Lingela: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for
being with us this evening. My name is Vuyani Lingela,
the counselor for science and technology at the South
African Embassy. First, I would like to say, it is indeed a
great pleasure to welcome you this evening here at the
University of Tokyo, on this occasion to launch the Africa-
Japan Essay and Speech Competition (A-JESC). My role
tonight is very quick and short, mainly to introduce our
guest speakers who are here tonight.
I will introduce the first speaker, Dr. Yukata Kirino. Dr.
Kirino is the executive vice president of the University of
Tokyo. We also want to express our sincere gratitude to
the University of Tokyo for making this hall available for this
occasion. On that note, I will ask Dr. Kirino to come and
address us. Thank you very much.
Kirino Yukata: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I
am Kirino of the University of Tokyo. Today is the opening
ceremony of the launch of the A-JESC. This kind of
attempt to promote exchange between Africa and Japan is
very much welcomed.
At the University of Tokyo, we have been engaged in
international exchange, especially since last year, when
we launched a headquarters for international exchange.
the University of Tokyo is tying up with various universities
worldwide, and that totals 250. Many overseas students
and researchers are participating and working at the
University of Tokyo. We are also participating and involved
in various alliances worldwide and we are exchanging
information with various institutions, especially with
those countries who are close to us geographically and
with whom we share many issues—in other words,
Asian countries. We are enhancing and deepening our
relationships with these countries.
However, unfortunately, our ties are not yet that strong
with African nations. The African nations are abundant in
natural resources and there is plenty of opportunity and
possibilities for the future. However, unfortunately, we
must say that we do not know much about Africa yet. This
essay and speech contest should give us a very precious
opportunity for us to learn about Africa, which is still very far
away from us. On the other hand, this would also provide
an opportunity for people in Africa to learn about Japan,
and especially for university students, college students,
high school students—the young generation of both
countries—to learn about each other. Being geographically
far apart, this would contribute extremely to the deepening
of the relationship between Africa and Japan.
Today we have many people from Africa and Japan who
will share their views with regard to the A-JESC. I hope that
today’s ceremony will open the door to enhancing further
relationships between Africa and Japan. With this, I would
like to close my remarks. Thank you very much.
Lingela: Thank you very much, Dr. Kirino, for the welcoming
address.
Our second speaker this evening is His Excellency Mr.
Oscar Motswagae, Ambassador of Botswana to Japan,
who will present introductory remarks. Ambassador
Motswagae is also the chairperson of the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) Committee
of Ambassadors in Japan. He has experience in the
diplomatic service, both inside Botswana and outside
Botswana, particularly with the United Nations (UN). The
Ambassador will introduce the purpose of our gathering
this evening. Thank you very much, Ambassador
Motswagae.


Oscar Motswagae: Thank you very much and good
evening, Your Excellencies, distinguished guests,
ladies and gentlemen. It is a great pleasure for me to
be here this evening, for this important SADC initiative:
the launching of the A-JESC, making science and
technology a foundation for partnership between Africa
and Japan. On behalf of my SADC colleagues, I want
to thank the University of Tokyo for hosting us here this
evening. Thank you very much, Dr. Kirino. The support,
friendship, and solidarity of this institution cannot be
acknowledged enough. Once again, thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen, there are divergent views on
the best path toward sustainable development, but I
think everybody agrees that science and technology
is the foundation on which the successful economies
around the world are built. New technologies have
brought about profound changes that we see in our
everyday lives. Imagine the ease with which we can
talk to people all over the world, the ease and speed
at which data can be transmitted around the world,
the ease of travel, the ease with which we can see
and hear news and cultural events around the world,
and, most extraordinarily, the Internet, which gives
us the ability to access the stores of knowledge and
information in virtually all the world’s computers. With
science and technology having such a profound impact
on our lives, how can we create an environment that
is conducive to the transfer of technology from the
rich countries of the world to the poorer ones? This
question has been and continues to be the subject of

intense debate at many international fora.
We in the SADC region believe very strongly that
such a conducive environment should start at school
level, because new technologies are knowledge- and
skills-intensive. We believe that it is through exposure
and access to new technologies that our youth can
unleash their potential to deal with the challenges
facing humanity today. It is for this reason that we have
decided to organize this essay and speech competition.
The gap between the countries of Africa and Japan,
in dealing with computers and new technologies, is
obvious to everyone. Nowhere in the world is science
and technology as manifest in the lives of citizens as it is
in this country. Our hope is that this competition will open
new opportunities for Africa and Japan to collaborate
in the area of education and science for development.
Thus, the theme: making science and technology a
foundation for partnership between Africa and Japan. We
are convinced that this initiative will help inspire more
African and Japanese students, in the fields of science,
research, engineering, and so forth, to build partnerships,
linkages, and networks to ease the transfer of the much-
needed technology between Africa and Japan.
Our embassies can help connect Japanese students
with the right people and organizations in our
countries. The competition is open to African and
Japanese students, at both high school and tertiary
educational institutions, who have an interest in
international relations and science and technology.
I should therefore like to take this opportunity, on
behalf of my SADC colleagues, to invite students
from Japanese high schools and tertiary institutions to
participate in this competition and submit their essays
to the Embassy of South Africa by 22 April 2006. Those
interested should contact Mr. Vuyani Lingela of the
South African Embassy for the competition guidelines.
There will be a total of nine winners, three from Japan
and six from Africa. The three Japanese winners will
each receive a fully paid eight-day travel package to
Africa. It is my sincere hope that as many students as
possible will take part in this competition and contribute
meaningful ideas for making science and technology a
foundation for partnership between Africa and Japan.

I thank you very much for your attention.

Lingela: Thank you, Ambassador for the very stimulating

words. This time I will call the General Manager for
Science Communication of the Department of Science
and Technology in South Africa. His name is Mr. Nhlanhla
Nyide. Mr. Nyide has worked in the Department of Science
and Technology supporting with communication in the
department and he is here in Japan this time also to
promote communication and science and technology.
Please ladies and gentlemen let’s welcome Mr. Nhlanhla
Nyide.



Nhlanhla Nyide: Your Excellencies, Your Ambassadors,
Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished and honourable
guests. Japan and South Africa are two countries that
experienced fresh beginnings in the 20th Century. Both
these fresh starts came as an end result of conflict,
so our two nations have much in common, not least a
common desire to avoid conflict. There is a great deal
we can teach one another, as we both strive to make
this world a better place to live in, principally through the
sensitive application of sciences and new and emerging
technologies.
Some people have difficulty in equating South Africa,
or any part of Africa for that matter, with science and
technology. The fact is that South Africa is deeply
enmeshed in the promotion of a very wide range
of scientific and technological endeavors and is an
enthusiastic promoter of scientific causes throughout the
African continent.
For those of you who are not familiar with South Africa’
s scientific progress, I will mention a few key projects. In
general terms, South Africa tries to play to its strengths.
As a custodian of over 75% of the world’s platinum
deposits, South Africa has recently decided to strongly
identify itself with hydrogen fuel cell research, in the hope
that development will lead to a real alternative to the
internal combustion engine, ending society’s dependence
on oil and halting global warming. A worldwide system
of hydrogen refueling stations and hydrogen pipelines is
envisaged. Platinum is the key catalytic material used in

