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| ZERO EMISSIONS RESEARCH INITIATIVE (ZERI) |
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REVITALISING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOCUS IN AFRICA: A NEW HOPE FOR LIBERATING THE CONTINENT FROM THE POVERTY TRAP It has been said, many (many) times that Africa is richly endowed with an enormous variety of natural resources, in the form of industrial and other minerals, enviably rich biodiversity (indeed with many surprises), a wide range of environmental regimes with capacity for sustainable biomass production, as well as unique scenic beauty, giving the continent (and especially the SADC region) an enormous potential for highly profitable ecotourism. Yet, so many millions of the people on our continent are classified as living in absolute poverty, and so many others die everyday from diseases that could be prevented, e.g., through society's enlightenment on wise utilisation of Africa's rich endowment of natural resources. In the Scriptures we read, "... The poor you will always have with you" (Matthew 26:11). Yes, Jesus made that remark 2000 years ago. But the many years of history have not changed the situation. The aim of the presentation on the occasion of the SADC Summit by a panel of experts, under the leadership of the University of Namibia, is to demonstrate, through presentations and tangible examples, that Africa, and especially the SADC region, can be liberated from the poverty trap through enhanced creativity, and through investing more in science and technology education, and research and development. We believe that through this contribution, our SADC leaders will see that even from such humble biota as mushrooms and seaweeds, Africa could generate multimillion dollar industries. Case studies from the University of Namibia, and concrete examples from other countries (especially from South-east Asia), will be presented. The need for intensified regional co - operation in S & T and R & D, will also be highlighted. REFERENCES Matthew 26:11. In: The Holy Bible.
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In the conclusions to the Programme for the Industrial Development Decade for Africa, published by the United Nations in 1982, self-sufficiency in food production was accorded the first priority. Industrialisation was ranked second among the priorities. The high priority accorded to these sectors is also reflected in the Lagos Plan of Action of 1980 (Mbuende, 1994). The Challenge to the South: the Report of the South Commission (Nyerere, 1990) had also concluded that the South must enlarge its capacity to benefit from advances in Science and Technology (S&T), in order to secure a better life for its people. A similar view was expressed by a multidisciplinary team of consultants who were commissioned by the SADC Secretariat in 1990, to examine the situation of S & T within the region, and to propose mechanisms for using S & T to spearhead rapid socio - economic development amongst our people, in a report titled, "Science, Technology & Research for Development in the SADC Region: Status, Prospects and Challenges" (SADC, 1994).