Government Cracks Whip On Bio-Piracy In Animal Research By Hopewell Chibvongodze The government gave a stern warning to scientists conductin...
Government Cracks Whip On Bio-Piracy In Animal Research
By Hopewell Chibvongodze
The government gave a stern warning to scientists conducting
research on animals telling them against engaging in unethical activities and
that there is an increasing tendency of creating bio-piracy- that is- the
illegal or unjust use of bio-materials in the name of scientific research.
It was called by Dr. Pious Makaya, a Chairperson of the
National Animal Research Ethics Committee (NAREC) during a national awareness
campaign on Thursday at Midlands State University in Gweru.
International standards prohibit so-called bio-piracy, said
Dr. Makaya. When they sample such items as blood, some researchers do not take
two millilitres but take a litre. Or when scientists dig into ivory, it is not
2 or 10 grammes they take out; it is the complete horns - eight, nine, ten,
fellows - they say, it is in the name of research.
That will be regulated by NAREC, he said. We have a mission
to provide that research undertaken on animal production and health is up to
international standard without denying the rights of the animals.
NAREC was today solemnised by by Statutory Instrument: 246
of 2021 under the vigilance of the Directorate of veterinary Services, by the
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. Its
main mission is to protect animal welfare, at every research phase, vetting
offers to maintain the humane treatment and the accountability of a good
effort.
Without the permission of NAREC, no animal-related study,
stressed Dr. Makaya, could commence. Not only is ethical research about
compassion, it is the cornerstone of credible and internationally acceptable
science.
The recent introduction by the committee of national
awareness programmes in universities and research institutions is meant to
enhance knowledge about its mandate and the very strict ethical codes which
have been adopted. The campaign will proceed to Lupane State University and the
National University of science and technology (NUST).
According to Dr. Makaya, enforcement is not all that the
committee is about, it is about fostering trust and long-term relationships
with the research community.
We do not destroy barriers that we set; that is, we wish to
innovate. Cooperation with universities and laboratories, we have students who
will look at ethical handling more as a quality and potential world-wide
reputation, he said.
The relocation follows a push by Zimbabwe to enhance its
scientific credibility at the international level.
Responsible by ensuring that the country is able to meet
international standards and curb some unscrupulous activities, the authorities
believe that they can make the country research output both sound and
competitive at the global level, in terms of ethical standards.
Africa has been a victim to bio-piracy since its type of
rich biodiversity and where regulatory laws are not enforced have served as a
hunting ground to unscrupuloused research methods.
The official acknowledgement of NAREC in Zimbabwe is a
breakthrough of responsible science as the country joins an ever-increasing
group of countries that implement strict ethical principles in science
regarding the use of animals.
By Hopewell Chibvongodze
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