C J Matembo, Senior Information Officer, SIRDC

SIRDC continues to host students on educational visits, affording them an opportunity to see how applied research is carried out at this high level. The visits also motivate the students, inspire them to excel in their studies and give them ideas about some of the science careers they can pursue to help make Zimbabwe a winning nation. Recently, Nyashanu High School A-Level agricultural students visited the Centre on 30 March 2007 to learn more about the Centre’s agriculture related activities. The 14 students from Buhera in Manicaland province were accompanied by their Agriculture Teacher and Acting Deputy Head, Mr Francis Mushonga, and Science Teacher, Ms Memory Temba.

Welcoming the students, Eng Fred Gweme, the General Manager of SirTech’s SLATE Division, told them that during their tour they would witness endeavours in applied research aimed at solving some of the challenges facing the country. Giving the background to SIRDC, Eng Gweme said the Centre has 11 research institutes whose work programmes address various areas of national importance. He added that SirTech, a subsidiary of SIRDC, is currently commercialising three product lines (roofing tiles, foundry components and science laboratory and teaching equipment). The research and development of the fourth product line to be commecialised under SirTech is nearing completion.

The students had the opportunity to see enriching PowerPoint presentations of institute activities by Directors of Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI) (Dr Ester Khosa), Food and Biomedical Technology Institute (Mr Ernest Chivero), Production Engineering Institute (PEI) (Eng Nancy Masiyiwa-Chamisa) and Farming Operations and Estate Management (Mr Tichasiyana Mapondera).

The students then toured rabbit, chicken and piggery projects being done by the Farming Operations and Estate Management Department as well as a herbal garden project under BRI. They also saw a very compact gravity grinding mill designed and developed by PEI.

Mr Mushonga remarked that the information and the experience the students got was an eye opener and would inspire the future scientists. He added that the educative presentations by the Directors of Institutes opened the minds of the students to many science areas they can pursue as professions. He summed up his remarks by a Chinese proverb, which says: “I hear, I forget; I see, I remember and I do, I understand.”