30 Jul 2026

Parliament has passed the National Research and Innovation Council Bill on Wednesday.

The Bill was passed after being reported from Committee Stage with Amendment of Clause 7.

Presented by the Minister of Communication and Innovation Mr David Tshere, the Bill seeks to establish an autonomous body, the National Research and Innovation Council to oversee the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the national policy on research, development and innovation so as to catalyse the country’s industrialisation efforts, provide for its powers and functions; to provide for the promotion and funding of research, development and innovation and for matters connected or incidental thereto.

The amended Clause 7 of the Bill provides for the functions of the Board, and the Amendment corrected Clause 7 (f) to indicate that the Board keeps and maintain databased for researchers and innovators as opposed to registering and licencing them. ENDS