Govt commits to supporting tech projects in higher learning institutions

By Staff reporter | 07 Mar 2019 at 14:19hrs
Professor Fanuel Tagwira
The government through its various arms will continue to support technological research projects in higher and tertiary institutions and ensure their continuity, TechnoMag has learnt.

Addressing stakeholders at Southern Africa Network for Biosciences (SanBio) workshop in Harare, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Professor Fanuel Tagwira applauded efforts being done by programmes such as SanBio BioFISA in funding various research projects.

Professor Tagwira officially opened the workshop which coincided with the launch of the Mineral Lick product by the Chinhoyi University of Technology. The Professor said the synergies of various stakeholders and the government with the education sector is in line with achieving the President's Vision for 2030.

"This programme creates a platform for collaborative research both locally and regionally which dovetails well with the Zimbabwe is open for business mantra as championed by his Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Comrade E.D Mnangagwa," he said.

Professor Tagwira also commended the achievements that have been seen over the years through SanBio as they will go a long way in inspiring others to focus more on productive research. Furthermore, he spoke on the vision of the President.

"The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education,Science and Technology Development stands guided by the vision of the President that ,institutions of higher learning should not be satisfied with the number of graduates who have passed through their gates yearly but rather harness their collective skills and intellectual capacity within their respective institutions to develop our beloved country," he said.

SanBio is working with various institutions and the private sector in addressing challenges, boost capacity utilization of biosciences research, development and innovation for poverty alleviation in Southern Africa. Under its Finnish-Southern Africa Partnership (BioFISA) programme projects such as Forensic Genotyping Kit, Resurrection Bush Tea, simple and rapid test for bovine brucellosis among others have been undertaken.

The workshop was also used to officially announce that Zimbabwe is now a member of the International Centre of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB). Under ICGEB academic and research institutions will be given opportunities in the biosciences sector such as research and fellowship, grants, provision of resources for scientific meetings among others.

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