Handover at SAZ Laboratories strengthens food safety, quality assurance, and laboratory testing capacity.

The Standards Association of Zimbabwe and the World Food Programme held an equipment handover and commissioning ceremony at SAZ Laboratories, 17 Coventry Road, Workington, Harare, on 8 July 2026, marking the formal transfer of laboratory equipment donated by World Food Programme to strengthen food safety, quality assurance, and testing capacity in Zimbabwe. 

The equipment donated by World Food Programme was handed over under a Transfer of Ownership Agreement and includes an Anton Paar Multiwave 3001 Microwave Digestion System and a Brabender Break Mill SM4 Laboratory Grinding Mill. The instruments will support laboratory testing, sample preparation, and quality assurance functions for food, agricultural, environmental, and related applications. 

The ceremony brought together WFP Zimbabwe Country Representative and Director Barbara Clemens, SAZ Director General Cosmus Mukoyi, government representatives, development partners, stakeholders, and members of the media. Ms Chikuvanyanga, representing the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, also attended. 

The programme included remarks by SAZ and WFP, the formal signing of the Transfer of Ownership Agreement, a tour of SAZ facilities, ribbon cutting, and a media engagement session. 

Speaking at the ceremony, WFP Zimbabwe Country Representative and Director Barbara Clemens said the handover of laboratory equipment represented an investment in national capacity. 

Ms Clemens commended SAZ for its strong partnership with WFP and for its vital role in safeguarding the quality and safety of products in Zimbabwe. She said SAZ’s work in standards development, certification, testing, and quality assurance contributes significantly to protecting consumers, supporting trade, and strengthening confidence in Zimbabwean products. 

“Food safety is a cornerstone of food security. It is not enough for food to be available; it must also be safe, nutritious and of good quality,” Clemens said, adding that unsafe food can have serious consequences for public health, livelihoods, and economic development. 

Clemens said the Brabender Break Mill SM4 Laboratory Grinding Mill and Anton Paar Multiwave 3001 Microwave Digestion System being transferred to SAZ would enhance laboratory capabilities and support a wide range of testing processes related to food and agricultural products. The equipment, she noted, would strengthen SAZ’s ability to conduct analyses that are critical for ensuring food quality, compliance with standards, and consumer protection. 

She said the broader goal was to build lasting national capacity by supporting Zimbabwe in developing the systems, institutions, and technical expertise needed to deliver high-quality testing and food safety assurance for years to come. 

She also emphasized the importance of partnerships in strengthening food systems, saying no single organization can address complex challenges alone. Clemens said the agreement reflected collaboration among government, technical institutions, the private sector, development partners, and communities. 

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, SAZ Director General Cosmus Mukoyi said the occasion was “more than a handover of equipment,” describing it as “a practical demonstration of partnership, shared responsibility, and a common commitment to strengthening national systems that protect consumers, support industry, and contribute to Zimbabwe’s food security and quality infrastructure.” 

Mukoyi expressed appreciation to the World Food Programme Zimbabwe Country Office for its “generous and strategic support,” saying the contribution would expand SAZ’s ability to provide reliable laboratory testing services in areas critical to food quality, safety, and market confidence. 

He said the signing of the Transfer of Ownership Agreement confirmed SAZ’s responsibility to use, maintain, and safeguard the equipment in line with its intended purpose. “We accept this responsibility with seriousness and gratitude,” Mukoyi said, adding that equipment of this nature must be “put to productive use, maintained properly, and integrated into service delivery for the benefit of Zimbabwean industry and communities.” 

Mukoyi also emphasised the close connection between standards and food security. “A resilient food system requires more than production; it also requires assurance that food products meet established quality and safety requirements,” he said, noting that credible testing systems support evidence-based decisions, consumer protection, trade facilitation, and confidence across value chains. 

From a technical perspective, the new equipment addresses limitations associated with conventional digestion techniques such as muffle furnace ashing and hot plate digestion, which, while effective, required longer processing times and involved multiple handling steps. 

By streamlining sample preparation for trace and heavy metal testing, the microwave digestion system will complement existing analytical instruments, reduce turnaround times, and enable the Chemical, Food and Technology Laboratory to accommodate a broader range of sample matrices. This will allow SAZ to respond more effectively to the evolving needs of clients across multiple sectors. 

The equipment is expected to strengthen service delivery, regulatory compliance, and innovation by increasing testing capacity and improving access to high-quality analytical services. The microwave digestion system is also expected to support national priorities, including the Food Fortification Programme through trace element analysis, as well as the implementation of requirements relating to lead in paints. 

The equipment will further expand the laboratory’s ability to analyse soil samples for the agricultural sector and provide analytical support to universities, researchers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders developing innovative products. 

In relation to food safety, quality, and standards compliance, the new equipment will help manufacturers demonstrate compliance with national and international standards, strengthen regulatory monitoring, and support the identification of contaminants that may pose risks to consumer health. 

It is also expected to contribute to safer products, increased consumer confidence, and improved market access for businesses. 

SAZ remains committed to working with stakeholders to deliver reliable testing services that support industry, protect consumers, assist regulators, and contribute to national development priorities. 

The donation by World Food Programme underscores the importance of strategic partnerships in strengthening Zimbabwe’s quality infrastructure, enhancing local testing capacity, and supporting safer food systems. Through the donated equipment, SAZ is better positioned to provide reliable analytical services that protect consumers, support industry, promote standards compliance, and contribute to national development.