Staff Reporter
President Mnangagwa has implored stakeholders to embark on research and development to extract the exact value of traditional plants.
Speaking during the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe 5-year strategic plan in Harare yesterday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa highlighted that government recognises the role of biotechnology in transforming the people’s lives through food production, medicinal drugs and industrial products.
“The commercial potential of Zumbani and other traditional plants, whose value addition potential is under-exploited, remains essential. As you have demonstrated today, the sector must explore research and development around many more plants and natural products occurring within our country. I also expect you to move up the value chain and graduate towards the development of intermediate value added products including extracts for the food, beverages and Phyto-pharmaceutical market.
“This should result in more traditional medicines, food and beverages on the market emanating from the research, development and new technologies in the biotechnology industry.
“The sector will, therefore, continue to receive support from my government as a key pillar that should boost our national development with outputs transcending the socio-economic spectrum. This is why we produced innovation hubs at all state universities and we fund them so that our boys and girls test their talents,” he said.
The President said that the country had established industrial parks for those who graduate ideas from their heads to paper, which is in line with Zimbabwe’s thrust of education 5.0.
President Mnangagwa exhorted the National Biotechnology Authority and other stakeholders to create an enabling ecosystem to enhance collaboration, knowledge, skills and infrastructural sharing within the sector.
He said that it was noteworthy that the National Biotechnology Authority, in partnership with Chengie Research and Gulf Pharmaceuticals Zimbabwe, developed an innovative product of their own, COFSOL.
“I am informed that the COFSOL syrup, which is a remedy for treating coughs, colds and flu, is composed of our own naturally occurring herb, Zumbani, Lippia-Javanica,” he added.
The Government unveiled a locally manufactured cough syrup, with calls for the utilisation of innovation hubs gaining traction.
The Government has set up innovation hubs and industrial parks across the country which are being spearheaded by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development to harness innovations in order to reduce over-reliance on imports.
