Lazarus Sauti

Lazarus Sauti This humble pen picked from Jan Piotrowski, specialist in science and technology issues, says food security is an issue that touches all aspects of the sustainable development agenda, from agriculture and environmental management to economics, governance and social equality. He also stresses that food security is a challenge with no simple solution. True to Piotrowski’s assertions, it is estimated that the world’s population will reach around nine billion by 2050, and as a result, demand for food is going to increase. For that reason, the Southern African Development Community is not spared by this population growth, and would need to increase crop production since it has the greatest potential to feed this projected population. Sadly, while the world population is growing, the amount of available cropland, fresh water and other key resources is not. The number of undernourished people, for instance, already exceeds one billion. Providing solution to...

Lazarus Sauti Expanding access to modern energy services is a critical element that will bring about political, economic, social and economic development in countries within and across the Southern African Development Community, especially for communities in marginalised rural areas. Most rural communities in the region, without doubt, are characterised by limited access to these modern energy services with majority of the population heavily relying on the traditional energy sources and other fossil fuel for their primary energy sources. Dwellers in these communities are, thus, exposed to respiratory ailments resulting from the continuous inhaling of obnoxious gases emitted from traditional energy sources. They are also vulnerable to domestic fire outbreaks which may lead not only to loss of lives but also properties. Furthermore, the inability to access modern energy services has adverse impact on the health and water supply systems in these rural communities, and this...

Lazarus Sauti Professor Lucy Ogbadu, an expert in biotechnology, believes tissue culture is one of the most important pre-requisites for the application of genetic engineering – the modification of an organism’s genetic composition by artificial means, often involving the transfer of specific traits, or genes, from one organism into a plant or animal of an entirely different species – for the improvement of crops. Ogbadu also says the gains and contribution of genetic engineering technology to food security and environmental friendly agricultural practices are well documented and, therefore, contends that equipping scientists with the necessary knowledge to carry out research in this area would go a long way in averting food challenges. “Frankly, the gains of genetic engineering technology in transforming societies especially in critical areas such as food security are documented. Therefore, scientists should be equipped with relevant and necessary knowledge and skills to ...

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 ...

Lazarus Sauti Without strong industries to create jobs and add value to raw materials, countries within and across the Southern African Development Community risk remaining chained up in joblessness and poverty. Strong industries, according to United Nations Economic Commission for Africa executive secretary, Carlos Lopes, have the potential to transform or diversify economies. “A growing industrial sector is key to sustained overall economic as well as human development of a country due to the multiplier effect insofar as it promotes value-addition and employment generation,” concurs economist, Munetsi Madakufamba. This means industrialisation cannot be considered a luxury, but a necessity for SADC’s transformation as it is a pre-condition for the region to achieve inclusive development. “It is, therefore, necessary for the region to upgrade and modernise its industrial base to grow and diversify economies which have largely depended on exportation of primary commod...

Review: A Fine Madness Book written by Mashingaidze Gomo Published by Ayebia Press, United Kingdom A Fine Madness gives an insider’s perspective on the nature of war and its effect on African identities, destruction of property, underdevelopment, loss of life and the demise of morals. The author, Mashingaidze Gomo, who served in the air force of Zimbabwe and fought the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, combines powerful prose and poetry to reflect on Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence. Gomo recounts a soldier’s recent experiences of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and documents the suffering of the victims of a bigger continual imperial war over Africa’s resources – but this time the victims are recognisable as still human, loving and lovable. With a forward written by Kenyan writer, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, A Fine Madness is Gomo’s song for Africa and her citizenry – Lazarus Sauti.