Zimbabwe Bets Big on Biotech to Fuel Industrial Revolution

Dr. Eng. Willie Ganda

By Enia Dube

The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Hon. Dr Fredrick Shava, has thrown his weight behind biotechnology as a key driver of the country’s industrialisation and modernisation agenda.

Speaking at the National Biotechnology Authority (NBA) Strategic Planning Workshop in Kadoma, Dr Shava urged the Authority to identify biotechnology-led opportunities that can boost national production and accelerate economic growth.

“Biotechnology serves as a key catalyst for NDS2 implementation, advancing inclusive economic growth, job creation, and sustainable industrial development,” Dr Shava said, emphasising the need to integrate biotechnology into national value chains to unlock a biotechnology-driven economy. He added that this would turn innovation into industry, knowledge into enterprise, and science into jobs.

The NBA has made notable progress in establishing a strong regulatory framework, promoting biotechnology research and commercialisation, and raising public awareness about the sector’s potential. The Authority has successfully commercialised products such as Mapfura wine and Cofsol cough syrup, and has several other biotechnology products in the pipeline.

Incoming NBA Board Chairperson, Professor Idah Sithole-Niang, echoed Dr Shava’s sentiments, emphasising that the Authority’s five-year strategic plan must meaningfully contribute to the attainment of Vision 2030. “This event marks a significant milestone in the Authority’s ongoing efforts to enhance the role of biotechnology in Zimbabwe’s socio-economic development,” she said.

The workshop aimed to realign priorities and resources in response to emerging technologies and global biotechnology trends, and develop a strategic roadmap to strengthen biotechnology as a key driver of Zimbabwe’s socio-economic transformation. The rapidly evolving global biotechnology landscape, including advancements in gene editing, bio-manufacturing, and climate-smart innovations, presents both new opportunities and challenges for Zimbabwe.

“We recognise the pressing need for an inclusive and forward-looking strategic plan that can navigate the complexities of the biotechnology landscape,” Professor Sithole-Niang noted. The workshop was attended by researchers, government officials, and NBA staff, who are optimistic about the potential of biotechnology to drive Zimbabwe’s economic transformation and achieve Vision 2030.