Mugabe officially launches the 2nd Science and Technology Innovation Policy

President Robert Mugabe has officially launched the Second Science and Technology Innovation Policy of Zimbabwe.

In his speech, President Mugabe said science is the backbone of development and the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West have had a negative impact on the country.

He said since the Department of Science and Technology became a fully fledged Ministry, government has prioritised rapid and sustainable industrialisation, production of adequate food, provision of shelter, a good health delivery system and the availability of sufficient energy resources.

"The new Ministry quickly set its chief mission as that of promoting national scientific and technological self-reliance. To achieve this long term objective, the new Ministry crafted a number of policies; among them, the Biotechnology Policy of 2005, the Information Communication Technology Policy Framework of 2006, and the Second Science and Technology Policy we are launching today," said the President.

Mugabe said overally, such activities will lead to employment creation, adding that the Second Science and Technology Policy comes at the most appropriate time, when government is in the process of implementing the Medium Term Plan.

"Science and Technology, being cross-cutting and pervasive, must of necessity, harmonise with and complement other policies in areas of energy, industry, health, agriculture, environment and education," he said.

Noting the translation into reality of the production of ethanol for petrol blend in Chisumbanje, in line with the Biotechnology Policy, Mugabe said the Second Science and Technology Policy will achieve its objectives if it focuses on the creation, improvement, and mobilisation of human skills in science and technology.

He also emphasised the need for the policy to also focus on emerging technologies, research, indigenous knowledge systems as well as space sciences, which deal with meteorological applications, land use, aeromagnetic and surveillance for mineral exploration.

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