Embracing science for development

Lazarus Sauti

S

cience and technology programmes are crucial ingredients in the socio-economic development of the African continent.

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.