Call for innovation

Tafadzwa Ndlovu Herald Reporter
Zimbabwean researchers need to come up with scientific and technological innovations that can enhance value-addition processes and boost economic growth.Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Dr Godfrey Gandawa, told exhibitors at the just-ended Science and Technology Expo that the development of affordable technology could help transform the extraction and processing of raw materials.

“I believe many of you are aware that value-addition to raw materials is the most important component of manufacturing. As science and technology researchers you should find practical solutions to value addition for both our minerals and agricultural produce in order for our economy to grow.”

Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector alone, he said, had the potential to absorb millions of people as a result of downstream industries that could be created through value-addition.

“When all these ingredients have been synthesised the effect is phenomenal economic growth that every developing country cherishes,” the Deputy Minister said.

The Science and Technology Expo was held under the theme: “Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development”.
The expo, which was held as part of the Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) week for the Sadc region, aimed to promote the development and application of science, engineering and technology in the country.

“Our society must embrace science, engineering and technology as pillars of economic development,” Dr Gandawa said.
The Government set up the Innovation and Commercialisation Fund to help commercialise research and development outcomes.
Nyatsime College scooped first prize for the best display in the high schools category while Chinhoyi University of Technology was first in the tertiary institution category.