Date: 09/08/2005
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title: Mangena: Signing of SA-Botswana Bilateral Agreement on Scientific and Technology
Remarks by Minister Mosibudi Mangena at the signing of the South Africa-Botswana Bilateral Agreement on Scientific and Technological Co-operation, Gaborone, Botswana
Your Excellency, Minister Venson;
Permanent Secretary for Communications,
Science and Technology, Mrs Nganunu;
Her Excellency EVG Komane, South African Commissioner to Botswana;
Members of the diplomatic corps of both countries present today;
Senior officials in the respective ministries;
Distinguished representatives of research and technology institutes;
Fellow brothers and sisters:
This signing ceremony marks an important milestone in the history of the science and technology systems of our respective countries and demonstrates the important role our governments place on science and technology in the rebirth and renewal of our continent. Furthermore, it denotes our shared belief that our success as nations, and indeed as a continent, will be realised through active co-operation in the areas that are necessary for our development.
Our scientists are already working together in various initiatives. This bilateral agreement is meant to further enhance those efforts, and deliberately explore closer co-operation in further joint initiatives.
In this context, we must encourage our learners to pursue natural and life sciences. This will happen more easily if our scientists, engineers and technologists can demonstrate to them that their efforts can lead to the improvement of their daily lives in things such as clean water supply, safe and affordable energy, improved telecommunications infrastructure and services. Our programme of bilateral co-operation should emphasise projects that will benefit our communities in ways that are meaningful to them. Our people will not fully appreciate the usefulness of science if it cannot address the problems they are grappling with in their day-to-day existence.
The increased recognition of the crucial and critical role of science and technology in poverty reduction has been recognised in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) programmes. We should strive to make this bilateral agreement an instrument that will strengthen our contribution to the success of this multilateral initiative.
The issue of human capacity development is an important one for our two countries. We need to constantly look at creating opportunities for mutual development through conferences and seminars, exchange of scientists through post-doctoral research fellowships, sabbaticals and other areas.
This Agreement is particularly meaningful given the long and difficult path we had to traverse in the history of our two countries. In South Africa in particular, the apartheid regime considered mathematics, science and technology as irrelevant for the African majority. All opportunities for the majority of our people to develop in science and technology were deliberately closed. Consequently, in an effort to prove the lie that Africans were an inferior human species, generations of our people were robbed of the opportunity to reach their full potential in this area of human endeavour. This is a cruel legacy we must act collectively to overcome as we struggle to right the wrongs of the past, and build science systems in which all our citizens can participate fully.
The histories and destinies of the people of South Africa and Botswana are intertwined. Except for the political border that separates us, we are one people. We share the same social heritage and our economic struggles are no different. The Batswana chose to make our fight against apartheid rule their fight. Indeed, some of your people paid the ultimate price to ensure that we defeat oppression.
We must now work together to defeat the threats of HIV and AIDS, poverty and underdevelopment. Our countries are richly endowed with natural and human resources. Together we must find ways in which we can develop our strengths, and use them as a basis for creating a better future for our nations. Science and technology offer the best means of doing this. We must vigorously promote research and innovation in order to maximise the returns on our abundant primary mineral and agricultural resources. If we do the right things now, we would be laying a solid foundation for our children’s future prosperity long after our mines have been depleted of their precious stones and metals.
The signing of this Agreement is only a beginning and not an end. The Agreement provides for research partnerships and exchange programmes between researchers. The challenge that still remains is for us to identify the areas of joint cooperation that could bring best returns in the areas of greatest need for our countries. We have no choice but to work hard to make this Agreement work. We must develop a robust Programme of Co-operation with realistic, manageable milestones, to address our urgent development needs. We need to commit all the necessary resources to ensure that the commitments made do not become hollow promises. I have no doubt that between our two countries we have adequate institutional and technological capacity to achieve these goals.
Early this year during a visit to my country by a technical delegation from Botswana, possible areas for meaningful collaboration were identified. During our discussions and visits to various research institutions and facilities in this country, we intend to build on the work already done. Our bilateral Agreement adds a crucial dimension in our respective efforts to develop our countries. We would like to see it develop into powerful instrument for cooperation in science and technology in the region. This is the hope and expectation that give me great pleasure to append my signature to this Agreement.
