Govt prioritizes research and development: VP Chiwenga

Harare (New Ziana)- Government is intensifying initiatives to capacitate the country’s research and development so that it matches international best practice, Vice President General (retired) Constantino Chiwenga said on Friday.

Speaking after a familiarisation visit to the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), VP Chiwenga said it was deplorable that government currently spends less than 1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product on research.

“In terms of funding, I implore the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to consider the capitalisation requirements of the centre , to enable it to deliver its mandate.”

“The Ministries of Finance and Economic Development, Industry and Commerce and the centre, should come together to consider a possible review of funding allocation to research, which is currently at less than 1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. We need to conform to international best practice,” he said.

He added : “When comprehensively supported, a well- equipped SIRDC will be a haven of research activity, as various experts and students of science and technology, as well as other innovators would yearn to access the research facility”.

“VP Chiwenga said the state of financial affairs at SIRDC required Government, in consultation with the private sector, to explore other avenues of funding.

‘A well- funded SIRDC would, without doubt, have the capacity to fulfill its mandate of : carrying out strategic research and development for the benefit of manufacturing, service, agricultural and mining sectors of Zimbabwe,” he said.

VP Chiwenga said Government was putting more emphasis on home grown solutions through , among other initiatives, developing the capacity of our research and development institutions.

“The centrality of research and development in Zimbabwe’s developmental agenda needs not be over-emphasized but should become the culture and foundation of a knowledge and science-driven economy. Research and development is the conduit that has made other countries graduate from poor and underperforming economies to bullish ones that can withstand intermittent shocks experienced in political economies globally.

Zimbabwe will definitely derive immense benefits from this centre, said VP Chiwenga.

“Today, we have seen for ourselves, results of the research and development projects implemented by SIRDC. This is ample evidence that SIRDC is geared to do more, to promote the transformation of our economy, through knowledge- based and practical solutions. Efforts of SIRDC in this endeavour are laudable and deserve the support of all stakeholders.

VP Chiwenga applauded the centre for, among its achievements, the continued servicing of the agricultural, mining, industrial and health sectors.

“Notably, the centre has consistently supplied seed maize to the command agriculture programme and the presidential input scheme. These efforts have enabled us to prevail in the fight against hunger and replenish our strategic grain reserve to achieve food security.”

“SIRDC has also made commendable achievements in income generation, raising the centre’s own generated revenue from ZW$6.5 million in 2016 to ZW$72.9 million in 2020,” said VP Chiwenga.

New Ziana