Lazarus Sauti

Norman Muvavarirwa and Lazarus Sauti The Second Decade of Education for Africa (2006-2015) Plan of Action states that education forms the basis for developing innovation, science and technology in order to harness our resources, industrialise, and participate in the global knowledge economy. “Learning is an avenue for Africa to take its rightful place in the global community, and also the means by which the continent can entrench a culture of peace, gender equality and positive African values,” it says. Education systems in countries within and across Africa must therefore be able to provide young Africans with quality education that imparts key generic competencies, practical skills and attitudes that lead to a culture of lifelong learning and entrepreneurship. This means countries within and across the African continent should introduce more practical (psychomotor) subjects to effectively transform their respective economies. Zimbabwe’s Minister of State for Liaiso...

Lazarus Sauti Ebola virus, the horrific disease that causes the body’s internal organ to bleed and almost melt away, is ravaging countries in West Africa. The outbreak, which began in Guinea either late last year or early this year, had appeared to slow before picking up pace again in recent weeks. It has been linked to around 330 deaths in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, according to the latest numbers from the World Health Organisation, specialised agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health . In “Epidemiological update: Outbreak of Ebola Virus in West Africa”, WHO Africa further said that at least 567 infections and 350 deaths have been reported. Journalists Adama Diarra and Misha Hussain note that in addition to the loss of life, the outbreak is also having an economic effect. “Conakry’s Palm Camayenne Hotel, which is popular among businessmen and politicians, has less than a third of occupancy rate. On Brussels Airlines flight...

Lazarus Sauti Arable land is vital for countries within and across Africa, both as a key asset for farmers and, together with vegetation, to help store carbon that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. Sadly, desertification, like skin cancer, is posing a great threat to Africa’s vast arable lands as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, an agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger, estimates that by 2030 Africa will lose two-thirds of its arable land if the march of desertification - the spread of arid, desert-like areas of land - is not stopped. Henry Neondo , Coordinator of the African Alliance of Rangeland Management and Development , a continental movement of organisations in Africa, brought together to shape the opinions and advocate for effective policies that will protect rangelands in the light of climate change, drought, desertification and land degradation, believes d...

Lazarus Sauti With 200 million people aged between 15 and 24 (the youth bracket), the continent of Africa has the youngest population in the world, and the current trend indicates that this figure will double by 2045. This is according to the 2012 African Economic Outlook report prepared by experts from the African Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the industrialised countries’ Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, among others. This rise in population brings a foe in the form of unemployment; and frankly, youth unemployment is Africa’s greatest challenge. The World Bank notes: “Youth account for 60 per cent of all African unemployed. “In North Africa, the youth unemployment rate is an eyebrow-raising 30 per cent. It is even worse in Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, South Africa and several other African countries.” Un employment is a devil claiming l...

Lazarus Sauti In the foreword of the book “Contemporary Issues in African Sciences and Science Education”, Jophus Anamuah-Mensah asserts that “if you want development, you should provide relevant education”. The Professor and Director for the Centre for School and Community Science and Technology Studies at the University of Education, Winneba (Ghana) further says education has come to be seen as the key to unlocking the potential of countries in their struggle to pave a sound pathway for the socio-economic and political transformation of their citizens. However, Anamuah-Mensah notes that the attempt to use education as the driving force to change the economic fortunes of countries within and across Africa has and continues to pose numerous challenges to many governments. “One of the areas required for development but which at the same time poses a great challenge is science education,” says he professor, adding that different challenges are hindering science to solve c...

Lazarus Sauti Abstract Knowledge Management and Intellectual Property play a central role in socio-economic development of any country. This is so because they are connected, and knowledge as an intellectual capital is critical in innovation systems which are the basis for socio-economic transformations. Accordingly, this paper will explore knowledge management and intellectual property, their connection and their potential in stimulating economic development in Zimbabwe. Key terms : Knowledge; Knowledge Management; Intellectual Property; Socio-economic development. Background There is a definite connection between knowledge management and Intellectual Property. This is so because company employees are the creative force that generates the knowledge that can be mined for possible Intellectual Property. This also means knowledge management and intellectual property are two crucial ingridients in the development matrix of any country. To fully explore the respective roles of ...