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Sifelani Tsiko
Innovations Editor
Government will fund the establishment of a secretariat of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences (ZAS) to help promote an innovation-led and knowledge-based economy,Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister, Ambassador Fredrick Shava said.
In a speech read on his behalf by Prof Fanuel Tagwira at a ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of ZAS, Ambassador Shava said the Government values science academies as a vehicle for national development.
“The Government takes national academies very seriously. This is the reason why in our National Strategic Plan 2021 – 2025 one of our key strategies is the setting up of a secretariat to provide support to national academies,” he said.
“Government commits to assist ZAS to set up a secretariat. The Government wants to work with academies for national development.”
He said President Mnangagwa was a firm believer in the role of innovation, science, and technology in national development.
“In most of his speeches he talks about how through embracing innovation, science, and technology development we can develop our country and propel ourselves to achieve vision 2030 of an upper middle-income society by 2030,” Ambassador Shava said.
“His major achievements in higher and tertiary education are centred on embracing and investing in science and technology.”
Under President Mnangagwa’s leadership, the country has successfully established innovation hubs and industrial parks and rural industrialisation programmes guided by the “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” philosophy.
“He firmly believes that if we work together and make full use of our science academies we will go very far in the development of our nation,” Minister Shava said.
Zimbabwe is setting up the Centre of Education Research Innovation and Development in Chivhu to create space and facilities for scientists in universities, industry and those retired to work on challenging projects which are critical for national development.
“When we harness our collective expertise we will be able to achieve a lot of success as a country,” Ambassador Shava said.
“Let us engage more often and find ways we can support you to support the development of our nation through science. A place of unity is a place of power.”
ZAS was established in 2004 to advance the practice of science and technology for national development.
Most countries in Africa are lagging behind because the countries are not using rigorous research or developing policies informed by accurate scientific evidence.
Science academies can play a role in the attainment of national goals on food security, climate change, health, and water security.
There are national academies of science in more than 27 African countries and young academies in 13 countries on the continent.
Online Reporter