Current Affairs
Zimbabwean Scientist Mukaro Among Africa’s Top Plant Breeding Fellows
Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Hon. Vangelis Haritatos, has applauded the achievements of 12 outstanding plant breeding fellows, including Zimbabwean scientist Ronica Mukaro, describing them as “torchbearers of a new generation of African scientists.”
Speaking during the recognition ceremony, Hon. Haritatos commended the fellows for their contribution to advancing agricultural innovation across the continent under the CGIAR Plant Breeding Fellowship Program a transformative initiative designed to empower Africa’s next generation of plant breeding leaders.
“This is a transformative initiative designed to empower Africa’s next generation of plant breeding leaders. Through a partnership between CGIAR and national breeding programs, the program equips fellows with advanced technical expertise, socio-economic insights, and critical leadership and management skills,” said Hon. Haritatos.
He emphasized that the program’s holistic approach ensures that graduates emerge not only as skilled scientists but as visionary leaders capable of driving collaboration and innovation within Africa’s agricultural networks.
“Technical skills alone are not enough. Africa needs leaders who can drive collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence across plant breeding networks,” he added.
Among the 12 fellows, Zimbabwe’s own Ronica Mukaro a maize breeder stood out as a testament to the nation’s growing influence in agricultural science and innovation. Her success, Hon. Haritatos said, underscores Zimbabwe’s commitment to advancing food security, climate resilience, and scientific excellence.
“Ronica’s achievement reflects Zimbabwe’s potential to lead in agricultural innovation. She represents the spirit of determination and excellence that defines our national vision for a food-secure future,” He said.”
The graduating fellows were honored for demonstrating leadership, teamwork, and innovation qualities central to the CGIAR Capacity Building for Leadership Program (CBLP) mission of producing well-rounded professionals.
Their work focuses on developing resilient, high-yielding crop varieties tailored to Africa’s diverse environments, a vital contribution to the continent’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The event marked a significant milestone in strengthening Africa’s agricultural research capacity. Hon. Haritatos noted that programs such as the CGIAR Fellowship are essential to building a self-sufficient, food-secure, and climate-resilient Africa.
Zimbabwe is experiencing intensified power outages following the shutdown of Unit 6 at the Hwange Power Station due to a system failure. The development threatens to plunge large parts of the country into darkness.
Unit 6, one of the original thermal generation units commissioned in the 1980s, has an installed capacity of 220 megawatts (MW). Its sudden breakdown has worsened the country’s already fragile electricity supply, which continues to be hampered by persistent load-shedding and ageing infrastructure.
“Hwange Unit 6 has been taken off the grid due to a system failure. The unit will be out of operation for a period of three days and is expected to return to service on October 10,” ZESA said.
During this period, Hwange Power Station will continue to operate with three units in service. ZPC acknowledged the inconvenience caused and expressed appreciation for the public’s patience as efforts are made to restore full generation capacity.
First Lady and Health and Child Care Ambassador, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, has extended her blanket donation initiative to health facilities run by the country’s uniformed forces, ensuring that patients under their care also benefit from her ongoing national hospital support programme.
Representatives from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) received their consignments at Zimbabwe House this week. The donation guarantees that every bed in the health facilities run by the three security institutions will be furnished with two blankets.
Amai Mnangagwa said the gesture was part of her continued efforts to promote patient comfort and improve health service delivery across the country.
“Every patient deserves warmth and comfort. Through this initiative, we are reaffirming our collective commitment to the wellbeing of all Zimbabweans,” she said.
The First Lady’s blanket donation programme has already reached referral hospitals across the country. Institutions such as Victoria Chitepo, Gweru, Chinhoyi, Bindura, Marondera, and Kwekwe General Hospitals have collected their allocations from the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) in Harare.
To ease transportation logistics, hospitals in the southern region covering Bulawayo and the Matabeleland provinces are collecting their consignments from NatPharm’s Bulawayo branch.
The initiative is part of Amai Mnangagwa’s broader campaign to enhance healthcare delivery through material support, especially for patients admitted in public institutions.
Her efforts continue to complement government programmes aimed at improving standards in the health sector and ensuring dignified care for all citizens.
Nkulumane Member of Parliament, Honourable Desire Moyo, has tragically died following a road accident that occurred in the early hours of Friday morning.
Confirming the incident, Emakhandeni–Luveve legislator Discent Collins Bajila said the accident took place near Shangani, involving a group of parliamentarians who were travelling together when their vehicle collided with an elephant.
“Good morning colleagues. Honourables Madalaboy Ndebele, Senator Rittah Ndlovu, Sethulo Ndebele, Libion Sibanda and Desire Moyo were involved in an accident just before Shangani.
They hit an elephant. Sadly, Hon. Moyo has been confirmed dead and his family has been notified. The other passengers have been taken to hospital for treatment,” said Hon. Bajila.
Further information about the accident and the condition of the other legislators is expected to be released as investigations continue.
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