hydrogen fuel cells, and although it is not the only catalyst
in use, it is the catalyst of choice for the most promising
of the emerging developments, the proton exchange
membrane fuel cell. Japan, as is often the case, is one of
the nation’s leading this research.
Again in the field of responsible energy generation, our
country is well advanced in the development of the South
African pebble bed modular reactor. This initiative has
been in progress since 1993 and aims to produce and
market small-scale, high-temperature reactors, both
locally and internationally. The demonstration plant is
scheduled to be completed by 2011. Although it is not the
only high-temperature reactor currently being developed
in the world, the South African project is internationally
regarded as the leader in the power generation field. Very
high efficiency and attractive economics are possible,
without compromising the high levels of passive safety
expected of advanced nuclear designs.
These two initiatives together will go a long way to
redeeming the pledges made in the Kyoto Protocol.
In November 2005, our state president Thabo Mbeki
opened the South African Large Telescope (SALT) at
Sutherland, a remote site in the Great Karoo in the Cape
Province. Sutherland is an ideal position from which
to conduct astronomical research and now plays host
to this remarkable new instrument, which represents a
joint venture between seven countries, 11 organizations,
and 12 universities. Both private and public funding
was pooled to create the largest diameter telescope in
the southern hemisphere. SALT is a truly multinational
endeavor and sets an early example for scientific and
educational cooperation between nations in the 21st
century. Its 11-meter mirror array is the largest effective
mirror of any telescope in the world, and it is more
efficient studying stars in the ultraviolet than any other
large telescope.
Not the least of our strengths in this area is clear skies,
unpolluted by smoke, smog, or the ambient light of cities.
We are also among the last contestants to host the
new square kilometer array (SKA) telescope. This has
involved us building a 1% SKA demonstrator called the
Karoo Array Telescope, which has enabled South African
industry and academia to participate in the technology
development process. We are optimistic that our bid
represents the most sensible proposition on the table.
Of course our country continues to lead the world in
the field of anthropology and paleoanthropology. The
work at Sterkfontein, to the east of Johannesburg,
under the leadership of the extraordinary Prof. Phillip
Tobias, continues to rivet the attention of those who
are concerned with the evolution of our South African
forefathers, who many observers now believe were
amongst the first hominids to inhabit this wonderful
planet of ours. Sterkfontein has been the site of a major
excavation since 1966, and in that 40-year period, over
600 hominid fossils have been recovered, making the
site the world’s richest single deposit for ancient hominid
remains.
In the field of medical biotechnology, a team at the
University of Pretoria’s Department of Veterinary
Tropical Diseases at Onderstepoort has sequenced
and annotated the complete genome of the bacterium
that causes the deadly Heartwater Disease, which has
destroyed cattle, sheep, and goat herds throughout sub-
Saharan Africa for centuries. We hope that within five
years, this breakthrough will result in an effective vaccine
that will bring an end to this dreadful scourge. This is the
first entire sequencing of any organism that has been
done in Africa.
These are some—though by no means all—of the
projects that are illuminating my country’s scientific
progress. Also worth mentioning is the ongoing African
Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme, in the course of
which the coelacanth—a fish that remained undetected
and unchanged for some 70 million years—was
discovered in the ocean off the coast of East London. It is
the subject of intense study.
I must not neglect to mention our promotion of indigenous
knowledge systems. We recognize that large parts of
indigenous knowledge constitute a science, one that has
always been and continues to be the primary factor in
the survival and welfare of the majority of South Africans.
Our present policy seeks to recognize this, to affirm it and
develop it, and to promote and protect the custodians and
practitioners of this knowledge.
Most important of all is that we, who are privileged to
lead this scientific fraternity of Africa, are duty-bound to
use our discoveries and our refinements for the benefit
of all those who share the vast continent of Africa with
us, and to share it through the good offices of the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). As
the most financially privileged member of the African
community, it is our solemn responsibility to shine the
bright light of hope on the often dark pathway of African
progress.
Consequently, we are impatient to increase our skills
levels and multiply the numbers of our scientists, and so
accelerate our journey. That is why we are so pleased
and delighted by the A-JESC. Africa is a continent
in search of inspiration, and there are few people as
inspiring as the people of Japan. You have had more than
your fair share of hardship and you too have experienced
helping hands extended to you from across vast oceans.
You have wonderfully and skillfully combined modernity
with tradition, and in many ways you have set the
standard for life in the present age. How wonderful then
to be involved with you in a program that will result in
some of our best young people intermingling with one
another’s culture and scientific aims. It makes me want to
be a student again. On the other hand, I have the good
fortune of being able to address you without having to
win a competition for the pleasure of doing so. We are all
hoping that this will be the beginning of something that
will flower and flourish.
Again, in this respect, I must pay homage to the efforts
put into these developments by Mr. Vuyani Lingela, who
as many of you know is the counselor for science and
technology at the South African Embassy in Japan. He

 has worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome and we are
all particularly pleased to be identified with such a noble
enterprise.

To the young people of Japan, South Africa, and Zambia,

who may be considering entering this competition, I
say: do not hesitate to do it. We need your minds, your
foresight, and your fresh thinking to be brought to bear
on each other’s scientific and technological problems. To
those who have been involved in bringing this excellent
project to fruition, I say: thank you, but do not limit your
aims to just one season of this contest. Let it continue.
Let it grow. As an old Japanese proverb has it: beginning
is easy, continuing is hard. I thank you.

Lingela: Thank you very much, Mr. Nyide.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish it to be known that we have

a special guest also from South Africa who is here with
us this evening, the minister of education in the province
of Pumalanga, His Excellency Minister Masango. Let us
welcome him also.

Now, to have an opportunity to hear from one of the

honorable members of the community of science in
Japan—I am talking about Prof. Akito Arima. Talking
about Prof. Arima, just to start with, he has numerous
awards from all over the world, including an honorary
degree from the University of Stellenbosch in South
Africa. But that is not all. Prof. Arima was the president of
this university. Prof. Arima was the minister of the Ministry
of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
(MEXT) in Japan. Prof. Arima was the minister of state
of science and technology. He is currently the chairman
of the Japan Science Foundation. We are really indeed
honored to have Prof. Arima to address us this evening.
Thank you very much, sir.

10

Akito Arima: South African Embassy Ambassador,
ladies and gentlemen, my name is Arima Akito. It is
a great honor for me to be given this opportunity to
speak in front of such a group. As introduced, this
is the university where I first learned physics as a
student and later on became assistant professor and
then professor. The building has changed. It has been
renewed. The building was terrible. There are some
remains on the other side of this building. You might
have an opportunity to look at it. It is a great honor to
see you in this hall today.
In order to establish a foundation for exchange
between Japan and Africa in the field of science and
technology, it is quite timely to plan this A-JESC. I
myself have been engaged in nuclear physics for a
long time, and researchers in South Africa excel in
the world in this particular field. Many researchers are
quite active in pursuing research in nuclear physics.
Many are publishing research papers and take an
active part in international meetings. Therefore, as I
just described, researchers from South Africa are not
only taking part in overseas meetings and research
but also are inviting overseas researchers to their
countries.
I myself have been given the honor of receiving
an honorary doctorate of science for the study of
nuclear physics from the University of Stellenbosch in
1999. This was possible because I had an excellent
friend involved in this research at the University of
Stellenbosch. In 1999, since it was immediately after
I served as the minister of MEXT in Japan, I was
unfortunately not able to participate in the ceremony.
However, I was able to take part in the graduation
ceremony in 2004, and I was given the honorary
doctorate of science. I would like to extend my
deepest thanks to South Africa.
When I visited South Africa, I was highly impressed
by the high culture, by the strong mining industry,
agriculture, and winery. I was also very impressed by
the fact that people were living quite vividly and were
full of life. It made me feel that we should proceed
with something that I had been thinking about for a
long time, and I would like to share that thought with
you today.
It is true that the distance between Africa and Japan
is very, very far. I felt that myself. However, between
researchers, there is virtually no difference in thinking.
As I said, in the field of science and technology, we
have virtually the same mindset and we are applying
it in new technologies. Japan and South Africa and
its neighboring countries should cooperate with
each other more actively in the field of science and
technology. When I was the president of University
of Tokyo, I insisted that we should invite more young
people from Africa and that more Japanese young
people should go and learn in Africa. I made some
efforts, but as Dr. Kirino mentioned, they were not
very fruitful. Still, many students from Africa came to
our university, University of Tokyo, and I felt it quite
compelling to see such students studying hard.
In recent years, global problems include dealing with
energy problems, food shortages, and, especially,
the massive exhaust of CO2 causing global warming.
This has become a serious c h a l l e n g e . A m o n g
ourselves, researchers and scientists,CO 2 exhaust
from human beings—is it really the true cause of
global warming? Some people are still quite skeptical
about it. However, the supercomputer called the Earth
Simulator does calculations and shows that CO 2　
11
 exhaust from human beings is actually the cause of
global warming.
Even if this calculation is wrong, trying to come up
with a solution when we find the true cause will be
too late. When we are facing a critical situation and
decide to stop emitting CO 2, that will be too late.
When it is still suspicious—and at least we already
have concrete proof and evidence that CO 2 is the
cause—we must make efforts to deal with this. In
order to address such issues, we cannot solve such
problems with one country alone. All countries around
the world must cooperate in order to implement
solutions.
In order to seek the sustainable development of this
Earth, I believe it is indispensable for Japan and the
African nations to cooperate. This is my belief. There
are certain aspects where Japan excels, such as in
the area of industrialization. At the same time, we
have had very sad experiences, such as the nerve
damage caused by Minamata Disease, which was
caused by mercury in industrial waste. Soil pollution,
air pollution—these are also other examples of sad
experiences of Japan, and these are things that other
countries should not experience again. This kind of
success and failure that Japan has experienced in the
course of industrialization is something that I would
like people from the African nations to understand and
learn from.
On the other hand, there are other things that the
African nations excel at. Agriculture is an example
and the way in which industrialization is pursued is
another example. I believe Japan must learn more
proactively, in that regard. By understanding science
and technology, Japan and the African nations should
be able to rely on each other, overcoming differences
in race and forgetting cultural and religious
differences. I think this is the first step in establishing
peace worldwide and I think this would definitely
contribute to establishing such a world. This is what I
have been thinking for a long time.
12
The real aspect, the truth, inside science and
technology is quite common for all human beings.
What is useful for the well-being of humans is quite
universal. Let us establish a true peace in this world
by using the advantages of science and technology.
To that end, young people are necessary; and this
A-JESC, inviting high school students as well as
college and university students, gives a wonderful
opportunity for the young generation. I would like
to raise my voice and show strong approval for this
contest. With this, I would like to close my remarks.
Thank you all very much.
Lingela: Thank you very much to Prof. Arima for the
very encouraging words.
We are again privileged to have one of the speakers
who can address us this evening. The speaker is Dr.
Kiyoshi Kurokawa. Dr. Kurokawa is the president of
the Science Council of Japan. I must confess that
when I first heard Dr. Kurokawa speak, the energy
coming from him was indeed translated to me and
many other people. I am truly convinced that you will
also feel the energy of Dr. Kurokawa. Just a brief
word: Dr. Kurokawa is a medical doctor. He practiced,
researched, and worked in the United States for
many, many years, including at the University of
California. He is currently the professor at the Institute
of Medical Sciences at Tokai University. Ladies and
gentlemen, I would like you to experience the energy
from Dr. Kurokawa. Thank you.

