THE University of Zimbabwe has been urged to come up with ideas that benefit the economy and compete on the international arena.

Judge President Justice George Chiweshe said this at the official launch of the institution's academic magazine, The Intellect. 

The magazine will be published twice a year and focuses on the academic achievements and research carried out at the UZ.

"In this regard members of staff at the UZ should face up to the challenge of thinking outside the box so that traditional limits to growth can be overcome via more creative and innovative thinking to ensure that the outside world is well informed about the innovative works that are taking place at the UZ.

"It therefore becomes critical for the UZ to generate high value-added economic activities covering all sectors of the economy and compete globally," Justice Chiweshe said.

He said ground-breaking work like that by a scientist in the Department of Surgery Professor, Godfrey Muguti, deserved publicity to the outside world.

Prof Muguti works in the area of plastic and reconstruction surgery, which has triggered a lot of research internationally.

Speaking at the same occasion, Zimpapers group chief executive officer Mr Justin Mutasa commended the UZ for maintaining high standards despite economic hardships experienced in the past decade.

"I am delighted to note that despite more than a decade of Zimbabwe's economic strangulation, which did not spare this institution in terms of funding, the UZ is still engaged in ground-breaking research as shown by Professor Muguti's work in the area of plastic surgery," Mr Mutasa said.

He also commended Dr Amon Murwira's accomplishments in Earth Observation Technology that resulted in the institution installing near-real time earth observation satellite receiving station.

"One cannot overemphasise the relevance of such research in a country with an agro-based economy such as ours where our understanding of the environment and how we should manage it is at the core of our very existence," he added.

Mr Mutasa handed over US$1 000 from Zimpapers for the production of the magazine.

UZ Vice Chancellor Professor Levy Nyagura, said the magazine will highlight the university's achievements as the oldest institution of higher learning in Zimbabwe.

He said the university staff and students had won numerous international awards because of the institution's dedication to excellence.