ZaZiBoNa is the collaborative medicines registration initiative for the 16 SADC Member States. ZaZiBoNa was established in 2013 by four countries, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. Although the initiative has expanded beyond these four countries, the name ZaZiBoNa has been maintained because of its special meaning in Nyanja, one of the local Zambian languages: “look to the future”. More information including the background and objectives of the initiative can be found under “About us”. 

The SADC Member States are involved at differing levels.

Active Member States (Countries that can apply a registration and inspection system by virtue of having in place national requirements and processes. They participate in product evaluation and manufacturing site inspection in accordance with agreed standards). These are:

• Botswana
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• South Africa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
• Tanzania

Non-active Members (Countries that do not actively participate in the joint assessment of products or the joint inspections). These are:  

• Angola
• Eswatini
• Comoros
• Madagascar

Observers

• Lesotho
• Mauritius

The ZaZiBoNa project implementing agency is the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ). Their address is;

106 Baines Avenue

Harare

Zimbabwe

All general correspondences are directed to the Director General-MCAZ, email address, mcaz@mcaz.co.zw;

Products evaluations and registration are directed to the Joint Assessments Coordinator, Mr F. Masekela on the following email address:

fmasekela@mcaz.co.zw;

GMP specific issues are directed to the Joint Inspections Coordinator, Mr S. Mutyavaviri on the following email address:

SMutyavaviri@mcaz.co.zw; gmp@mcaz.co.zw;

General project queries are directed to the SADC MRH Project Coordinator, Mrs S. Dube-Mwedzi on the following email addresses:

sakhi.vee@gmail.com; sadcproject@mcaz.co.zw

Country specific coordinators are as follows;

A ZaZiBoNa GMP inspection is conducted to support product registration.  A manufacturer to be considered for an inspection should have submitted dossiers for product registration in any two of the Active ZaZiBoNa countries. Currently product-based inspections are conducted.

Any two of the ZaZiBoNa countries and a third observing country will come for the onsite inspection.

Yes, a dossier should have been submitted for an applicant to be eligible for a ZaZiBoNa inspection. This is because ZaZiBoNa GMP inspections are done to support product registration.

The inspection fees are as follows;

Inspection fees are paid to the coordinating agency, MCAZ, against a proforma issued by MCAZ.

As a manufacturer or applicant, you will receive a List of Queries after the initial review of your product. If the outstanding issues to be addressed include confirmation of GMP compliance through a site GMP inspection or a GMP Desk Review you need to contact the Joint Inspections Coordinator on SMutyavaviri@mcaz.co.zw and gmp@mcaz.co.zw. Correspondence on official manufacturer’s or applicant’s letterhead should indicate the following;

1. Product name
2. Manufacturing site, indicating manufacturing block
3. Dosage forms manufactured on site
4. The site contact person and email.

On receipt of the correspondence, a proforma invoice is issued by the Implementing Agency, MCAZ, indicating the Banking details and the fees to be paid.

The initiative conducts product-based inspections to support product registration, generally facilities are inspected within 6 months from the time of initial dossier review. However, it should be noted that ZaZiBoNa inspections are scheduled quarterly with 3-4 facilities being considered in each inspection schedule.

Joint inspections reduce the number of inspections performed at a facility resulting in potential saving in time and resources ordinarily incurred when a facility is subjected to multiple inspections by different regulatory Authorities.  The outcomes of the inspections are generally accepted by all SADC Member States though each retains  the right on the final approval decision.

Currently no, only joint inspections done under the ZaZiBoNa initiative can be recognized. However, the individual national agencies may consider the scope and outcome of these other inspections.

It should be noted that the ZaZiBoNa initiative is still at work sharing and capacity building stage, therefore inspections conducted by individual member states are not yet being considered for approval of products being considered jointly under the initiative. The facility will therefore be subjected to a ZaZiBoNa inspection, where two or three member states participate regardless of the previous inspection history by any of the ZaZiBoNa member states.

Currently ZaZiBoNa only considers desk reviews for sites that would have been inspected by Stringent Regulatory Authorities. This position is anticipated to be in force until such a time when the ZaZiBoNa initiative reaches mutual recognition

Facilities inspected by SRAs are subjected to desk reviews and this encompasses the review of the inspection report and compliance report, among other documents that should be submitted.

GMP recognition and certification of a manufacturing facility after a ZaZiBoNa inspection is at a country level. After the inspection, each country is responsible for issuing GMP approval or certification in line with the recommended outcome and in line with national processes.

The period of validity of a ZaZiBoNa inspection ranges from 1 to 3 years depending  on the assigned risk. A risk-based approach which considers the nature of the dosage forms, complexity of the manufacturing process, previous inspection history and the number and nature of the noted shortcomings among other issues is used to determine the validity on a case-by-case basis

ZaZiBoNa conducts routine inspections for sites that receive approval of their products through the collaborative process, for sites that were previously inspected under the initiative.

Routine inspection frequency is determined using a risk-based approach. The approach considers the nature of the dosage forms, complexity of the manufacturing process, previous inspection history and the number and nature of the noted shortcomings among other issues. The inspection frequency is therefore determined at the end of the previous inspection and may vary from 1 to 3years, based on risk.

The World Health Organization’s technical reporting series guidelines are used as standards / reference guidelines for ZaZiBoNa inspections. However other guidelines like PIC(s) can be referred to. The collaborative initiative has also developed guidelines which can be located under the Guidelines section of the website.