Kiyoshi Kurokawa: Your Excellency, distinguished
scholars, and guests, it is my privilege to be invited
here on this occasion of the announcement of the
launch of a new program, which sends a message
to the future youth between Japan and the southern
part of sub-Saharan Africa.
This hall is named after Prof. Koshiba, who was awarded
a Nobel Prize for his discovery of neutrinos. Neutrinos go
through Earth. If you see from the neutrino’s perspective,
we do not see any national borders, we do not see any
ethnic differences. And why can we not live in peace? That
would be the message.
The human race accumulated various indigenous
knowledge, transmitted their knowledge to their
neighbor and the next generation, and came a long
way to reach civilization, some few thousand years
ago. Then, many scientific discoveries were made
through the pursuit of finding the truth and principle
of nature. But in the last hundred years, we have
seen major, major change in the history of Homo
sapiens. A hundred years ago, the life expectancy
in leading countries, like the Europe and United
States and also parts of Japan, was 40 to 45. But
in the last hundred years, we gained another 40
years, which is extraordinary; but nobody could
imagine such an accomplishment. A hundred years
ago, Albert Einstein published five papers, which
changed our way of thinking of the universe and
human existence. A hundred years ago, through this
accumulation of indigenous knowledge, the human
population on Planet Earth reached 1.6 billion. A
hundred years later, the world population has now
surpassed 6 billion; and it is expected to reach 9
billion by 2050.
Is our race on Planet Earth sustainable? This is
an obvious question. We knew that through the
declaration of limits of growth in early 1970s, which
led to the UN report by Brundtland on sustainable
development Our Common Future—that was 1987.
Although we realized these issues, we could not
make any meaningful decisions globally because
that may have been the nature of the human race.
But the impact of the increasing human population,
industrialization, and the pursuit of economic
growth suddenly has its own limits. In response to
this Brundtland report, the National Academy of
Science in the United States delivered its report
with the title Our Common Journey in 1996. Then,
the Royal Society of the United Kingdom delivered a
European perspective, in response to that; and the
Science Council of Japan, representing the science
community of Japan, published the Japa n e s e
perspective. These are the views of the science
community at large. We are building a network to
create a better future. Earlier last year, we then
published another one: Japan Vision 2050.
What are the responsibilities of Japan, a s a n
e c o n o m i c a l l y a f f l u e n t c o m m u n i t y, w i t h t h e
foreseeable challenges we face? First, the
increasing human population, which requires
energy, food and water, living space, daily activity—
are we developing a sustainable society? That is
the question. Second, due to this human population,
is the environment, climate change, diminishing
biodiversity—and how are we going to live? What
is the food? Water? Energy? Third is the widening
north-south disparity. If we know that, as responsible
citizens, we have to at least think and take one
step forward. This requires political will. In fact, the
science community has been working over the last
13
 few years as the aggregate to deliver and engage
the decision-making processes, addressing global
issues.
Ten years after the first World Summit on Sustainable
Development in Rio de Janeiro, there was the
world summit in Johannesburg in 2002, and in fact
Prime Minister Koizumi pledged that the Japanese
government would commit substantial funds for
education for people in the developing world. In fact,
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) launched a Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development last year, with
a special emphasis on education for girls. The World
Trade Organization (WHO) has launched a mission
for the Social Determinants of Health, recognizing that
this is not a medical issue; this is a social issue. In fact,
consistent with the Millennium Development Goals,
led by Jeffrey Sachs, eradicating poverty, the goal
will be set at 2015. These are the concerted efforts of
responsible global citizens.
The Science Council of Japan was instrumental
to the launch of the Science Council of Asia,
which focuses on sustainable development for a
prosperous, harmonious, and greener Asia and
on delivering policy recommendations under this
theme. Also, the Science Council of Asia was one
of the signatories for the Ubuntu Declaration, during
the Johannesburg Summit, which emphasized that
we scientists are not merely scientists but also
educators. Therefore, in the UN document, there is
a major stakeholder in the scientific community and
educators. In addition, we launched a joint study
panel with the Royal Society last year, addressing
nanotechnology and its potential and potential risks,
particularly for the environment and health, and also
with the National Academy of Science in the United
States on science and technology on national
securities, and we focused on censors and censor
systems.
But I think the legacy of our generation—many of
you who lived many years in the last century and
14
who may not live that long in this new century. But
what will be our legacy, knowing what is happening
right now and what is going to happen in the coming
few decades? For example, the first patient with
AIDS was seen in 1981 in Los Angeles. I was
working in one of the UCLA hospitals, so I saw
some of the first few patients and I know that. But
also everybody knows, since this is a knowledge-
based society, that already 20 million people have
died of AIDS and now you know 40 million people
are suffering from AIDS and HIV, 70% live in sub-
Saharan Africa, and 75% of those in sub-Saharan
Africa between ages 15 and 24 who are positive for
HIV/AIDS are women. That is a tragedy. You know
that.
What would be your responsibility? To interact with
your policymakers and make something happen. If
we know the impact of climate change and African
issues, engage with policymakers and world
leaders, because this is a political decision. The
science community has a neutral position, and as an
aggregate of the science community, we sometimes
have to make political commitments. In fact,
that happened last year. Exactly a year ago, last
January, Tony Blair made a historical speech in the
Davos meeting about our generation’s legacy to the
future. What will it be? Because as Dr. Arima stated
already, we know what may be happening on climate
change and greenhouse gases. But are we going to
make something happen? Take action? Otherwise,
50 years later, our grandchildren and their children
could say that our generation knew what was going
to happen, but did not take any action. Is that how
our generation will be remembered forever? Do
you want to be representing this generation, to be
remembered as an irresponsible generation, leaving
climate change and the environment in such a
misery for the future generations? Can we do that?
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Second is also Tony Blair’s, is also Africa’s issues.
Some 50 years ago, the gross domestic product
and economic power in the Asia Pacific and Africa
were almost comparable. But 50 years later, what
is the difference? Why is it? Again, unless we take
some action now, 50 years later our generation will
be remembered as the generation leaving Africa as
it was—which is crazy. Therefore, at last year’s G8
summit in Gleneagle, Tony Blair made these two
issues—climate change and Africa—his cause.
In fact, because of this, we G8 academies worked
together and delivered a joint statement on climate
change (in your handout) and another one on
Africa. We helped develop the African Academies
Network, which has become a core signatory on
this African issue. Through this document from the
science community, the G8 political leaders worked
together and got the communiqué in early July.
Obviously climate change has a signatory of head
of also academy of Brazil and China and India,
because they are also very significant partners
for these issues. With these statements and the
G8 communiqué, now we worked through the
Millennium Development Goals at the Millennium
Summit of last September at the UN in New York
C i t y. A l s o , t h e y r e c o g n i z e d , i n t h i s d o c u m e n t
of science, technology, and innovation, the G8
academy’s leadership, which is a very important
step. Although it may look small, we are serious
about our commitment.
This year, I think it will be the first time Russia
hosts the G8 summit, so we are working with the
Russian academy on what kind of statement and
engagement we can develop in the coming few
months.
All right, so the future lies with our children and
grandchildren and their friends. Therefore, the
InterAcademy Council (IAC), which became a major
signatory of this UN document—in this small, back
page, there are two reports by the IAC. I think their
website is listed. The first paper was delivered to
Kofi Annan in New York, at the UN headquarters,
in February 2004, under the title of “Inventing a
Better Future: A Strategy for Building Worldwide
Capacities in Science and Technology.” There
are specific policy recommendations at different
levels of economic power for each country, and we
request that each leader makes certain decisions
after reading this. Also, we had four independent
workshops in different parts of Africa. The second
report from the IAC is “Realizing the Promise
and Potential of African Agriculture: Science and
Technology Strategies for Improving Agricultural
Productivity and Food Security in Africa.” This was
commissioned by Kofi Annan.
So, we have been working together, engaging and
delivering decision-makers’ policy choices, based
on the best science available at the moment. With
this background, I am particularly moved by this
initiative of the speech contest, which is another
form and framework for future generatio n s to
engage and get to know each other and exchange
some thoughts and ideas. Although it may look very
small, it is a very important step forward. Japan
has to make more commitments to our neighbors
and also many other parts of the world, because
Japan has been the number two economic power
and because we really have to invest in our future
generations. Forming partnerships, wherever they
may be, will enhance the credibility of Japan as a
nation and help Japan become a part of the helping
hands for future global citizens.
To conclude my brief presentation, this is another
welcoming science for globalization and narrowing
the north-south disparity, knowing 20% of the
world population is still living in poverty, on $1 or
less per day. I have been working with various
leaders in African countries and, in fact, under
the International Council for Science (ICSU). The
ICSU vice president is now one of my good friends,
Dr. Mokhele of the African science academy. He
is an outstanding biological scientist and we are
working with various academies and trying to build
15
 academic institutions in various parts of Africa and
Asia. In fact, the ICSU is now opening a regional
office in South Africa and an Asia-Pacific office in
Kuala Lumpur. We will try to reach out and address
the relevant issues, work together to develop the
capacity for future generations, so that our legacy
will become at least more reasonable, and take
action. When the future generation looks back 50
years from now, they will see we did something
meaningful, so they could share the resources we
have provided on this Planet Earth.
Lingela: Thank you very much, Dr. Kurokawa.
We are indeed privileged to welcome Dr. John Mugabe,
who is an advisor of science and technology to NEPAD.
Dr. Mugabe has done a lot of work in Africa and outside of
Africa on agricultural and environmental issues concerning
countries outside of Africa and within Africa. Dr. Mugabe
will introduce to us this evening and highlight: Africa’s
Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action. I
would now like to welcome Dr. Mugabe. Thank you.

More than 50 years ago, Mahatma Gandhi stated:

Earth can meet our needs but not our greed. That is
our responsibility and the message to convey to future
generations. This is one very significant yet small step
forward, to make a better world. Thank you very much.

16

John Mugabe: Thank you. Your Excellencies, ladies
and gentlemen, let me begin by thanking the Embassy
of South Africa for inviting me to this event. Let me
also thank the Embassy for giving me this privilege to
introduce Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated
Plan of Action to you. This plan is a product of a process
that has taken African countries at least two years.
That particular process was initiated by His Excellency
Dr. Ben Ngubane, who was South Africa’s minister for
science and technology. It is the first time that Africa,
as a continent, has designed and in fact moved into
implementing its own science and technology strategy
and science and technology plan. In the past, Africa
often relied on plans designed by other regions, by
donors. Many of those plans have not enlarged Africa’s
scientific and technological base.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
I am not going to go into the details of this plan. The
document is at least 50 pages and is available for those
who want to look at it. But I just want to emphasize the
process that Africa used to generate the plan and some
of the objectives for the plan, and then end by giving
you a sense of how Africa is starting to implement this
particular plan.
In terms of background, we all know that Africa’s
economic change and transformation are not going to
be achieved if Africa has no science and technology.
African leaders and African societies are increasingly
recognizing that without science and technology, they
are not going to see economic change and economies
are not going to grow. This recognition is not just at the
political level but at lower levels of governance as well.
We are in fact seeing communities start to emphasize
the role that science and technology play in economic
development.
Africa is actively engaged in inciting its renewal, and this
process, at the political level, is through the African Union
(AU) and NEPAD. It is also important to emphasize that
Africa is searching for its economic renewal, at a time
when there are new technological opportunities, and
that Africa today has new opportunities compared to 40
years ago. Today, there are a range of new technologies
that Africa can easily access and use—information and
communication technologies, biotechnology, indigenous
17
 knowledge and related technologies—so there are in
fact technological opportunities for Africa to use to solve
Africa’s problems.
But there are also still barriers. Africa still has barriers
to scientific and technological development. If Africa
does not remove those barriers, it is not going to tie up
the new opportunities, both technological and political.
Those barriers include the absence of specific science,
technology, and innovation policies. In many countries,
again, there is a lack of demonstrative commitment to
investing in science and technology. Many countries
at the national level have not set specific science and
technology priorities. The plan that I will be introducing to
you aims, to a large extent, at addressing some of these
barriers.
African leaders have written in the NEPAD framework
two specific science and technology goals, and those
are that Africa must be a continent that harnesses and
applies science and technology for its development.
Africa cannot rely on the rest of the world to mobilize
science and to apply that science to solving Africa’
s problem. Africa must take the initiative. Africa must
go out and acquire science and related innovations.
The second goal within the NEPAD framework is that
Africa must also be a continent that contributes to global
science and innovations. Africa cannot be politically
assertive and Africa cannot integrate itself in the global
18
knowledge economy if Africa is only a consumer of
science and innovations from other parts of the world.
To achieve these two goals, in February 2003 in
Johannesburg, under the leadership of His Excellency
Dr. Ngubane, a process was initiated. Let me just give
you a sense of the nature of this process. It was agreed
upon that this process must be participatory and bottom-
up and that for Africa’s science and technology plan of
action to make a difference, it must be a plan made not
just by a few scientists but by consultants, by donors—
it must be one that is designed by as many Africans as
possible, mobilizing the diversity of Africa. Thus, the
process was put in place. It has been a participatory
process, bottom-up, involving consultations at national
levels, regional workshops, and continental conferences.
This process has also been knowledge-based. In the
past, attempts at developing science and technology
plans were ad hoc and relied on consultants; there were
no efforts made to understand Africa’s capacities, Africa’
s own opportunities.
The process that we have been involved in has
been knowledge based. We sent out questionnaires
to all African countries and many institutions. We
commissioned at least 50 background studies on a
range of issues—indigenous knowledge, intellectual
protection, biodiversity needs, conservation needs. We
had national submissions. The process has had and
continues to have a high level of political engagement.
In November 2003, the African Ministerial Council on
Science and Technology (AMCOST) was established,
bringing together African ministers responsible for
science and technology. This higher-level group has in
fact overseen the development of the plan. There is a
steering committee of permanent secretaries or director
generals, who frequently now look at the implementation
of the plan of action.
The process has not been a closed process. It has been
an open process, drawing on international partners.
For example, in January 2005 we had the UK-Canada-
Africa partnership workshop, essentially to draw on the
international community in preparing the plan of action.
This process has also created new partnerships, like the
France-NEPAD partnership on water sciences. It has
been a learning process. What the leaders agreed was
that they do not want just to set priorities that are custom
installed. It has been a learning process. Priorities have
been adjusted.
The process has been guided by a number of principles.
I just want to outline five of them. One important principle
is African ownership. As I stated before, in the past the
agenda has not been set by Africa; the plans have not
been signed by Africa. This time around, the leaders
stressed that this must be an African-owned process.
It is a process that has been guided by the principle of
collective action, focusing on common challenges. This
is not going to work if just a few African countries get
involved for their own individual, national benefits; Africa
must come together with a collective focus on shared
challenges. Thus, it has been one that is owned, the
process and the products.
Another important principle is adding value to existing
initiatives and efforts. It was clear from the beginning that
this should not just be, again, another African initiative
that is going to duplicate what has been done by original
and continental institutions. Emphasis has been on the
process and a plan that adds new value to what Africa
has already been building, and on prior progress, to
ensure that there is maximum learning, that we do not
start from scratch. Africa has foundations for scientific
and technological developments, so the emphasis has
been on building on those foundations. There are a
number of other principles that have guided the process.
Let me quickly introduce to you what I would consider
the pillars of the plan of action. The first is knowledge
production and use. It is very clear that if Africa does not
invest in the production of scientific knowledge, Africa
is not going to be able to address its problems. Some
of the problems are very peculiar to Africa and Africa in
fact requires new knowledge to address those problems.
A second pillar is skills. For Africa to see advances
in scientific and technological areas, Africa needs to
19
 create skills in a range of areas. Africa also needs to
mobilize its past skills. Africa needs to efficiently use its
skills; so, again, emphasis on skills as a pillar. The third
pillar is policy conditions. From the beginning, African
countries recognized that if they do not improve various
science, technology, and innovation policies, they are
not going to see differences, in terms of scientific and
technological development. Many African countries lack
science and technology policies. Of the few countries
that have science and technology policies, most of
those policies are outdated; so, emphasis on improving
policy conditions. The fourth pillar is strong institutions.
Without strong science institutions, Africa is not going to
see any scientific and technological development; Africa
is not going to be able to use emerging technological
opportunities to solve its problems. The emphasis is on
improving institutions. The fifth pillar is regional diversity.
Africa has diversity of different kinds and Africa needs
to use that diversity to harness and apply science and
technology.
The objectives of the plan that African countries have
collectively designed are out there. The first and
probably the most important is infrastructure for research
and development. When designing the consultative plan,
we found out that many of our countries had actually
ignored the infrastructure for science and technology. If
you go to universities, the laboratories are in a very bad
state. You go to science councils and the equipment is
20
outdated. Through this plan of action, African countries
want to focus on improving infrastructure for research
and development.
I have referred to skills creation. The other objective
in the plan of action is that Africa this time must turn
knowledge into products. Research has been conducted
in African institutions by African scientists, but that
research stays on the shelf in the form of publications.
In this plan, African countries are putting emphasis on
innovation, so innovation is one of the core objectives of
the consolidated plan. I referred to improving policies—
science, technology, and innovation policies. Another key
objective is creating demand for science and technology.
To a large extent, African institutions have been
engaged in what one would call a science push, trying
to essentially get science out there without pronounced
demand. The emphasis this time is to ensure this
pronounced demand for science and technology.
In the plan, there are five clusters for flagship
programs. These programs were adopted by ministers
responsible for science and technology at their first
meeting. I am not going to go into the details. Each
cluster has very specific projects. Just to give you a
sense, the first cluster—biodiversity, biotechnology,
and indigenous knowledge—has two ongoing projects
being implemented by African countries collectively.
The first project is called Biosciences Initiative, which
is networking life science laboratories on the continent.
There are four hubs that have been identified on the
continent. Scientists are working in those hubs in the
laboratories, addressing very specific African problems.
For example, the southern African hub is focusing on use
of indigenous knowledge to address HIV/AIDS—they are
what are called opportunistic infections, which can easily
be addressed using existing knowledge. In East and
Central Africa there is work going on on bioinformatics;
without a knowledge base on bioinformatics, Africa is not
going to be able to use its biological resources.
Under the biodiversity program, there is an initiative to
generate taxonomists. We found out, during the process,
that Africa has less than 100 active taxonomists. Without
taxonomists, you will not be able to know which plant
species you have, the uses of those species, which
ecologists… The aim that African countries have set is to
have in the next five years at least 100 more taxonomists
at the PhD level. Those taxonomists will be given money
to engage in taxonomy work. There are a number of
other programs, but I am not going to go into the project
details today.
In addition to the flagship programs, the ministers also
agreed on six policy-related programs. Those are now
planned out there. Let me just make some statements
on the first, which is the Africa Science, Technology, and
Innovation Indicators Initiative. This is an initiative that is
going to enable African countries to map out science and
innovation activities in Africa. Very few African countries
actually know what science is being conducted by their
own institutions, what innovations are being generated
either by their public institutions or private companies.
African countries do not know each other in terms of
science and technology, and these initiatives are aimed
at coming up with what we are calling African Innovation
Outlook. There is a group that is already working on
the indicators. They have had several meetings. These
initiatives are in partnership with a number of other
countries, particularly Canada.
There are other activities related to policy. For example,
the biodiversity strategy. African heads of state and
government, African presidents, asked NEPAD and the
AU commission to create a higher level of funding of
biotechnology. There is a panel that is already advising
countries on how to handle issues associated with
genetic modification and genetically modified products.
That panel is engaged at a very high level, at the
ministerial and presidential level, addressing some of the
controversial issues associated with trade in genetically
modified crops or food generally.
Technology parks—as I stated from the beginning, this
time, Africa should not just produce science; it must turn
that science into products. We are starting a process for
establishing technology parks. Last week, we finalized
21
 an agreement with the Government of Finland to assist
Africa to have at least five technology parks in each of
the regions of Africa, where African scientists are going
to start turning science into specific products. There
is a high-level mechanism to ensure the goals are
realized and the programs are efficiently and effectively
implemented.
I referred to AMCOST before. This is the first time that
African countries have had such a body focusing on
science and technology. The first two years of this body’
s existence, South Africa was the chair. Senegal has
been chairing since September of last year. AMCOST
interacts directly with the heads of state and government.
The next AU Summit in January 2007 is going to be
dedicated to science and technology. We are told that
this is probably the first time that, at the AU level, heads
of state and government are going to be addressing the
issues of science and technology. There are a number of
other bodies responsible for implementation. In the plan
of action, the responsibilities of each are spelled out.
We rely on existing institutions. For each of the program
areas, we have what we are calling hubs and nodes—
these are networks of institutions that have been carefully
identified to focus on implementing specific projects.
We ensure that each network has at least universities
and industries involved. Without universities, capacity
building is not going to take place. Without industries, it
22
will be very difficult to turn science into products. There
is also emphasis on existing centers. This time, Africa is
discouraging the international community from investing
in brick-and-mortars. In the past, a lot of emphasis went
into structures, but there were no concrete outputs
from these structures. The emphasis this time is to use
existing institutions and to strengthen those institutions.
The plan has a very specific budget set and agreed
upon. Over the next five years, Africa countries will
take a modest budget, one that without international
contributions, African countries can contribute to and
cover: a maximum of US$200 million over the next five
years to implement the projects that are in the plan of
action. The sources are determined. First of all, African
countries will put in their own resources—and there is a
process to mobilize Africa’s own resources to implement
the plan. In the long term, beyond 2010, the aim is to
have an endowment of at least US$10 billion. To sustain
the momentum, to continue to improve infrastructure,
to generate innovations, Africa will need to build an
endowment of at least US$10 billion. African countries
have agreed on a mechanism for mobilizing and
developing that US$10 billion.
This is around what is being called the African
Science and Innovation Facility, which is going to be
an institutional mechanism for mobilizing financial
resources; ensuring that the resources are efficiently
utilized and also mobilizing technical resources, directing
those to the networks of centers of excellence; and
monitoring the implementation of the plan of action.
In short, there is a plan that African countries have
collectively designed. They are involved now in the
implementation. They are mobilizing their own domestic
resources and starting to work with international
partners. Toward the end of this year, they are going to
be launching Africa’s Science and Innovation Facility,
which is going to be an institutional mechanism for
implementation of the plan of action. Thank you.

