Tinaani Nyabereka
Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCZ) Board Chairperson Professor Zororo Muranda has called for the community to adopt new technologies to influence policies which cater for the welfare of children living disabilities.
He said this while addressing various stakeholders at the RCZ, UNICEF and Midlands State University (MSU) conference on building resilience on children with disabilities in Zimbabwe in Gweru on November 30.
Muranda highlighted that research and development was key in driving the nation in line with the National Development Strategy 1.
“There exists a responsibility to enhance the welfare of citizens, to further national progress, and enable the perpetuation of justice and promotion of the rights of children with disabilities in all nations including Zimbabwe.
“For Zimbabwe to be able to develop sustainable solutions to pressing developmental challenges faced, particularly by children with disabilities, there is need to support research for innovation and make use of dynamic new technologies to influence national policy. The nation’s ability to generate solutions and adapt to outside technical knowledge for the local environment is encapsulated within the status of the research ecosystem of the country.
“In pursuit of the national vision 2030 which seeks to attain an upper-middle economy through the National Development Strategy 1 (NDSI), research and development play a critical role in the attainment of this national agenda. This conference is a positive step in the right direction towards this big national goal,” he said.
Prof Muranda however commended the partnership between UNICEF and MSU in promoting research.
“I want to commit that as the Apex Statutory Body for research in Zimbabwe, RCZ will identify some papers at this conference that we will recommend for national funding. It is vital that key actors in research together strive for a healthy research ecosystem.
“Zimbabwe as a nation faces challenges in reaching this goal as witnessed by vast deficiencies in researcher populations, poor adoption of new age information systems to support research effort; delayed democratization of the information and research process; wariness toward the multidisciplinary approach to research and the disconnection between policy, academia and funders of research in pursuing research for national development.
“RCZ is open to work with industry and the academia in creating a space where contract research becomes central innovation by all sectors of the economy. Therefore, all institutions and individuals involved in research activities in one way or the other are mandated by the Research Act to register with the RCZ,” he said.
Academic research remains a key priority as it enshrines fundamental principles for the well-being of all persons, which is of great national priority.
The RCZ is the apex council with an oversight role on all research activities in Zimbabwe. The role of the council in the research ecosystem of the nation is clearly articulated by the Research Act [Chapter 10:22].
RCZ carries the responsibility of the mandate to promote, direct, supervise, and coordinate research in Zimbabwe. RCZ plays a role of a catalyst, having identified broad areas of concern, it consults and brings together relevant experts to define a programme of work and seek out sources of funds.
