With all these Universities, do we need foreign forensic scientists?

Isn't Zimbabwe Capable of Producing its own Forensic Scientists?

The recent press reports in Zimbabwe regarding the absence of advanced forensic skills and related manpower in this unique field of science dovetails to an imperative need for more skilled personnel and updated equipment in that sector. Surely as one of the leading nations with some of the most educated minds the region, Zimbabwe can do way better in that field. Reliance on foreign experts in such critical areas defeats the purpose and relevance of these mushrooming universities and colleges as they could be generally perceived as lacking focus on program planning, or expertise to address common national concerns for which they were created. It's not worthy to reiterate that Universities should serve communities and the vice chancellors should remain seized with the drive to encourage research and explore community-oriented solutions.

Zimbabwe has a reputable medical school, decent science faculties amidst many other supporting tertiary institutions that could complement the school to establish first class competency levels at international level. Along such established skills, forensic science should not appear like rocket science initiatives. Previous achievements in university education research in Zimbabwe have demonstrated the potential we have. Given the lecturers who have global education standards in various fields, a synergy of dreams and practical agenda could overcome simple problems that cause undue hardships on our citizens. All the existing institutions and channels could leverage their resources and equipment to develop a forensic science base from which we could confidently tap the much-needed skills and expertise. It could be a mockery to continue to rely on South Africa and other developed nations for skills and manpower when we have the potential to build our own, create jobs and support our national needs without incurring prejudice and inconvenience.

The issue starts with even those at the helm in government and academic institutions. When they get critically sick, they charter flights and are whisked into South African hospitals in the blink of an eye. Getting back home, looking healthy and shiny, they address press conferences at the swanky hotels and brag about how great South African doctors and medical equipment has become. From that conference, it's once again, back to business as usual. They hardly make effort to explore suggestions and solutions that eliminate the dependency syndrome. No one has been honest and forthcoming on how to urgently and seriously address such needs like advanced medical needs, acquisition of state of the art medical equipment and many other critical needs that enhance life and promote comfort for Zimbabwe. It has mainly be passive rhetoric without practical actions in most cases. It now sounds like it is prestigious to be treated in upscale hospitals in South Africa when you serve the Government as a leader or influential someone. Actually that stance should be embarrassing and degrading because many keep wondering, "So if this legislator or executive is here to get help, as one of the leading figures from his country, what about the ordinary folks who can't even afford pain medicine?" Typical self-ingratiating African fathers!

The issue rang bells during the inquest proceedings of the late General Mujuru. The media reported that Parirenyatwa Hospital has a Cuban forensic pathologist a Dr. Gabriel Aguero who carried out the post mortem for the Late General. In the same inquest proceedings a Dr. Reggie Perumel who is renowned in South Africa as a forensic expert had to be engaged by the Mujuru family after they expressed concern on how the post mortem had been conducted. Among other issues raised, it was noted that local pathologists were facing hardships in efficient task execution due to a shortage of suitable equipment. They also were allegedly pointed to as having failed to execute various key procedures in their service delivery process.

The sequel to the Mujuru issue became that of the female rapists whose defense counsel is vying for discharge of their clients' case due to unwarranted delays in proceedings by the state. Based on the NewZimbabwe.com online report by Phyllis Mbanje, "The [female rapists' trial] trial was again postponed Thursday after investigators said they were still waiting for the South African Police Service Forensic Science laboratory in Pretoria to return results of DNA tests on blood and semen samples."

Such reports are unsettling because Zimbabwe now has a number of reputable science institutions that can develop solutions to address current forensic expert shortage issues. There is a large manpower base with the right mindset to deal with such an embarrassing reliance on foreign skills. The resources in Zimbabwe can also sustain proper training and acquisition of suitable field equipment to handle arising needs. Where skills are lacking the best solution could be to deploy skilled men and women with competent brains to learn and benchmark the experts in developed foreign countries. Actually a proposal to build a forensic science school could address many problems like murder mysteries, wrong bodies buried, extraction of the right finger prints, DNA disputes including paternity tests and many other various issues that include for example the semen samples as noted in the female rapists saga.

A continued blind eye on such critical areas affects the nation at large. Justice delayed is justice denied. Some innocent people risk being placed on remand rolls forever pending the determination by foreign experts. In such reliance on foreign experts, at times their jobs could be shoddy. Due to lack of information we become gullible. Who would challenge such an expert when he comes with jaw-breaking vocabulary to justify a thirty minute report with no supporting basis? Who would be there to follow up and monitor the honest performance of such an expensive task? Obviously, nobody!

So much tax payer funds are being sent out to pay these experts and given an absence of a control or adherence process, no one knows if they are really doing the right tasks. Such a potential for being exploited could be averted through localizing resources and planting the funds into an investment program that could facilitate training, equipment purchase, skills enhancement and shadowing or benchmarking of foreign experts. He who gives you a fish when hungry is a hero for the day but he who teaches you how to fish is a lifetime hero. In this day and age when Zimbabwe is bawling for self-sustenance, all needy areas deserve genuine attention. The only way to promote self-reliance is to check on potential brains that can do the work and then send them for training and certification abroad. The biggest achievement could be to build a forensic science school that works with the Justice and Health Ministry to accomplish timely targets.

It's about time we preserved dignity and pride in our own institutions. A continued reliance on indispensable foreign skills simply reflects failure on our part to develop a futuristic approach to self-sustenance. It's about time we harnessed our education, skills and experience to cater for our own interests.

Tapiwa Kapurura is the author of the much acclaimed humorous book, Is the Cow Suit Clown a Lawyer?  He writes in a freelance capacity. Email: tapiwa2002@yahoo.com