Midlands State University (MSU) has applied for a licence
to grow mbanje for medicinal purposes following Government’s legalisation of
marijuana farming last year.
Addressing students at MSU during a public lecture in
Gweru, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development
Minister Professor Amon Murwira said Government was in the process of licensing
the university to grow mbanje for medicinal purposes.
Prof Murwira said there several other institutions that
would also be growing mbanje.
He said Government intends to reduce its import bill by
having local pharmaceuticals producing medicines from local resources.
“We were told by our former colonial masters that mbanje is
illegal and they even promulgated a law prohibiting the smoking of mbanje.
However, it has medicinal properties. So our leadership had a closer look and
realised that mbanje can be useful and then legalised the growing of mbanje for
medicinal purposes. So we have started doing so. MSU itself has applied for a
licence for growing mbanje,” he said.
Prof Murwira said universities should be innovative and
incubate ideas in their innovation hubs.
“Resources are nothing but they become when we have the
brains of using them. This is very important. We need to look inside. When we
do physics, we need to be able to use it and apply it here in Zimbabwe. We
probably have the same amount of resources but different levels of development.
“We always want people outside to make things for us. We
want our biochemistry to work for us. Most of the medicines that we have come
from trees, roots and other plants. These are the product of our environment.
So what we want to do is that the medicines that we are going to be using in
the country should come from our own pharmacies and resources found in the
country.
“I cannot be treated by medicine that was made from an
environment that I am not living in. This is why people die because they are
not suitable for us,” he said.
Prof Murwira said all Ministers of State have been asked to
avail 20 hectares each for industrial hubs where the incubated ideas will then
be implemented and operationalised. Herald
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