I would like to conclude my remarks by thanking all the people who worked hard to make this day a reality, especially the officials, diplomatic missions, researchers and scientists of our respective countries.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
9 August 2005
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title: Mangena: Signing of SA-Botswana Bilateral Agreement on Scientific and Technology
Remarks by Minister Mosibudi Mangena at the signing of the South Africa-Botswana Bilateral Agreement on Scientific and Technological Co-operation, Gaborone, Botswana
Your Excellency, Minister Venson;
Permanent Secretary for Communications,
Science and Technology, Mrs Nganunu;
Her Excellency EVG Komane, South African Commissioner to Botswana;
Members of the diplomatic corps of both countries present today;
Senior officials in the respective ministries;
Distinguished representatives of research and technology institutes;
Fellow brothers and sisters:
This signing ceremony marks an important milestone in the history of the science and technology systems of our respective countries and demonstrates the important role our governments place on science and technology in the rebirth and renewal of our continent. Furthermore, it denotes our shared belief that our success as nations, and indeed as a continent, will be realised through active co-operation in the areas that are necessary for our development.
Our scientists are already working together in various initiatives. This bilateral agreement is meant to further enhance those efforts, and deliberately explore closer co-operation in further joint initiatives.
In this context, we must encourage our learners to pursue natural and life sciences. This will happen more easily if our scientists, engineers and technologists can demonstrate to them that their efforts can lead to the improvement of their daily lives in things such as clean water supply, safe and affordable energy, improved telecommunications infrastructure and services. Our programme of bilateral co-operation should emphasise projects that will benefit our communities in ways that are meaningful to them. Our people will not fully appreciate the usefulness of science if it cannot address the problems they are grappling with in their day-to-day existence.
The increased recognition of the crucial and critical role of science and technology in poverty reduction has been recognised in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) programmes. We should strive to make this bilateral agreement an instrument that will strengthen our contribution to the success of this multilateral initiative.
The issue of human capacity development is an important one for our two countries. We need to constantly look at creating opportunities for mutual development through conferences and seminars, exchange of scientists through post-doctoral research fellowships, sabbaticals and other areas.
This Agreement is particularly meaningful given the long and difficult path we had to traverse in the history of our two countries. In South Africa in particular, the apartheid regime considered mathematics, science and technology as irrelevant for the African majority. All opportunities for the majority of our people to develop in science and technology were deliberately closed. Consequently, in an effort to prove the lie that Africans were an inferior human species, generations of our people were robbed of the opportunity to reach their full potential in this area of human endeavour. This is a cruel legacy we must act collectively to overcome as we struggle to right the wrongs of the past, and build science systems in which all our citizens can participate fully.
The histories and destinies of the people of South Africa and Botswana are intertwined. Except for the political border that separates us, we are one people. We share the same social heritage and our economic struggles are no different. The Batswana chose to make our fight against apartheid rule their fight. Indeed, some of your people paid the ultimate price to ensure that we defeat oppression.
We must now work together to defeat the threats of HIV and AIDS, poverty and underdevelopment. Our countries are richly endowed with natural and human resources. Together we must find ways in which we can develop our strengths, and use them as a basis for creating a better future for our nations. Science and technology offer the best means of doing this. We must vigorously promote research and innovation in order to maximise the returns on our abundant primary mineral and agricultural resources. If we do the right things now, we would be laying a solid foundation for our children’s future prosperity long after our mines have been depleted of their precious stones and metals.
The signing of this Agreement is only a beginning and not an end. The Agreement provides for research partnerships and exchange programmes between researchers. The challenge that still remains is for us to identify the areas of joint cooperation that could bring best returns in the areas of greatest need for our countries. We have no choice but to work hard to make this Agreement work. We must develop a robust Programme of Co-operation with realistic, manageable milestones, to address our urgent development needs. We need to commit all the necessary resources to ensure that the commitments made do not become hollow promises. I have no doubt that between our two countries we have adequate institutional and technological capacity to achieve these goals.
Early this year during a visit to my country by a technical delegation from Botswana, possible areas for meaningful collaboration were identified. During our discussions and visits to various research institutions and facilities in this country, we intend to build on the work already done. Our bilateral Agreement adds a crucial dimension in our respective efforts to develop our countries. We would like to see it develop into powerful instrument for cooperation in science and technology in the region. This is the hope and expectation that give me great pleasure to append my signature to this Agreement.
I would like to conclude my remarks by thanking all the people who worked hard to make this day a reality, especially the officials, diplomatic missions, researchers and scientists of our respective countries.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
9 August 2005
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