C J Matembo, Senior Information Officer, SIRDC

The recently appointed SIRDC Board of Directors toured the Centre on 19 October 2006 to familiarize themselves with the activities of the Centre.

At a briefing just before the tour, the SIRDC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Robson Mafoti, highlighted to the Board the problem of inadequate laboratory equipment that is bedeviling the Centre. He said the Centre had impressive buildings but the research laboratories were poorly equipped, hence the need for the Centre to generate money and buy research equipment.

The Board, led by its Chairman, Professor Phenias Makhurane, and Vice Chairperson, Professor Sarah Feresu, went on a guided tour of the various laboratories in the 10 research institutes. The Board also toured projects that have now been commercialized under SIRTECH Investments. These include SIRMET which is a foundry business, SIRTILE which manufactures roofing tiles, Science Laboratory and Teaching Equipment with the acronym SLATE and SIRDAMECTIN which is an animal antibiotic under development.

The other Board Members who witnessed the tour were Dr Londiwe Nkiwane, Mrs Judith Kateera, Mr George Nyathi, Dr Unesu Ushewokunze-Obatolu, Mr John Mberi, Professor Christopher Chetsanga, Mr Sam Gumbo and Dr Gibson Mandishona.

During the tour of the research laboratories, the Board Members suggested many valuable project ideas, which Institute Directors would consider for implementation.

The tour gave the Board Members, especially those members sitting on the Board for first time, an opportunity to have deep insight and understanding of the operations of the Centre. They can now confidently deliberate issues relating to SIRDC from a position of knowledge.