Embracing science for development
Lazarus Sauti
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Although these
programmes are the lifeblood of any developmental activity in the world, it is
sad to note that most African countries are falling behind in embracing them.
This failure is negatively
affecting the continent and as a result, Africans are suffering.
Professor Francis
Gudyanga, the Permanent Secretary for Science and Technology Development in
Zimbabwe, says: “The major effects of neglecting science and technology in the
continent is that the best educated Africans often choose to leave the
continent for the West or the Persian Gulf to seek a better life.”
This means other
countries and regions, some of which are already well-developed, benefit from
expertise that could have gone towards improving standards of living in Africa.
More so, due to
ignoring science and technology issues, much of Africa has stagnated and even
regressed in terms of foreign trade, investment, per capita, and other economic
growth measures.
Therefore, to be the force to reckon with in the world that the continent
seeks to be, African policy makers should prioritise science and technology programmes
and projects as effective tools for social and economic development.
Science and technology programmes
and projects assist Africans in living well, more easily and in better health
conditions.
Consequently, embracing
science and technology will be of paramount importance for the entire continent
to breathe life into its existence and also to the physical environment in
which Africans live.
Launching the second Science and Technology Innovation Policy of Zimbabwe,
President Robert Mugabe said science and technology programmes are crucial to development.
President Mugabe said, “Science and Technology, being cross-cutting and
pervasive, must of necessity, harmonise with and complement other policies in
areas of energy, industry, health, agriculture, environment and education.”
Ultimately, it is the responsibility of stakeholders in the science and
technology fraternity in Africa to harmonise science and technology and
complement it with other policies in areas critical to the development of the
continent.
To effectively benefit from science and technology, the continent should
ensure that any science and technology programmes, project or policy is married
to emerging technologies.
President Mugabe said, “There is need for the science and technology policy
to also focus on emerging technologies, research, indigenous knowledge systems
as well as space sciences, which deal with meteorological applications, land
use, aeromagnetic and surveillance for mineral exploration.”
Political leaders in Africa should make sure that science and technology
activities are adding value to the livelihoods of Africans.
Professor Gudyanga adds
that Africa has a large quality of resources and African countries should
insist that organisations that wish to access the resources should invest in
science and technology programmes and projects first.
It is his contention
that, “Africa has a large quantity of natural resources such as oil, diamonds,
gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver and timber which can give
it a competitive advantage over other regions both technologically and
economically.
“The minerals resources
offer two opportunities to African countries. African countries can insist that
companies that wish to access the mineral resources should invest in a number
of science and technology programmes and projects.”
Professor Gudyanga goes
on to say, “They could be required to fund university departments of mining,
geology and metallurgy. This could be in the form of building the
infrastructure, providing scholarships, offering training and funding local
research.”
Meanwhile, ministries responsible for science and technology development in
the continent should prioritise rapid and sustainable industrialisation,
production of adequate food, provision of shelter, a good health delivery
system and the availability of sufficient energy resources.
The science and technology sector should create employment opportunities
for Africa and her subjects.
Thus, to effectively benefit from science and technology programmes and
projects, players in the field should set as their chief mission the promotion
of continental scientific and technological self-reliance.
Furthermore, to achieve the long term objective of sustainable development,
stakeholders in the science and technology industry should also craft a number
of science and technology policies. These policies should enhance smart
partnerships between Africa and other countries.
They should foster research and development in the area of science and
technology.
Since the improvements
of science and technology are too much helpful for the African continent,
political leaders should not even think of using science and technology for
selfish or negative purposes.
Africa has the capacity
and the human resource base to manipulate and benefit from science and
technology. Therefore, science and technology projects should be used in such
way that all citizens of Africa will be benefited.
They should be embraced
to fight poverty, protect the environment and to enhance the development of the
continent.
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