Harare (New Ziana) -Increasing Zimbabwe’s autonomy in biotechnology is instrumental in monitoring and controlling the outbreak of animal and zoonotic diseases, an envoy said on Thursday.
French ambassador to Zimbabwe Laurent Chevallier said this while addressing delegates gathered to witness the commissioning of a EUR 2 million state of the art biotechnology centre at the University of Zimbabwe Faculty of Veterinary Sciences.
The brand-new diagnostic centre for animal disease control houses state of the art laboratories that will enable the combating of animal and zoonotic diseases.
The French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) funded the project in conjunction with the Diagnostic Platform for Animal Disease Control (PACMAN) in partnership with the University of Zimbabwe.
Chevallier said the commissioning of the centre is the fruit of a long-standing partnership between the UZ and the French research institutions.
“The establishment of this platform was timey and will considerably speed up the diagnostic process, shortening the health responses and actions. The diagnosis that usually takes a month, will, thanks to the platform, be performed in just a matter of days.
“We are proud of the fruitful scientific partnership between France and Zimbabwe, and we hope that in the medium and long term, the biotechnology platform will attract other international partners. This project also illustrates the growing commitment of the French development agency in the region to strengthen capacities in fighting against animal diseases,” he said.
He commended the Zimbabwe government and supporting partners for their constant support and commitment to science partnership.
Speaking at the same occasion, UZ vice chancellor Professor Paul Mapfumo said the timing was most appropriate as the institution is now modernizing and advancing its science technology, engineering laboratories and workshops.
“This Bimolecular platform could not have come at a better time and it acts as a booster to the University’s vision of becoming a global centre of excellence in research and innovation in higher education training by 2035.”
He commended the French partners for contributing to one of the University’s flagship programs in the area of veterinary science with a lab that will support advanced research not only in Zimbabwe, but in the Southern African Development Community region and beyond.
“This is a world class platform and we thank you for that. This also comes after the launch of the University of Zimbabwe international surgical simulation centre by his excellency the President and Chancellor Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa during our graduation last year in this same complex.
“So we do have an advanced international centre just adjacent to this laboratory which makes this block an advanced centre of life sciences in the University of Zimbabwe and in the country. So I would like to say congratulations to the University of Zimbabwe and its partners,” he said.
Prof. Mapfumo said the new Biotechnology centre will enhance quality of teaching, research, and development of knowledge based innovative products and services for the life sciences in Zimbabwe and in the region.
For the past 30 years, CIRAD in Zimbabwe has promoted collaborative research between African, French and foreign universities and assisted young African scientists advance their scientific knowledge and expertise in their work.
To date, the organization has carried out more than 30 projects in Zimbabwe including its flagship program the sustainable wildlife management program, promoting sustainable livelihoods (PROSULI) in Trans frontier Conservations Areas, PACMAN, and the Livestock Production Systems (LIPS-ZIM).
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