Online Reporter
Sifelani Tsiko
Fact Check Editor
ZIMBABWE remains strongly committed to international biosafety protocols, including the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which became binding on the country in 2004, a senior government official says.
In a speech read on his behalf by Dr Willie Ganda, at a one- day consultative workshop on the validation of the Fifth National Report on The Implementation of The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, in Harare on Wednesday, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Permanent Secretary Prof Fanuel Tagwira said biosafety remained a key priority for Zimbabwe.
“Government remains resolute in harnessing the transformative power of modern science to uplift livelihoods, enhance productivity and drive inclusive national development,” he said.
“However, innovation without regulation is risk without responsibility. It is for this reason that biosafety is not an optional add-on to development, it is an essential safeguard that ensures technological progress occurs within a framework that protects human health, preserves biodiversity, and secures our ecological heritage for future generations.”
Zimbabwe has, over the years, demonstrated an unwavering commitment to building a robust, transparent and internationally credible biosafety governance system.
The country ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity on May 26, 2005, following parliamentary approval in October 2004.
The Protocol governs the safe handling, transport, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) to protect biodiversity, with the National Biotechnology Authority overseeing compliance in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has adopted a battery of measures to integrate biosafety and biotechnology mechanisms to maintain a comprehensive national framework for the safe handling, transport, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
“These strategic milestones laid the legal, institutional and policy foundation for effective regulation of modern biotechnology in our country,” Prof Tagwira said.
“Furthermore, Zimbabwe’s ratification of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety strengthened our engagement within the global biosafety architecture.”
Through the domestication of this Protocol into national law, he said, the Government ensured that the safe handling, transfer, transport and use of living modified organisms are fully regulated in line with international best practice.
Speaking at the same event, NBA board chairperson Prof Idah Sithole-Niang said the Fifth National Report reflects Zimbabwe’s continued commitment to meeting its international biosafety obligations while strengthening national regulatory capacity.
“It highlights key milestones achieved in biosafety governance, institutional coordination, capacity development, public awareness, and regulatory decision-making processes,” she said.
“Importantly, this report is a product of collective effort. The National Biotechnology Authority firmly believes that strong institutions are built on inclusive participation, informed dialogue, and transparency.”
After this validation exercise, the National Biotechnology Authority will integrate all agreed revisions and upload the final report to the Biosafety Clearing-House platform for Zimbabwe, in fulfilment of international reporting commitments.
The Fifth National Report on the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety covers the period from 2019 to 2026 and was undertaken by the National Biotechnology Authority in close collaboration with Government ministries, departments and agencies, researchers, academia, industry stakeholders and civil society partners.
