BOTSWANA-BASED Zimbabwean virologist, Sikhulile Moyo, who is credited with discovering the COVID-19 Omicron variant has been recognised as one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world.

Moyo, who is the research laboratory director at the Botswana Harvard Aids Institute Partnership (BHP), was recognised together with Tulio de Oliveira, director of South Africa’s Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation.

The Botswana government led the plaudits, with the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health Grace Muzila said they regard the recognition of one of their own as a vote of confidence in the quality of scientific expertise in the country.

“It is a true demonstration that Botswana can be counted amongst a league of countries that have developed the requisite scientific knowledge and infrastructure that can help us and the world, to respond to current and future health challenges,” Muzila said.

Chief executive of the BHP, Joseph Makhema said this discovery demonstrates the potential to leverage existing local human and infrastructural capacity to participate in cutting-edge scientific pursuits for the benefit of local, regional, and global scientific public health advances.”

John Nkengasong, the director of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention described the discovery as “a transformational moment and a shift in paradigm — that for me symbolised that excellence in science can originate in Africa.”

He added: “Every generation has people who inspire subsequent generations. Sikhulile and Tulio have the potential to be that for people who will work in public health and genomics. We have not seen the end of their contributions.”

The TIME 100 list, now in its 19th year, recognises the impact, innovation, and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals.