President Emmerson Mnangagwa has commissioned the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Industrial Incubation Centre and Specialist Medical Centre, describing the facilities as key milestones in the government's drive to accelerate industrialisation, innovation and healthcare modernisation.
The facilities form part of the University's innovation ecosystem, which is designed to commercialise research, support technology-based enterprises and expand access to specialist healthcare.
Mnangagwa said the projects demonstrate the success of the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model in transforming universities into engines of national development.
“Such projects validate the success of the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 Model that continues to position our higher and tertiary institutions as critical cogs in the ongoing industrialisation, modernisation and development of our economy,” he said.
The specialist medical centre, which forms part of the Quinary Hospital under construction within the UZ industrial park, will provide specialised services including eye and oral healthcare, trauma care and assisted reproduction through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Mnangagwa said introducing IVF services at a public institution would make treatment more accessible and affordable for Zimbabweans.“Health services such as assisted reproduction have been only available in the private sector. This made the services out of reach and unaffordable for many of our people requiring the treatment in this area,” he said.
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He said the facility reflects the government's commitment to ensuring quality healthcare for all while strengthening specialist training.
The centre is expected to produce more eye specialists, dentists and other healthcare professionals.
“All investments in the health sector should translate to improved health delivery and associated foreign currency retention, where our people travel less to other countries for healthcare,” he said.
The President directed the Health and Child Care ministry and its agencies to remove barriers to investment in specialist healthcare and warned against cartels that undermine access to affordable medical services.
The commissioning of the two facilities marks another step in the government's efforts to strengthen innovation, research and specialist healthcare while positioning universities as key drivers of industrialisation.