UZ students break new ground with over 30 Pharmaceutical innovations

 Zimbabwe is taking a major step toward pharmaceutical self-sufficiency and scientific innovation, thanks to groundbreaking research and development by students at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), who have successfully created over 30 pharmaceutical products using locally sourced materials.

This significant achievement was highlighted by Acting Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Paul Mavhima, during the official commissioning of a state-of-the-art €2.8 million Biotechnology Centre at UZ this week. Funded by the French Embassy, the facility represents a major milestone in the country's drive to modernise its scientific and health research capabilities.

Addressing journalists at the event, Professor Mavhima praised the ingenuity of the students, comparing their efforts to pharmaceutical start-ups he encountered in Malaysia a decade ago.

"We saw start-ups in pharmaceutical areas and I was really excited about the products we saw—treatments for ulcers, skin ointments, and many more. Among six start-ups, over 30 products have been developed from scratch using Zimbabwe's natural resources," said Mavhima.

He emphasized the potential of the student-led innovations to revitalise Zimbabwe's pharmaceutical industry and called for urgent efforts to commercialise the products.

"What I really want to see, in line with President Mnangagwa's Education 5.0 vision, is the quick commercialisation of these products. They must become useful to the wider Zimbabwean population and stand as evidence of our young innovators' ability to transform lives," he said.

Mavhima added that beyond improving public health outcomes, these products could provide economic benefits for their creators. He indicated that the government is working to streamline regulatory processes to fast-track the products' entry into the market.

The newly commissioned Biotechnology Centre is equipped with cutting-edge laboratory technology and is expected to significantly boost research and training in the fields of medicine, biotechnology, and animal health. The centre will play a key role in disease detection and management, particularly for illnesses such as rabies and foot-and-mouth disease.

"We've seen a highly advanced laboratory, developed with support from the French Embassy and its agencies. Experts from France are training our people at master's, PhD, and technician levels to manage this critical facility. Soon, Zimbabwe will become a regional centre of excellence in disease detection," Mavhima said.

French Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Paul-Bertrand Baret, commended the bilateral cooperation that made the laboratory possible, and underscored the importance of scientific partnerships in driving economic and health development.

"We are proud of our partnership with UZ and Professor Paul Mapfumo. This laboratory will enhance disease detection and prevention, key to Zimbabwe's economic growth," said Baret.

UZ Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Mapfumo also celebrated the milestone, highlighting the university's strong focus on student-driven innovation and entrepreneurship.

"The exhibitions you see are done by students themselves. Apart from the six start-ups launched, we have over 118 innovation stations in operation. This is the year of commercialisation, and UZ is on track to deliver," he said.

The new developments at the University of Zimbabwe signal a turning point for the country's scientific landscape, demonstrating how homegrown talent, backed by international partnerships, can fuel progress in health, technology, and economic empowerment.