1 ZIMBABWE COUNTRY REPORT PRESENTED AT THE SADC REGIONAL WORRKSHOP ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION (STI) POLICY REVIEW: SEPT. 2008, GABORONE, BOTSWANA.

2 By Ministry of Science and Technology Development ZIMBABWE S C Madzinga Director, Policy Development and Management

3 PRESENTATION SUMMARY 1. Introduction 2. Background 3. Zimbabwes S & T Policy 4. S&T Policy Implementation Strategy: - Creation of an enabling environment - Institutions 5.S&T Policy Implementation Status:Achievements - Policies - Programmes 6. Challenges 7. STI Policy Development Needs 8. Policies in Progress 9. Concluding remarks

4 1. INTRODUCTION. The Government of Zimbabwe, like others in SADC, is acutely aware of the critical role S & T plays in socio-economic development. Thus in 2001 the Government of Zimbabwe adopted the National S & T Policy as a tool with which to expedite sustainable industrialization of the economy.

5 2. BACKGROUND 2.1 History Efforts at establishing a national System of Innovation date as far back as the1950s. Research Act (Ch. 336) of 1959 established the Research Foundation of Rhodesia 1986, the Scientific and Technological Research Act (CH. 10:22)replaced the Research Act Research Act Amended in 1988 and 1998 to include Bio-safety matters.

6 2. BACKGROUND CONT. 2.2 Establishment of the MSTD 1967 – establishment of the Scientific Liaison Office in the Prime Ministers Office-Rhodesia establishment of SLO in Prime Ministers Office in independent Zimbabwe establishment of a Department of S&T Development establishment of MSTD

7 2. BACKGROUND CONT. 2.3 The MSTD Vision: To be a facilitator for a Science and Technology driven economy. Mission: To strategically coordinate and promote the systematic development and application of S&T in support of national development through effective engagement of public and private sector partners. Overall Function : To implement the S&T Policy

8 3. ZIMBABWES S&T POLICY The overall objectives of the S&T Policy are to promote: Rapid sustainable industrialization through R&D for value addition and import substitution The provision of adequate shelter through application of appropriate technologies The achievement of food security through R&D and application of appropriate technologies Sound health delivery systems through R&D in indigenous and modern medicine The provision of sufficient energy resources through R&D geared towards energy generation and conservation Environmental preservation and sustainable utilisation of our biodiversity

9 4. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY: Coordination Policy Frameworks formulation Regulatory Frameworks R&D promotion Networking and Collaboration Benchmarking Monitoring and Evaluation Set up a database Creation Of An Enabling Environment

10 4. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY: The MSTD The RCZ SIRDC NBA ZARNet Provincial S&T Dev Committees Finealt Pvt. Ltd. Line ministries Gov. R&D Institutions Pvt. R&D Institutions ZAI ZAS ICT Task Force 4.2. The Institutions

11 5. S & T POLICY IMPLEMENTATION STATUS : Achievements 5.1. Policies S&T Policy Launch 2002 Establishment of Department of S&T Development 2002 Establishment of MSTD 2005 Establishment of Provincial S&T Development Committees Sectoral S&T Policy implement. review 2005

12 Biotechnology Policy Development 2005 National Biotechnology Act 2006 E-readiness Survey 2005 ICT Policy Launch 2007 Regional & International collaboration SADC S&T Framework and Protocol MOU with South Africa Nov Membership of Intn. Orgs. 5. S & T POLICY IMPLEMENTATION STATUS : Achievements 5.1. Policies Cont…

Programmes S&T Popularisation & Support: Exhibitions, ZITF, HAS, SLATE, Provincial Exhibitions Youths in Science Women in Science Schools Computerization I C Fund Biodiesel Project Participation in regional activities STI-ACT S & T POLICY IMPLEMENTATION STATUS: Achievements

14 6. CHALLENGES Capacity development:- Human, Equipment, Infrastructure Brain drain Funding Cross-cutting nature of STI

15 7. STI POLICY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS STI Policy Review Capacity Development STI Indicators Development ASTCPA Implementation - Centres of Excellence NSI Framework Technology Transfer and management ICT Infrastructure Dev STI Experts Database Strengthening of External collaboration Sector by sector S&T needs analysis Funding: 1% GDP

16 8. POLICIES IN PROGRESS MSTD Restructuring STI Bill formulation ICT Bill formulation I P Policy Formulation Collaboration with UNESCO, COMESA MOUs with countries such as:- India, Malawi, Algeria, Iran, Pakistan

17 9. CONCLUDING REMARKS Zimbabwes S & T situation shows that there are a number of challenges and needs that require the kind of sharing and exchange of views and ideas as is happening at this workshop if they are to be overcome. We therefore thank UNESCO and the Government of Botswana for organising this workshop.

18 THANK YOU