Story by Wellington Makonese
GOVERNMENT has pledged to support science and innovation to propel the country’s modernisation and industrialisation agenda, with women identified as key actors in the drive.
The three-day Women in Science Technology and Innovation Conference roared into life this Wednesday with the adoption of innovative ways of conducting business by women coming under scrutiny.
National chairperson for the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World, (OWSD) Zimbabwe Chapter, Dr Sarudzai Muyambo said, “I work in coordinating women in science from the Zimbabwean chapter which has various women making it in various fields, we want to make sure that.”
“This is a momentous event in the history of women in science, as it allows us to showcase how much we are doing in the endeavour to bridge the gap between women and men in terms of science and innovation. What we have taken up is the positivity aspect that women must know they can do more to push national development,” said Elevate Trust director, Ms Sicelo Dube.
A student said, “This workshop is a catalyst for the girl child in participation in the scientific space.”
Officially opening the proceedings, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira highlighted government’s commitment towards providing a conducive atmosphere for innovative ideas to flourish.
“This is a programme co-sponsored and supported by the government with the view to see that women are involved in all facets of the country’s industrialisation. We want to make sure that women fully participate in the modernisation of the country.”
“We want to encourage the young women to join their counterparts to develop with our minerals, and land and make sure that we are not consumers of science but co-producers of science,” he said.
The programme themed: ‘Female Scientific Voices Towards Sustainable Development,’ dovetails with government’s inclusive development thrust of leaving no one and no place behind in the quest to attain an upper middle-income society by 2030.
