Science and technology development will be pushed to the forefront of the Southern African Development Community's (SADC's) concerns through a recently launched initiative.
SADC members agreed to co-operate on the establishment of the unit, which will be tasked with promoting science and technology in the region. The unit will be made up of a chair based within the SADC secretariat in Botswana, and would report directly to an appointed senior science and technology officer within SADC.
In a meeting of member countries on Tuesday, science and technology ministers agreed on the importance of using technology to promote economic growth and combat poverty in their countries.
Lindiwe Lusenga, the Department of Science and Technology's chief director for multilateral cooperation and Africa, stated the key objective of the unit will be “to ensure that, as a region, we harness and apply science and technology in order to achieve our millennium goals”.
Science and technology minister Mosibudi Mangena, the current chair of the SADC science ministers' council, said in a statement that co-operation was key in this initiative.
“We should like to add our voice to encourage other member states to establish a fully-fledged unit that will not only be responsible for coordinating the region's science and technology activities, but also would serve to promote its agenda.”
Lusenga added that the unit will harness regional and global scientific research and developments - decisions which are in line with previously adopted frameworks such as the Consolidated Plan of Action, and the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan.
Ministers will now work on a business plan to help them achieve their objectives.
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