The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Government has reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting innovations that are providing solutions to the country’s challenges and spurring economic growth in line with the Second Republic’s Vision 2030 anchored on the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
Through Education 5.0 launched last year by President Mnangagwa, innovation hubs at universities and colleges have been making great strides in developing innovations that are geared towards industrialisation and modernisation of the country.
In an interview, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira said Government will continue to support talented students with innovation ideas.
“Government under the Second Republic being guided by the vision of President Mnangagwa will continue providing funds to talented students at universities and colleges with brilliant innovation ideas that can provide solutions to Zimbabwe’s challenges and spur economic growth in line with Vision 2030 anchored on the NDS1,” said Prof Murwira.
He said innovation hubs were playing a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing patent bankable projects, with other key projects in the pipeline.
The Minister said it was the role of his ministry to provide the nation with the necessary means or capability to achieve Vision 2030 of an industrialised and modernised nation through producing quality goods and services.
Prof Murwira added: “We have witnessed various key developments such as the building of a juice making plant and a pharmaceutical plant from traditional herbs at MSU. We have finished the marula plant at Rutenga Growth Point in Mwenezi and the medical oxygen and industrial gas plant in Feruka, Manicaland Province, among other developments.”
He said the projects were diversified with soap making factories in the pipeline as well as finishing up the milking palour that will see production of cheese, sour milk and other milk products including yoghurt at Chinhoyi University of Technology.
Prof Murwira said other projects being implemented saw selected colleges and universities working on the production of motor vehicle registration plates, new road substitute tar and agricultural chemicals being developed to assist farmers fight off the fall army worm, among others.
The Minister said in the grand plan for Education 5.0, the higher and tertiary education system must be the provider and facilitator of wealth creation through creating new industry through endogenous innovation.
Prof Murwira said: “Education 5.0 is supported by a well thought framework or ecosystems with inputs, processes and outputs. We shall expand the existing private sector by giving people the capability to create new industries.”
Meanwhile, despite the resurgence of Covid-19 that has seen numbers of new cases rising, with some universities and colleges stopping face-to-face lectures as a way of controlling the spread of the pandemic, the Minister said universities and colleges will continue with their scheduled calendars.
He said: “Universities and colleges have got standard operating measures, when there is a threat they will always adjust because we can now go online, hybrid or face-to-face so the institutions have got standard operating procedures.
They are also working with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and depending on the type of threat they are able to adjust accordingly.”
Prof Murwira said universities and colleges should encourage their students to be vaccinated.
