President Mnangagwa urge industry to partner universities for tech

Harare (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged industries on Thursday to partner institutions of higher learning in the country to tap into their technological expertise and know how and keep trends with advances elsewhere in the world.

He said science and technology were advancing, making production simpler and more efficient, and it was therefore local businesses should not be left behind.

President Mnangagwa was speaking at a ceremony to commission new, US$20 million production lines at Varun Beverages in Harare, which has significantly increased the company’s soft drinks output.

“The countries that we call the first world are the first world because they have embraced science and technology innovation,” he said.

“For us to leapfrog development of our own country, we must also embrace science and technology,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said there was no doubt that once strong partnerships between industry and higher learning institutions were established, the country would witness ground-breaking inventions and innovations.

“My administration will continue to focus on the innovation kind of industrialisation, this will act as a conduit for universities and colleges to innovate products based on Zimbabwe’s natural heritage while promoting import substitution and domestic value chains as critical pillars to indigenization, mordenisation and economic growth,” he said.

Varun Beverages, which set shop in the country a few years ago, has invested in the latest manufacturing technologies which has vastly expanded output, and improved production efficiencies.

President Mnangagwa said the company’s modern and efficient production processes was an example local companies should emulate and could also attain working with universities and colleges.

New Ziana