Zimbabwe legislators ratify establishment of African Medicines Agency

HON. CHIHURURU: Thank you Madam Speaker..  I would like to support what other Hon. Members have already alluded to.  I reside in Chipinge – the issue of using traditional medicines is something that we can deny but it is real.  Last month we had a child who was involved in an accident in my brother’s vehicle.  The father refused to have his child taken to the hospital and indeed, the child was not hospitalised but taken to traditional healers for treatment.  As I speak, the child is now up and walking.  I was surprised to learn that the child is now walking.  I just wanted to confirm that the use of traditional medicines is real even if we fail to admit, other people are living within that reality.  I support the use of traditional medicines.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity.

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI): Thank you Madam Speaker.  I want to thank the Hon. Members for the support they have rendered in terms of the ratification of the African Medicines Treaty.  Starting with Hon. Labode for the support that she gave and how expensive the drugs that we use are, because we never came together as Africans to try to harness what we have and reduce the cost of our drugs.

Hon. Nduna was also thinking of the need to beneficiate.  In other words, we need to look at our medicines and this is what this Agency will do.  It will look at our medicines, try to see how we can promote them and use scientific methods to do that.  I really appreciate what the Hon. Members have been saying.

Hon. Simbaneuta Mudarikwa, about mbanje and its medicinal effects -I think those are some of the issues that will be looked into.  Hon. Dr. Murire, from Chipinge, Chipinge is very famous for its medicines.  I think we can tap from that knowledge base and promote our medicines.  Basically the message that I got is Hon. Members are in support.  In view of that, I move that this House resolves to ratify this Treaty.

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