Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino
Zimpapers Politics Hub
The National Biotechnology Authority (NBA) has called for the strengthening of existing legal frameworks to promote intellectual property protection to ensure communities benefit and preserve indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) as the nation adopts the National Development Strategy (NDS2).
In an interview, NBA chief executive officer, Dr Deckster Savadye, said there are new commercial opportunities being created by the integration of IKS and modern science, which are shaping progress in biomedical science, food production and the culinary landscape where women and youths can get financial dividends.
Dr Savadye said that besides improving the livelihoods of local people, the application of IKS also brings a positive impact to other key sectors, including education and health.
“Towards NDS 2, there is need to strengthen the legal frameworks and promote intellectual property protection to ensure communities benefit and preserve the intangible knowledge.
“Indigenous knowledge systems have been vital in Zimbabwe’s development across health, food and pharmaceutical sectors. The integration of traditional knowledge with modern science has led to new products and commercial opportunities. The focus on indigenous herbs and products for disease prevention and management will be vital for health and wellness in NDS 2,” Dr Savadye said.
At last week’s 2025 Presidential Innovation Fair Awards Ceremony, the NBA won the best Innovating Government Research and Development award.
The institution has been leading environmentally and health-friendly innovations around the production of briquettes made from mapfura seed husk; marula cider vinegar from the indigenous marula fruit and the Mukumbi brandy from Mapfura wine and complementary ingredients.
Dr Savadye commended local communities for adopting innovations that are translating the use of IKS, enabling people to generate sustainable household incomes. He said the use of local plant materials in food and pharmaceutical sectors has been a pillar of success for NDS1 and big corporations in the dairy industry have been using indigenous trees and herbs for commercial products like herbal tea, herbal oils and yoghurts.
“The rapid growth of IKS-based products will be critical in consolidating the gains of NDS 1 in pharmaceutical product development. Adoption of systems to utilise local plant materials in the food and pharmaceutical sectors has been a pillar of success for NDS1.
“Big companies in the dairy industry have been using indigenous trees and herbs for commercial products such as yoghurt, herbal oils and herbal teas. The IKS drive moves beyond preservation, but actively fuses traditional wisdom with modern science to create commercially viable products,” he added.
dyton mupawaenda