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Precious Manomano

Herald Reporter

Officials from Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Ministry have been honoured by non-governmental organisations for their exceptional performance in the discharge of their duties for the development of the country.

Mr Norest Ndawana who is the Ministry’s legal advisor, Dr Emily Waniwa, the head of parasitology in the Department of Veterinary Technical Services (DVTS), in the Directorate of Veterinary Services(DVS) as well as the director in Tsetse Control Department, Dr William Shereni, all got recognition.

Mr Ndawana, Dr Waniwa and Dr Shereni were honoured by the International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), the Institute of Italy and yhe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) respectively.

This comes after the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa is making significant strides in encouraging Government officials to put extra effort for the betterment of the country in order to achieve the country’s set goals.

Mr Ndawana was elected a member of the compliance committee of the ITPGRFA, while Dr Waniwa got partnership with the Institute of Italy to accelerate the intense fighting of tick-borne related diseases under the aegis of UN (IAEA) and Dr Shereni was appointed part of the top six taskforce member of IAEA which works with the African Union to coordinate and implement effective tsetse control programmes in Africa.

Mr Ndawana who is an environmental law expert said he was grateful for being recognised in the internal community for his distinguished performance.

He said he would contribute immensely to the growth of the agriculture sector as well as contributing to farmers to ensure crop diversity at global level.

“We are looking at the establishment of a global system to provide farmers, plant breeders and scientists with access to plant genetic materials and ensuring that recipients share benefits they derive from the use of these genetic materials,” said Mr Ndawana.

Dr Waniwa was one of the females who is playing an integral role in spearheading production vaccines for the tick-borne parasite called Theileriosis (January Disease).

She said she was determined to ensure a tick-borne related diseases free society in the region and beyond.

“This diagnosis research and development requires high technical skills and constant acquiring of knowledge and skills as disease dynamics are constantly changing and we need to be update. In line to this I pledge to work very hard to counter an emergence of tick-borne related diseases,” said Dr Waniwa.

“As we seek to upscale Production of Theileria Vaccine to ensure national coverage, the collaboration with Italy comes in at the right time to enable adoption of more efficient technologies in the vaccine production process,” she said.

Dr Shereni pledged to work tirelessly in coming up with strategies to improve the coordination role of the African Union – Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (AU- PATTEC) and implement more effective tsetse control programmes in Africa.

AU-PATTEC is an organisation that was formed in year 2000 by the African Heads of State and Government in Lome, Togo to oversee programmes towards the eradication of tsetse flies from Africa.