President Emmerson Mnangagwa has commissioned the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Industrial Incubation Centre and Specialist Medical Centre, describing the facilities as key milestones in the country’s industrialisation, modernisation and healthcare development.
Speaking at the UZ Diamond Conference Centre in Harare on Monday, President Mnangagwa said the projects demonstrated the success of the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 Model.
“Such projects validate the success of the Heritage-based Education 5.0 Model that continues to position our higher and tertiary institutions as critical cogs in the ongoing industrialisation, modernisation and development of our economy,” he said.
The president said the Industrial Incubation Centre would help young innovators transform research and ideas into commercial products and businesses.
“The University of Zimbabwe Industrial Incubation Centre must thus not merely be a workspace for graduate innovators but steadily evolve into an industrial production hub that supports manufacturing, technology development, value addition and enterprise growth,” he said.
He noted that Zimbabwe spends approximately US$2.5 billion on imported manufactured goods that could be produced locally.
“There is scope in this regard for the student-led start-up companies under institutions of higher learning to produce a wider range of products with direct bearing on the needs of our economy,” he said.
On healthcare, President Mnangagwa said the Specialist Medical Centre would provide services including oral and eye health, IVF and trauma care.
“Health services such as assisted reproduction have been only available in the private sector. This made the services out of reach and unaffordable for many of our people requiring the treatment in this area,” he said.
He also warned against barriers and cartels in the health sector.
“Hatidi ma gate-keepers, nema cartels mu health sector; vanhu vedu vachitadza kurapwa zvakanaka, nemutengo uripasi. Kwete. Ngative nehanya, tikoshese hutano we vanhu vekwedu,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said universities must continue driving national development through research, science, innovation and technology towards Vision 2030.
“Let us all continue to work with unity of purpose, in seamless synergy and through constructive engagement, for the overall national good, towards Vision 2030. The future of our motherland, Zimbabwe, is bright,” President Mnangagwa added.
