Germany and SADC Partner to Advance Industrial Pharmacy Training in Zambia
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), with support from the German Government through the GIZ-implemented Cooperation for the Enhancement of SADC Regional Economic Integration (CESARE) programme, is set to break ground on the construction of the University of Zambia (UNZA) Industrial Pharmacy Laboratory at the Ridgeway Campus in Lusaka on 17 October 2025.
The state-of-the-art facility will feature modern lecture halls, specialist laboratories in microbiology, formulation, drug discovery and quality control, as well as production areas for tableting, capsules, granulation and cream formulation. Expected to be completed by March 2026, the laboratory will serve as the main training site for the SADC Industrial Pharmacy Fellowship Programme (SADC IPFP), hosted under UNZA’s Department of Pharmacy within the School of Health Sciences.
The facility will play a critical role in developing a skilled workforce for the pharmaceutical and medical devices manufacturing sector across the SADC region. By linking academia with industry, the initiative aims to strengthen health security, promote applied research, and enhance regional pharmaceutical value chains.
Hon. Felix Mutati, Minister of Technology and Science, will officiate the groundbreaking ceremony as Guest of Honour, highlighting Zambia’s commitment to advancing science, technology and industrial development.
The event will draw senior representatives from the SADC Secretariat, the German Government, GIZ, and Zambia’s key ministries, including Health, Higher Education, and Infrastructure. Local pharmaceutical companies, a German private-sector partner, and members of the media will also attend.
Anchored by the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), the University of Zambia (Zambia), and the Kilimanjaro School of Pharmacy (Tanzania), the SADC IPFP promotes industrial skills development through practical training, research placements, and curriculum alignment. It contributes directly to the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap and aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 8 and 9.
Since 1992, Germany has supported SADC with more than €500 million, focusing on regional economic integration, industrialisation, and improving access to quality medicines. The groundbreaking of the UNZA Industrial Pharmacy Laboratory marks another milestone in this long-standing partnership aimed at making the regional pharmaceutical sector more competitive, innovative and resilient.
