Science and Technology minister Heneri Dzinotyiweyi has urged government to seriously consider funding research projects for post-graduate students to strengthen research work in Zimbabwe.
Speaking at a National Research Prioritisation Stakeholders workshop in Harare on Thursday, Dzinotyiweyi said proposals to support research institutions had already been presented to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education.
He said the process needed to be well structured for a reasonable period for results to be realised.
“I am sure there can be a budgetary allocation to make these funds available to post-graduate students since such a contribution will help in boosting research contribution in Zimbabwe,” Dzinotyiweyi said.
“We have not raised the issue of funding for the Post-graduate students in research because we have been focusing more on undergraduates students.”
Dzinotyiwei urged Southern Africa to emulate West Africans who have already established a university targeting research work.
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“There is a pan- African university taking students focusing on research, it is under a project being run by the African Union and this year it is going to be in West Africa. A university which will partake in such a project in Southern Africa is yet to be selected,’’ Dzinotyiweyi said.
He said research institutions should apply for grants to sustain their works, adding that efforts to commercialise research should be visible to attract the private sector for funding.