Thursday, March 28, 2024

Over Dependance On Externally Developed Technologies Worries Government

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Dr JOHN PHIRI
Dr JOHN PHIRI

Government says it is concerned with country’s dependence on externally developed technologies and importation of finished goods and services.

Education Minister Dr John Phiri said the continued importation of goods and service as well as over dependance on externally developed technologies is worrying and that it is undermining governments efforts of creating employment for the locals which is highly dependent the growth of local industries and home grown technologies.

Dr Phiri observed that the continued exporting of the country’s raw materials with little or no value addition is also hurting the much needed local industrial growth.

“Zambia has continued to export raw materials with little or no value addition and this has been to the detriment of growth of our local industries. This situation undermines government’s efforts of creating employment,” Dr Phiri said.

And Dr Phiri said government recognizes the importance of Science, Technology and Innovation in the development of the country.

“Science, Technology and Innovation is vital in any economic growth process and leads to greater economic competitiveness, industrial growth and improved standards of living hence the reason government’s focus on there promotion as a major contributor to value addition, industrial and economic growth as well as overall improvement in the quality of life for the citizens of Zambia,” he noted.

Dr Phiri said this in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy Patrick Ngoma when he officiated at the Science, Technology and Innovation symposium in Lusaka today.

Meanwhile Dr Phiri bemoaned the low usage of Science, Technology and Innovation in trying to improve the lives of people in the country.

He observed that by using science, technology and innovation communities can benefit in a number of ways including food security, human health, livestock production and competitiveness of local industries among other benefits.

The symposium will try to find ways of strengthening the country’s Science, Technology and Innovation human resource; improving funding for Science, Technology and Innovation programs, improving investment in research and development programs; as well as commercializing research and development products.

28 COMMENTS

    • Boy, you have a bad attitude. Did you eat luch today? I can bet by the end of today you will accumulate -30 votes. There is always a first time in life. If their generation failed , let this generation give it a shot and if we fail let the next one do it. It is by trying that we succeed. Failure is not final, but steady progress towards success.

    • You have to import technology. Why trying to invent something which is already there. Look at china they import and sometimes steal tech from the west. Unless you want the Katele tech then yes you can invent that one

    • Mr. Education Minister, Dr John Phiri, can you please invent a wheel for us? Zambia REALLY needs a WHEEL. We do not want to import technology.

      Invent us a wheel PLEEEEEZE!

  1. A CHINGOLA police officer has been arrested for allegedly raping a suspect in his custody.
    The named sergeant of Nchanga Police Camp, allegedly raped a 20-year-old suspect that was taken to the police station by the Kapisha crime prevention unit.
    Copperbelt Police commissioner Joyce Kasosa, who confirmed the incident, said a docket into the matter has since been opened.
    Around 21:00 hours, the officer allegedly took the suspect behind the Nchanga Police cell near a football pitch where he ordered her to undress, but she refused.
    Sources said this prompted the officer to start slapping the suspect.
    According to sources, out of fear, the suspect undressed and the officer allegedly raped her.
    In the process, the suspect told the sergeant that she wanted to urinate.
    After being…

  2. Yes, we are all worried, and I am glad this concern is being raised for the ‘n’th time. But what practical solutions are you providing as a government? Improving science and technology is one thing and applying the knowledge gained is another. Let’s encourage and attract manufacturing and if possible offer tax relief to firms that wish to establish manufacturing companies in the country for the first one or two years. The practical knowledge that will be gained and theoretical knowledge from learning institutions will put the future generation in good standing.

    • Not a bad idea. I think for years we have given tax incentives to commodity producers and see how many we have in our country. Maybe lets try giving tax incentives to manufacturers of finished products.

    • @ MMD Chief Bootlicker, I concur with your reasoning. And added benefit this will have is knowledge spillover.

