adminSifelani Tsiko Senior Writer
Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Dr Olivia Muchena yesterday challenged academic researchers from the Sadc region to take advantage of economic opportunities presented by climate change even as they seek to manage risks associated with the phenomenon.
Opening the Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA) climate change workshop in Harare, Dr Muchena said adaptation to climate change was awash with opportunities that could create jobs and improve the livelihoods of communities in the region.
“When you are debating about the climate change nexus, you need to look for opportunities coming out of the climate change catastrophe,” she said. “As researchers you need to explore how we can create employment and improve livelihoods out of the climate change phenomenon.
“Let it not be just about knowledge generation but about employment creation as well.”
Minister Muchena also urged academic researchers to demystify climate change issues to help educate the public in Zimbabwe and the region about the effects of climate change.
“You should translate climate change jargon into the language of a person in the street so that they can understand to the extent of soliciting a commitment,” she said. “Climate change issues are full of jargon and we need to simplify these issues. If we generate knowledge we need to put it in a language that can be easily understood.”
Taking the mystery out of climate science, she said, would help make climate change issues more easily understood and ensure active participation by the communities in the region.
The Zimbabwe Open University played host to the two-day workshop which was being held under theme: “Strengthening University Contributions to Climate Change Development in Southern Africa.”
ZOU Vice Chancellor Prof Primrose Kurasha who is also the president of SARUA said the workshop sought to raise awareness and share experiences on climate change issues as well as highlight climate development challenges and opportunities in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter