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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter

STATE universities’ response to the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the Government saving US$12 million which would have been channelled towards importing protective clothing.

The universities have stepped up to respond to national challenges in many spheres.

Among notable achievements is that the institutions now manufacture vehicle number plates which were being imported, addressing the problem of their shortage.

A locally produced cough mixture has also been manufactured through raw materials that exist in the country.

These are some of the successes that have been recorded in the country since the adoption of Education 5.0 in the higher and tertiary sector as Government moves to advance a knowledge driven economy through usage of local resources.

Factories are being established at universities which were dormant for years and industrialists accused of not responding to national challenges as they implemented Education. 3.0 which only focused on teaching, research and community services.

However, the advent of the Second Republic in 2018 resulted in a paradigm shift as Government adopted Heritage Based Education 5.0 where institutions were being challenged to innovate and industrialise the country.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Professor Amon Murwira briefed Cabinet on Tuesday that Education 5.0 has started to produce tangible results as universities were now producing industries.   Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa revealed the strides that have been made to advance a knowledge driven economy during a post Cabinet briefing.

She said the higher and tertiary ministry is implementing a knowledge driven revolutionary to advance the country towards attaining Vision 2030 under “Chimurenga Chepfungwa” and “Nyika inovakwa nevana vayo” initiatives.

“Heritage-Based Education has 5 components, namely teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialisation. This is meant to move the nation forward towards innovation led and knowledge-based economy.  The activities are guided by priority programmes on innovation, science and technology development; and human capital development that produces goods and services,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“The Ministry’s strategic thrust is the attainment of an upper middle-income economy by 2030 through the “Chimurenga Chepfungwa” and “Nyika inovakwa nevana vayo” initiatives.”

She said through the initiatives, Government was able to save millions in foreign currency during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic as universities stepped up to produce protective clothing.

“The progress registered by the Ministry on the implementation of some of the programmes and projects of national importance is as follows: Semi-automated manufacturing plants for the local production of industrial and household personal care products, personal protective equipment and allied health products were established at State Universities thereby saving the nation US$12 million in imports,” she said.

“A number plate manufacturing plant called TransTech Solutions was established at the University of Zimbabwe thereby internalising the production of number plates.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said the higher and tertiary institutions are also beneficiating indigenous fruits such as Amarula/Mapfura.

“A Mapfura/Amarula Beneficiation Plant was established at Rutenga in Mwenezi. A cough mixture, COFSOL was also launched in partnership with the National Biotechnology Authority (NBA) and is readily available in pharmacies. Verify Engineering Medical and Industrial Gases was established and is producing medical and industrial oxygen, acetylene gas and liquid nitrogen are being successfully produced in Manicaland. Oxygen is being exported to Mozambique,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said the ministry also launched the geospatial, aeronautical, and space science capability programme under the  Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) which is responsible for the sending into Orbit of Zimbabwe’s first Satellite (ZIMSAT 1).

“Work on ZIMSAT 2 is already underway. ZINGSA has produced a revised Agro-Ecological Zones Map, a National Wetlands map as well as high resolution survey maps for improved urban land-use planning and control of settlements in Harare, Karoi and Masvingo,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said higher and tertiary ministry has also launched an bio-economic programme where a company was established to refurbish a bio-diesel processing plant in Mutoko.

She said under the programme 75 000 litres of bio-diesel per day can be produced from the 30 000 litres produced at the moment.

Minister Mutsvangwa said plans are on course to start the local production of cooking oil using sunflower and a national Sunflower Outgrower Scheme has been started.

She said successes were also recorded in the clothing and textile sector as universities have managed to establish manufacturing factories.

“Clothing and textiles factories were set up at Midlands State University, University of Zimbabwe and Great Zimbabwe University, and these are producing personal protective clothing, corporate wear and other types of clothing for schools and institutions,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Innovation Hub infrastructure has been successfully constructed at five state universities.

“Under the programme a modern bus terminus was constructed at the University of Zimbabwe, the construction of the Simon Mazorodze Medical School was completed as well the construction and equipping of the Midlands State University National Pathology Research and Diagnostics Centre,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said Agro-Industrialisation and Innovation Parks have been established at seven state universities across the country.

The Agro- Industrialisation and Innovation Parks are meant to promote agriculture research within universities considering the importance of agriculture in the country’s economic growth.

-@nqotshili