Iringa, Tanzania–The Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Philip Mpango, has called on regional leaders to collaborate with forestry and research institutions to establish botanical gardens. These gardens, he said, would provide critical opportunities for youth to engage in research and development of natural medicines that could benefit the nation.
Speaking during the 20th Anniversary Celebrations of Ruaha Catholic University (RUCU) held at the university grounds in Iringa Region, Dr. Mpango underscored the importance of conserving indigenous trees and using them for medicinal research.
“Research and development of medicine from indigenous plants is of great national importance. Each region must take responsibility in conserving these natural resources for the well-being of our people,” he said.
He further noted the growing challenge of academic staff shortages in universities and urged institutions to make use of top-performing students as future lecturers.
“To address the shortage of lecturers, universities must identify and nurture outstanding students to become educators. At the same time, we must foster international academic partnerships to bridge the gap,” Dr. Mpango added.
The Vice President also emphasized the importance of applied research that addresses real-world problems such as low productivity in various sectors, poor technology adoption, and pressing social issues.
“Our scholars must focus on research that solves the pressing challenges in our communities—whether it's poor agricultural productivity, environmental degradation, diseases, or corruption. Academic knowledge must serve the people,” he stated.
Dr. Mpango also encouraged academics to actively participate in national policy discussions.“It is crucial for scholars to contribute to national discourse, offer critical analysis, and support national initiatives such as the Tax System Reform Commission and the Vision 2050 framework,” he said.
Highlighting the government's continued investment in higher education, the Vice President noted that in the 2024/25 fiscal year, the government allocated TZS 254 billion in student loans for new undergraduate students, benefiting 81,079 individuals. An additional TZS 503 billion was disbursed to support 157,981 continuing students.
“We are committed to ensuring no bright student is left behind due to financial constraints,” Dr. Mpango affirmed.
Also speaking at the event, Deputy Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Hon. Omary Kipanga, highlighted the government's commitment to fostering private sector participation in education.
“The Sixth Phase Government has consistently prioritized private sector involvement in service delivery, especially in education. We are creating a conducive environment with infrastructure like water, electricity, and roads to ensure quality and competitive learning,” said Kipanga.
The Vice Chancellor of RUCU, who is also the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Iringa, Rt. Rev. Romanus Mihali, expressed appreciation to the government and partners who supported the completion of the university’s new Science Park, which includes a Health Center.
“Our goal is for RUCU to be a key contributor to national development, particularly in the health sector. This Science Park is a step toward that vision,” said Bishop Mihali.
However, he noted that the Health Center still requires medical equipment to begin operations.“We appeal for continued support to equip the Health Center so it can start serving students, staff, and the wider Iringa community,” he concluded.