Download ZIMBABWE COUNTRY REPORT

ZIMBABWE
COUNTRY REPORT
PRESENTED AT THE SADC REGIONAL
WORRKSHOP ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY
AND INNOVATION (STI) POLICY REVIEW:
22-26 SEPT. 2008, GABORONE, BOTSWANA.
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By
Ministry of Science and
Technology Development
ZIMBABWE
S C Madzinga
Director, Policy Development and Management
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PRESENTATION SUMMARY
1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Zimbabwe’s S & T Policy
4. S&T Policy
Implementation Strategy:
- Creation of an enabling
environment
- Institutions
5.S&T Policy Implementation
Status:Achievements
- Policies
- Programmes
6. Challenges
7. STI Policy Development Needs
8. Policies in Progress
9 . Concluding remarks
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1. INTRODUCTION.
The Government of Zimbabwe, like others in
SADC , is acutely aware of the critical role S & T
plays in socio-economic development. Thus in
2001 the Government of Zimbabwe adopted the
National S & T Policy as a tool with which to
expedite sustainable industrialization of the
economy.
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2. BACKGROUND
2.1 History
 Efforts at establishing a national System of
Innovation date as far back as the1950s.
 Research Act (Ch. 336) of 1959 established the
Research Foundation of Rhodesia
 1986, the Scientific and Technological Research
Act (CH. 10:22)replaced the Research Act 1959.
 Research Act Amended in 1988 and 1998 to
include Bio-safety matters.
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2. BACKGROUND CONT.
2.2 Establishment of the MSTD
 1967 – establishment of the Scientific Liaison
Office in the Prime Minister’s Office-Rhodesia
 1980- establishment of SLO in Prime Minister’s
Office in independent Zimbabwe
 2002- establishment of a Department of S&T
Development
 2005- establishment of MSTD
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2. BACKGROUND CONT.
2.3 The MSTD
 Vision: “To be a facilitator for a Science and
Technology driven economy.”
 Mission: “To strategically coordinate and promote
the systematic development and application of
S&T in support of national development through
effective engagement of public and private sector
partners.”
 Overall Function : To implement the S&T Policy
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3. ZIMBABWE’S S&T POLICY
The overall objectives of the S&T Policy are to
promote:






Rapid sustainable industrialization through R&D for value addition
and import substitution
The provision of adequate shelter through application of appropriate
technologies
The achievement of food security through R&D and application of
appropriate technologies
Sound health delivery systems through R&D in indigenous and
modern medicine
The provision of sufficient energy resources through R&D geared
towards energy generation and conservation
Environmental preservation and sustainable utilisation of our
biodiversity
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4. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY:
4.1. Creation Of An Enabling Environment
 Coordination
 Networking and
 Policy Frameworks
Collaboration
 Benchmarking
 Monitoring and
Evaluation
 Set up a database.
formulation
 Regulatory
Frameworks
 R&D promotion
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4. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY:
4.2. The Institutions
 The MSTD
 The RCZ
 SIRDC
 NBA
 ZARNet
 Provincial S&T Dev
Committees
 Finealt Pvt. Ltd.
 Line ministries
 Gov. R&D Institutions
 Pvt. R&D Institutions
 ZAI
 ZAS
 ICT Task Force
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5. S & T POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS :
Achievements
5.1. Policies
 S&T Policy Launch 2002
 Establishment of Department of S&T
Development 2002
 Establishment of MSTD 2005
 Establishment of Provincial S&T Development
Committees 2004-2005
 Sectoral S&T Policy implement. review 2005
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5. S & T POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS :
Achievements
5.1. Policies Cont…
 Biotechnology Policy Development 2005
 National Biotechnology Act 2006
 E-readiness Survey 2005
 ICT Policy Launch 2007
 Regional & International collaboration
 SADC S&T Framework and Protocol
 MOU with South Africa Nov. 2007
 Membership of Intn. Orgs.
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5. S & T POLICY
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS:
Achievements
5.2. Programmes
S&T Popularisation & Support:
 Exhibitions, ZITF, HAS, SLATE,
 Provincial Exhibitions
 Youths in Science
 Women in Science
 Schools Computerization
 I C Fund
 Biodiesel Project
 Participation in
regional activities
 STI-ACT 2007
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6. CHALLENGES
 Capacity development:-
Human, Equipment, Infrastructure
 Brain drain
 Funding
 Cross-cutting nature of STI
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7. STI POLICY
DEVELOPMENT NEEDS
 STI Policy Review
 Technology Transfer
 Capacity Development
 STI Indicators

Development

 ASTCPA Implementation 
- Centres of Excellence
 NSI Framework


and management
ICT Infrastructure Dev
STI Experts Database
Strengthening of
External collaboration
Sector by sector S&T
needs analysis
Funding: 1% GDP
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8. POLICIES IN PROGRESS
 MSTD Restructuring
 STI Bill formulation
 ICT Bill formulation
 I P Policy Formulation
 Collaboration with UNESCO, COMESA
 MOUs with countries such as:India, Malawi, Algeria, Iran, Pakistan
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9. CONCLUDING REMARKS
Zimbabwe’s S & T situation shows that there are a
number of challenges and needs that require the
kind of sharing and exchange of views and ideas
as is happening at this workshop if they are to be
overcome. We therefore thank UNESCO and the
Government of Botswana for organising this
workshop.
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THANK YOU
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