TRIBUTE TO O M DLAMINI FROM ATPS NETWORK

Sir,

On behalf of the Board, executive director, National Chapters, partners and friends of ATPS Network and African Scientists in Diaspora and on my own behalf, I would like to extend our sympathy to his family the Government of Swaziland and the entire Swazi nation on the demise of Mr O M Dlamini, former Prime Minister of Swaziland. We as a Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Network received the news of the passing on of this great man with shock.

The ATPS Network cannot find appropriate words to express our shock. In our first meeting with him in Mombasa, Kenya, he was asked to make remarks based on his political experience regarding the state of Science and Research in Africa. He wanted to decline claiming that he was not a ‘Scientist’ or ‘Researcher’ but a politician.

To our surprise, when he took the stage to make his remarks about status of Science and Research linking them to STI in Africa, there was a loud applaud from the floor. One of his memorable statements in his remarks, was; “How can Africa harness Science and Research so that we can innovate (add value to products and services)? How much money is set aside to enable researchers to conduct responsive national priority needs?

Every delegate was left stunned by Dlamini’s remarks. His remarks were flavoured with practical jokes. Some African countries are far from providing satisfactory responses to just these two questions. His last question was: “Who sets the Research Agenda for the Researchers in African Countries, Academic Institutions or Industr?

Finally, Mlangeni you left too soon to witness some of your seeds in many of us including me. You guided me in many instances on STI and even challenged me as a National and Regional Coordinator of STI. Your fatherly wishes were that we should all become Professors in Academia while you become a Professor of Indigenous Knowledge (IK).

Some of the team members who went to Mombasa with you Mlangeni, have indeed achieved your dream. Some will become professors. Your other challenge is still not fulfilled, that is, setting national research agenda and conducting responsive research. I humbly leave Emalangeni with this citation from Ecclesiastes 3: verses 1-4.

“1. To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven; 2. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up and 4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance  !
May your soul rest in peace Mlangeni!

Professor M A Dube UNISWA (L)

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: