Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo ,Zimpapers Business Hub
NATIONAL Animal Research Ethics Committee (NAREC) has formally stepped onto Zimbabwe’s scientific stage in a decisive move to ensure that every animal-based study upholds the highest standards of care and ethical responsibility.
Recently constituted by statutory mandate (SI 246 of 2021) under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development through the Directorate of Veterinary Services, NAREC’s central mandate is to safeguard animal welfare throughout the research process, scrutinising proposals to guarantee humane treatment while fostering credible, high-quality scientific output.
Launching a national awareness campaign yesterday at Midlands State University and set to continue at Lupane State University and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), NAREC underscored its mission.
“Our foremost duty is to see that animal welfare is never compromised,” said NAREC chairperson Dr Pious Makaya.
“Ethical research is not only about compassion; it is the foundation of reliable, internationally respected results.”
The ongoing awareness campaigns and institutional discussions are equally designed to build lasting partnerships.
By engaging researchers and academic leaders directly, Dr Makaya said NAREC aims to foster a collaborative relationship in the shared pursuit of responsible science and superior research output.
“This dialogue encourages universities and laboratories to see ethical oversight not as a hurdle, but as a catalyst for innovation and global recognition,” said Dr Makaya.
By uniting rigorous oversight with education, NAREC invites researchers to pursue innovation anchored in responsibility, ensuring that Zimbabwe’s scientific output remains both ethically sound and globally competitive.
Dr Makaya said NAREC will regulate and make sure that the quality of research in animal production and animal health will be up to international standards.
