fields.
