UNISWA

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE SWAZILAND ENVIRONMENT AUTHORITY(SEA) AND UNIVERSITY OF SWAZILAND (UNISWA) MEMMORANDUM OFAGREEMENT (MoA)By Mr. Mandla MliphaProf. Cisko Magagula (UNISWA) exchange signed MoA documents with Mr Steven Zuke (SEA). Lookingon are from L to R: Mr D. Khumalo, Prof. V.S.B. Mtetwa and Mr M. MliphaThis was a breakfast function held on July 08,2013 at eSibayeni Lodge in Matsapha to launchthe SEA – UNISWA MoA for implementationof the plan to integrate Biotechnology and Biosafetyin programmes and practices in institutions of highereducation and training in Swaziland referred to as themainstreaming plan. In the Agreement, SEA shallprovide the requisite funding for implementation ofvarious activities in the plan and UNISWA would providethe requisite expertise to ensure the implementation ofall the activities in the plan and realize the deliverablesstated. The mainstreaming plan is divided into twophases: Phase 1 of the plan contains preliminaryactivities and phase 2 covers the undertaking of severalinstitution-based training workshops on Biotechnologyand Biosafety. The current MoA supports only phase 1of the plan.Participating in the launch were senior representatives ofthe two institutions being the Vice Chancellor, Prof. C.M. Magagula for UNISWA and Mr S. Zuke for SEA. Inattendance were senior officers from UNISWA includingthe Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. V.S.B. Mtetwa, and theDirector of University Planning Dr. S.S. Simelane.Important stakeholders in attendance were the NationalSteering Committee on Biotechnology and Biosafetyrepresented by its Chairman Mr. D. Khumalo as wellas the MESA Implementation Committee (MIC) alsorepresented by its Chairman Mr. M. Mlipha (Figure 1).The SEA Representative, Mr. Zuke, gave a briefbackground of the national programme on Biotechnologyand Biosafety and the existence of the nationalbiosafety framework (NBF) which is currently underimplementation with the support of UNEP and GEF(Global Environmental Fund). Some key achievementsin the on-going implementation of the NBF include thepromulgation of the National Biosafety Act of 2012 whileother programme areas within the NBF are at varyingstages of completion and others are at commencementstages. Integration of Biotechnology and Biosafety inlocal education system (schools and higher education)is also a key component requiring implementation inthe NBF. Mr S. Zuke, therefore, thanked UNISWA forresponding to the invitation to implement this componentof the NBF. It is anticipated that a similar process willcommence involving the local schools.The Vice Chancellor, on his part, thanked SEA forassociating itself with UNISWA not only in the signingUNISWA News - October 2013 3