Science and technology key to leveraging region’s resources

Lazarus Sauti

SADC leaders recently agreed that economies in regional countries are still dominated by low-level processing of natural resources and the production of simple consumer goods for local consumption.

Most countries in the region are far from making any internationally significant scientific or technological breakthroughs; and what ultimately distinguishes the region from others is its lack of mastery of modern science.

Countries in the region, excluding maybe South Africa, have a poor reputation for scientific and technological innovations.

This is sad because with its vast resources, the region should be able to improve its development capacity in critical development areas of science and technology.

In short, SADC needs to build its capacity in science and technology if it is to realise its dream of moving towards beneficiation and value addition and compete with other regions. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe was spot on when he told the just ended SADC summit in Victoria Falls that the region needs to build capacity through solving challenges that are halting development.

The SADC region religiously needs science and technology to leverage its diverse resources for sustainable economic and social development through beneficiation and value addition. Without science and technology, the region cannot benefit anything from its resources – both human and natural.

“Science and technology are building blocks critical to the transformation of the SADC region,” notes Collence Chisita, a Harare based researcher, adding that “it is, therefore, of critical importance for countries in the region to make effort in creating conditions conducive for the growth of science and technology industries.”

Sharing the same views, researcher David Ockwell, says science and technology are critical ingredients that can be used to effectively transform communities through job creation and poverty eradication.

“Science and technology are the most effective means to enhance growth and socio-economic development of nations as they have profound and long-term impacts on income distribution, economic growth, employment, trade, environment and industrial structure,” asserts Ockwell.

As regional leaders are still fresh from their 34th summit, it is critical for them to promote science and technology advancement as a much more lasting investment that offers surer and higher returns than continuously funneling aid dollars for short-term solutions.

One sure way of promoting science and technology is through crafting policies, strategies and plans that not only allow countries to harness science and technology for development but also provide the thrust for deeper regional integration.

To establish these policies and strategise for serious economic development, and to provide the impetus for deeper integration among SADC member states, leaders and other critical policy decision makers in the science and technology fraternity must be realistic and be guided by instruments such as the Protocol on Science, Technology and Innovation in coming up with mechanisms that put science and technology at the heart of leveraging the region’s resources.

Leaders can also propagate the adoption of science and technology simply by producing a mass of young scientists.

“SADC leaders must embrace science and technology by producing competent young scientists and simply creating enabling environments that promote effective partnerships and knowledge sharing. The main goal should always be strengthening the transformation agenda of the region,” adds Chisita.

Private Public Partnerships are, therefore, vital in promoting science and technology as well as in building academies and centres of excellences to lay the ground work for building science and technology capacity in the region.

“Through evidence-based science by homegrown experts, science academies and centres of excellences can become trusted advisors on social and economic development issues,” notes Nelson Sewankambo, president of Uganda’s National Academy.

As appropriate education is also central to the adoption of science and technology and, transformation of economies, there is need for the regional bloc to pursue relevant education, with science related subjects being at the core of the curriculum.

This, however, calls for sufficient funding of universities and research institutions.

Sadly, such institutions in the region are still in the unfortunate position of not being able to invest in science and technology.

This means parliaments in SADC countries need to commit at least one per cent of GDP to science.

Frankly, greater cooperation between SADC member states and other countries in science related areas is of critical significance to increase trade and drive the expansion of the region. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, agrees: “There is need for strategic coordination, knowledge sharing and commitment in advancing science and technology for the overall socio-economic development of the region.”

Therefore, SADC countries should not only cooperate with other countries but they should promote science and technology as key drivers of change and pin their hopes on science and technology to effectively leverage their vast natural resources as well as transforming their developing economies.