Lingela: Thank you very much, Dr. Mugabe.

We have another distinguished speaker this evening,
Dr. Hiroyuki Abe. Dr. Abe is a member of the Council for
Science and Technology Policy (CSTP) in the Cabinet
Office of Japan. About Dr. Abe, just something very
unique: he has a very strong academic background.
This includes his role as the president of the Tohoku
University here in Japan. Dr. Abe is instrumental in
many activities that concern science and technology in
Japan. I will now ask Dr. Abe to address us. Thank you
very much.

23

Hiroyuki Abe: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you very much for inviting me here today, to the
opening ceremony for the A-JESC.
In recent years, there has been vigorous debate in G8
summits and various other forums over international
cooperation ac tivities aimed at promoting development
in the African region. In my capacity as a science
and technology advisor to our government, I attend
Carnegie Group meetings with science and technology
advisors to other G8 and European Union governments.
At these meetings too, the issue of science and
technology cooperation with Africa is debated, as
all member countries have a keen interest in the
African region. Japan has also provided cooperation
through the Tokyo International Conference on African
Development (TICAD). In the midst of this background,
therefore, the concept of the A-JESC is highly well
timed. It is my hope that it will serve as a catalyst for
further deepening science and technology exchange
between African countries and Japan.
I will talk about the expectations for the contest.
The progress of science and technology forms the
foundation for not only the development of industry
but also for the creation of a prosperous society. Many
countries are therefore pouring their energies into
the promotion of science and technology, and Japan
is no exception. Although the understanding and the
support of citizens are vital for science and technology
policies to be implemented effectively, there has been
24
a remarkable move away from science among people,
particularly among the young. Thus, there is now
much debate on how best to raise the understanding
and interest of the public, so as to involve them in the
implementation of science and technology policies.
From this perspective, I believe it is highly significant
that one of the stated objectives of the contest is
“to promote public understanding of science and
technology for sustainable development.”
Among scientists, there are some who conduct research
purely to satisfy their own private concerns or interests.
Now and in the future, however, I believe there will be
an increasing demand for scientists to return the fruits
of their work to the general public and society. Another
of the stated objectives of this contest is “to promote
science and technology cooperation between Africa
and Japan, to improve the quality of life for all.” This is
also a significant point from the perspective of returning
the fruits of science and technology research to society.
In considering cooperation between Japan and Africa
in the future, exchange between young people, the
leaders of the next generation, is imperative. Mutual
exchange leads to mutual trust, and this bears fruit in
the form of interest cooperation. From this perspective,
another of this contest’s objectives is “to inspire a
new generation of African and Japanese students
to contribute in promoting partnership between
Africa and Japan for mutual benefit,” which shows
tremendous foresight. International cooperation
in the field of science and technology is growing
increasingly important for resolving global issues, such
as population, environmental, food supply, and energy
problems. In addition to implementing policy dialogue
with other countries at the governmental level, our
country proactively promotes cross-border exchange
between scientists and joint research and development.
To ensure cooperation in the resolution of problems
that are not only shared by Japan and Africa but are
common to all humankind, it is vitally important that the
young people be encouraged to pursue international
exchange from an early age. From this perspective
also, the A-JESC is highly significant. Participation in
the project is expected to raise the interest in science
and technology of young people in African countries
and Japan and lend support to the promotion of Africa-
Japan cooperation.
Next, I will talk about the Third Science and Technology
Basic Plan in Japan. In our country, science and
technology policies are formulated based on the
science and technology basic plan for five years. The
groundwork is currently being laid for the Third Science
and Technology Basic Plan, which will begin from the
next fiscal year, from this April. Under the First and
Second Science and Technology Basic Plans, Japan’
s standing in terms of both quality and quantity of
research papers, for example, has risen, thanks to
cumulative investment up until now. Consequently,
Japan has had a large number of research
achievements that lead the world in their respective
fields.
As a result of this progress, Japan has increased
investment in government research and development,
compared with other policy budgets, over these past
10 years, despite prolonged economic stagnation—
a move for which I believe our government deserves
to be commended. There are now a growing number
of examples of the fruits of this investment being
industrialized. Despite this, however, there are those
who say that in general, it is difficult to see how the
fruits of this investment in science and technology
are being returned to the general public and society.
Moreover, we cannot overlook the fact that international
competition in science and technology has being
growing more intense than anticipated during the
Second Science and Technology Basic Plan. We have
entered the age of the worldwide mega-competition for
knowledge. Here, what we must consider is sustainable
development and harmonized development on a global
level.
Amidst all this, the question of how to create knowledge
holds the key to our society and humankind, as a
whole, opening the way to the future. I believe it is
science and technology no less that is the bedrock for
such knowledge.
Based on the thinking I have just outlined, a proposal
for the Third Science and Technology Basic Plan
was presented to the government by the CSTP on
27 December of last year. I would now like to briefly
introduce the content of this proposal.
First, I would like to explain the fundamental concept of
the basic policies. The basic stances are to “promote
science and technology to be supported by the public
and to benefit society” and “emphasize the fostering
of human resources and the competitive research
environment.” The keywords of the second basic
stance are “shift of emphasis from ‘hard’ to ‘soft,’ such
as human resources” and “greater significance of
individuals at institutions.”
The third basic plan sets more concrete and easily
understood policy objectives that clearly outline the
aims of science and technology. This is so as to enable
the realization of three principles—creating human
wisdom, maximizing human potential, and protecting
the nation’s health and security—based on such factors
as future outlooks, and internal and external exchanges
regarding science and technology, the economy, and
society. Under concrete goals such as these policy
objectives, consideration is also being given to the
enhancement of public understanding of science and
technology as well as the promotion of international
activities.
Next I will talk about the enhancement of public
understanding of science and technology. It is no
exaggeration to say that science and technology
activities and systems are not independent from society
or the general public but can only be developed with the
widespread support of society and the general public.
Promotion of science and technology to be supported
by the public and to benefit society is a stance that
upholds the Third Science and Technology Basic Plan.
25
 It is important that various agents, including the CSTP,
related government ministries, local public authorities,
research institutions, and individual researchers, work
on various levels to gain the understanding of the
general public regarding the promotion of science and
technology.
Next is the strategic promotion of international activities.
The third basic plan emphasizes strategic international
measures to resolve internationally common problems
and respond to the expectations of other countries.
Such measures include the systematic implementation
of international efforts. In concrete terms, this means
aiming for three things:
the promotion of science and technology—in particular,
science and technology—and therefore our future
depends largely on the leaders of the next generation.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Lingela: Thank you very much to Prof. Abe for a very
uplifting presentation. We have few minutes available
to us, before we can ask His Excellency to close the
occasion. But in the meantime, I would like any question
that might relate to this occasion. Our honorable
Ambassador, Dr. Nugabe, is available to respond to any
question. If there is any question, the Ambassador is
available.

・ Utilizing Japan’s science and technology strengths We would like to ask the Honorable Ambassador Godfrey
to resolve internationally common problems and Simasiku, who is a very active member of this A-JESC.
respond to international requests and expectations, Because of the Ambassador, Zambia is a key partner
thus further raising Japan’s credibility. also participating in this speech competition. On that note,
・ Contr ibuting to the for mation of international I would like to ask the Ambassador to say a few words,
standards and r ules regarding scienc e and Thank you, Ambassador.
technology through our initiatives.
・ Both training Japanese researchers to a world- class
level and accepting top-class researchers from
overseas to increase research diversity and raise
research levels, thus strengthening Japan’s science
and technology capacity for the future of Japan and
humankind.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Conclusion: In this way, Japan’s science and technology
policies in the future will focus on such issues as
increasing the understanding of the general public,
returning the fruits of research to society, and promoting
international activities. From this perspective also, the
A-JESC is expected to bear an abundance of fruit.

