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Science, Technology Desk to benefit SADC

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:25

By Nthambeleni Gabara

The newly launched Southern African Development Community (SADC) Science, Technology and Innovation Desk will ensure that the region benefits from the global pool of scientific knowledge.

Ministers responsible for science and technology in Southern Africa established this unit to coordinate science and technology activities in the region, following a three-day SADC Science and Technology Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday in Johannesburg.

South Africa’s Science and Technology Minister and the SADC Science and Technology Chairperson, Mosibudi Mangena officially launched the desk, which is based in Botswana.

He said through the desk, SADC countries would be able to use the technology and innovation to alleviate poverty in the region.

“The Science and Technology Desk will ensure that the SADC countries harness and apply science, technology and innovation to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development,” the minister said.

Minister Mangena also urged member states to help increase the desk’s capacity so that SADC could have a fully fledged unit to coordinate the region’s science and technology activities and promote its agenda.

“With the establishment of the desk, we can now start advancing the implementation of the agenda in a much more coordinated way”, he said.

The implementation of the objectives, he said, would be consistent with the policy frameworks articulated in the Consolidated Plan of Action and the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan.

South Africa has since seconded an official to be in charge of the unit for three years in Gaborone, Botswana.

According to the minister, the African Union has also called for regional economic communities to establish such desks.

- BuaNews