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Mukudzei Chingwere, Herald Reporter
THE Government is working diligently to improve the conditions of service for staff in universities and colleges, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Speaking during an engagement with heads of tertiary institutions in the country in Harare yesterday, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Innovation Science and Technology Development, Ambassador Fredrick Shava, said this initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the role of higher education in the country’s modernisation and industrialisation agenda.
Minister Shava expressed gratitude for the contributions made under the previous administration, particularly by former Minister Professor Amon Murwira, in advancing Heritage-based Education 5.0.
He said education is not merely an academic exercise but a transformative force that can propel Zimbabwe towards a knowledge-based and innovation-driven society.
“Almost every university that we have under our ministry is experiencing a lot of movement of skills, people resigning and moving to other places or taking jobs elsewhere and the complaint that they have is the salary level and other conditions of service,” said Minister Shava.
“So, we are trying to address both so that we are comparable to the regional salary levels, His Excellency the President has already authorised us to move towards regional parity, we still have to discuss and negotiate with the Ministry of Finance to see how best we can get to those levels.
“Those levels do not just mean money, its money, its conditions of service, its accommodation, so this is what we are trying to explore to see if we can retain people because we are satisfying some of their basic needs”.
He said educational institutions must foster a culture of entrepreneurship, collaboration and accountability.
Minister Shava called for the formation of diverse commercialisation teams equipped with marketing and business development specialists who can navigate the commercialisation pipeline effectively.
President Mnangagwa, he said, has declared 2025 ‘a year of commercialisation’ following the rollout out of several innovations in tertiary institutions.
Institutions of higher and tertiary learning and agencies must, therefore, take a strategic approach to commercialisation.
Minister Shava said this is important for transforming innovations into economic gains, enabling businesses to secure a competitive advantage.
“The need to commercialise and transform goods and services into a market reality is a must, if we are to attain Vision 2030 and be able to fulfil the human needs of our people.
“Remember, our people need food, water, shelter, clothing, connection, security, etc. Our education system must therefore be relevant to fulfil these human needs and develop the nation forward,” he said.
“This year, we want to see more goods and products on the market. By doing so, Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions will contribute towards economic growth and societal advancement whilst fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and collaboration.
Minister Shava reaffirmed Government’s commitment to establishing innovation hubs and agro-industrial parks across higher education institutions but expressed concern over the slow pace at which innovative products are reaching the market, saying there is a need for a strategic approach to commercialisation.
“The Government of Zimbabwe, through our ministry, set up innovation hubs and industrial parks across institutions of higher and tertiary learning and factories for agencies,” he said.
“To date, we pride ourselves on state-of-the-art innovation hubs, agro-industrial parks, and industrial factories/plants.
“However, we are very concerned with the rate at which products and services are making it to the market.
“Ideation and prototyping are one part of the innovation ecosystem and industrialisation and commercialisation are another part”.
Online Reporter