Finally I would like to make an additional remark. For

the future of humankind and the Earth, it should be
noted on science and technology that decision-making
by leaders, including intellectuals, is getting much
more important. By taking into account the present and
progress of science and technology, decision-making in
the direction of science and technology, and policies for

26
27

Godfrey Simasiku: Excellencies, distinguished ladies
and gentlemen, my address actually would have been
off the cuff, delivered without reading anything. But
then, I ran into trouble with the translators, who said, “It
is traditional, Ambassador. We need something written,
for us to follow what you have to say.” But I do not want
to spoil the party.
We have listened to very distinguished, eminent,
practical scholars. I want to mention that I will
not do justice to skip their contribution in my
prepared text. I am also remembering how during
one closing ceremony, we had a big conference
in Namibia, in Windhoek, for ministers of finance
and health and local government and housing.
The prime minister then—Geingob—of Namibia
opened the conference and he told his president,
who actually opened the conference. Then he was
asked to address the conference. Later on in the
program, he was asked to close the conference.
Everybody was waiting; they sat there. He took the
podium, and he said, “There is a time to make a
speech and there is a time to close, and I therefore
close this conference”—and that is what happened,
in one minute.
I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of my
colleagues, to pay special tribute to the speakers
that have been here, with very, very glowing tribute
indeed in their professions, very knowledgeable
people, deep knowledge, a lot of experience. Also,
28
we have heard Africa speak this evening. You have
heard from SADC. Those voices represent Africa,
finally.
Now, I would like to just take a quick look on
some very important points that have been raised
this evening. We have heard from Prof. Kirino—
very, very distinguished, indeed, in his career.
As he spoke, I could not help but remember his
contemporaries, like Dr. Sakaro. A number of points
that came from your address, including also for Dr.
Kurokawa and also finally from Dr. Abe. We have
basic problems in Africa. These problems can only
be solved by appropriate science and technology.
For example, yesterday, we attended at the Japan
External Trade Organization (JETRO) science
and technology application, if you may wish. The
Japanese government is facilitating some problems
for least developed countries. I saw something
there that is, in my country, a very big problem: the
water hyacinth, the Kariba weed, which is choking
our rivers and threatening our power generation.
But there they were using that same material to
produce beautiful handcrafts—basketry, of sorts—
which all you need is cheap technology to harvest
that notorious weed, to turn it into something useful
in society.
In our countries, there has been talk of illicit
brews, for many, many years. These brews, they
are not different from the gin that people drink
around the world or, indeed, some of the drinks
that we do experience here and there. Except,
they have not been taken through properly
constituted laboratories. With appropriate science
and technology, these particular items can be
contributing to our economies.
I do remember a conference in Senegal. The theme
was the competitiveness of African economies.
Ministers of finance met at that conference. What
is there that is a setback, a major constraint, today
is the lack of science and technology. I think this
is an important point that we have reached today.
Dr. Kurokawa was saying, it may look small but—
I want to the words of Neil Armstrong, more than
40 decades ago. When he, as the first man to step
on the moon, was coming out of his capsule, we
did not know whether the moon would support his
weight. But he had that task. As his boot touched
the moon’s earth, he said, it is a small step by
man, but a giant step for mankind. Indeed this can
be a very small step, but we think this is the big
step that will help to redeem our countries, our
regions, our continent.
I want to mention what you also did mention here,
Dr. Kurokawa. In the next 50 years, what will our
children and our grandchildren say about this
generation, about us? Martin Luther King said, I do
not know what the future holds, but I do know who
holds the future. Really, we are intrinsically caught
in this. We have to act; and I think this is the first
step that we are taking.
I also want to mention the very journey that we
are starting on here today. I want to pay special
tribute to the South African government, through
His Excellency Ambassador Mugabe, whom we
have been told really is the architect, when he
was minister of science and technology. Maybe
we could also request, through our AU structure.
I do not know, in those structures, how much
science and technology is featuring now. But from
experience, I think it is important, if we have to
meet all that has been put here for the ministries of
science and technology, their hierarchy in cabinet,
their budgetary allocations, to be raised as much
and as far as possible. Short of that, in 10 years’
time, when we take stock, there will not be much
that would have been made. For the young people
who are going to respond to these competitions,
who have ideas they want to express, without
budgetary support in our countries, theirs will only
remain mere pipe dreams.
Honorable colleagues, Your Excellencies, I want
to say once more, as we go home tonight, let
us remember to bring along those who have not
been privileged to be with us here. What we were
listening to tonight could have filled one of those
audiences, one of those lecture theatres holding
2,000 people, 3,000 people. But I think it is not the
numbers; it is the spirit. I am sure we will pick up
from what you have given us tonight. The challenge
is so great, so intense, the colleagues in SADC,
who are in the SADC Committee, will do everything
possible to ensure that our governments also do
play a role for the subsequent competitions that will
be there, so that the numbers can also increase.
You have given us a big challenge, Honorable
Mugabe, and we will rise up to this occasion.
For next year’s national budget, we are going to
push and knock, because it is not for us that we
are going to do this; it is for our people. We have
heard when Dr. Mugabe was speaking… We have
seen loss of produce in our countries, agricultural
produce. People work so hard, they do not use
technology; they use their hands to produce the
food. At the end of the day, 20% of it is lost to
pests, etc. Cheap technology can change their
living standards, can change their style. Through
technology, we can improve on our production of
goods, make our goods competitive, increase the
volumes, and be meaningful in trade.
That brings us to Japan, promoting today one
village, one product. Dr. Mugabe, you did mention
d i v e r s i t y. I w o u l d l i k e a l s o t o a d d a v e r y b i g
contribution that Mr. Nyide has put toward policy
direction. You have done your part. Now, one
village, one product. It will not have to be the best
of all. We have a small economy. We do not have
many resources. But I think the whole concept is
to help what you have, do it well, efficiently, send
it out; then we will be contributing toward solving
poverty levels of Africa by 50% by the year 2015,
by reducing poverty levels, through what our
people can produce; and science and technology
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 really is an answer to all this that we think can help Lingela: The Ambassador said it all. I cannot say
us. more, only that this is the closing. Thank you very
much for your attendance.
In concluding my remarks, I must mention that I
would have read a speech, but I find that would
be justice to us all. I think we want to rise to the
occasion, as we heard it, as we saw it happen.
What should we do? Otherwise, we will drain
ourselves and then time waits for no one. I want
to thank University of Tokyo once more for all that
they have done, in giving us this venue and making
the arrangements that have made it possible for us
to be here tonight.

I also want to thank, on behalf of my SADC

colleagues, the South African Embassy—the staff
has been just wonderful. Mr. Lingela has worked
to open our minds. When we are meeting with the
Ambassador, he knows it all. He has done it. So,
when we came up, you did guide us, and we are
grateful to the Embassy for this support that you
have given us. We will definitely play our part, like
I just said. We want to thank all those that have
been involved, in one way or another, in making
it really possible for us to launch ourselves here
tonight. Those who have traveled all the way,
you can see the seriousness that SADC does
really attach to this, to have heard our colleagues
here—Mr. Nyide and Dr. Mugabe coming to join
us. Even if they are here for 24 hours, 48 hours,
it does inspire us. I want to say, on behalf of my
colleagues, we thank you so much.

We are really also grateful that the honorable

minister of education from Pumalanga has been
able to join us. We are really grateful, Honorable
Minister, for your presence here tonight. I am
sure, as you plan for your nation in that sector
of education, especially science and technology,
I think you will be able to inspire them from also
what you are feeling here. This fits very well,
to summarize it all, in what President Mbeki
mentioned, when he talked about a renaissance.

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