  3. I like these thoughts it is when you start thinking about these issues that other people also start getting interested ,this now will attract attention from great thinkers time has come for zambians to stand and be counted

  4. You ka phiri, ”government recognizes the importance of Science, Technology and Innovation in the development of the country…fyonyoo…fyonyoo….fyonyoo”

    Whats is GRZ doing about it ???

  5. Ba Dr. Nothing will make you smart as long as we call it external trade. Look at the beauty shopping mores in all towns, which one will you boast off that we have erected as Zambians. All what is clattering in Zambia is foreign. Yours are chisokone market, Soweto market and many potholes in Chingola-Solwezi Road. Solwezi town is the dirtiest provincial capital where Copper, Gold and Uranium is coming from. Even when you say North-westerners are sleepy, those who are dying everyday on the road are from other provinces. The big bridge in Solwezi called Kyfubwa has big cracks and no one bothers to say anything just waiting for JCB or other big copper truck to drown them something will be done.

    • Any one that says North-Westerners are sleepy is either an ignorant bigot or at worst the very worst of Zambia as in value. Look at it this way, the tribes that are known to be hardworking, reserved, respectful, non-thieving and with solid culture values will never call North-Westerners as sleepy. In Zambia, being decent, honest hardworking and respectful is being sleepy, God… what a country???? Yes the vocal *****s have their field days….will it last…. no. It only took one sleepy North-Westner in Mushala to cause Kaunda huge problems, can you imagine if it was a lot of them. No body desires that, wanting peace and unity is not being sleepy. History shows you can only push a people so far. In the end we all are Zambians, the sooner we realise politicians can abuse us, the better.

  6. Ba Dr. Nothing will make you smart as long as we call it external trade. Look at the beauty shopping mores in all towns, which one will you boast off that we have erected as Zambians. All what is clattering in Zambia is foreign. Yours are chisokone market, Soweto market and many potholes in Chingola-Solwezi Road. Solwezi town is the dirtiest provincial capital where Copper, Gold and Uranium is coming from. Even when you say North-westerners are sleepy, those who are dying everyday on the road are from other provinces. The big bridge in Solwezi called Kyfubwa has big cracks and no one bothers to say anything just waiting for JCB or other big copper truck to drown then shall we see foolish responses of shame coming up by cheating people as working government. “Make hay while the sun…

  7. Its good to be hearing this kind of talk from Ministers. It means that people have realised what a mess we are in. I have one suggestion of how the government can force our dormant Engineering minds into action. They should propose to any interested Engineers/companies whatever they want to be designed and give a time frame for prototypes. After successful testing, they should give a contract for full scale production to the successful Engineers/companies. That’s how the US comes up with stealth jet fighters and all that. Apart from that, they should give contracts to Zambian companies for straight forward things like road and buildings construction. I am sure others have even better and workable ideas. Remember not to give contracts to cadres who abandon works and run away with cash.

    • Fortunately, our Engineers don’t even need to invent anything at the moment because all we want is basic infrastructure. They just need to go to work with the available technology!

  8. What are the incentives for researchers? What money is being spent on people going into industry leading countries to study? What incentives are given to Zambians abroad and within to bring their expertise to manufacturing? Let alone…. how easy is it for a non-connected Zambian to get contracts? Even the dual citizenship issue…….. what confidence is there if people are not able to work, invest in their countries of birth and bring their skills… if they are perceived to be a threat. History and world over, India, Ghana, Nigeria, have people getting back and investing in their countries due to dual nationality, an easy way of skills transfer. In Zambia, we are happy with other foreigners and not our own people. Our selfishness is destructive and a serious mental issue.

  9. If we compare our political history to a developing country such as Malaysia you will see some similarity as both countries received independence few years apart from each other from British rule. Even in the 1960’s Zambia was ahead of Malaysia economically wise and had vast more natural resources. If we compare both countries as of today, Malaysia has been able to pull ahead in terms of development and using technology from abroad.
    Malaysia-Unemployment: 3.0%
    Zambia- Unemployment 47%-50 %
    The minister is a dinasour who is afraid of technology ,if you cant do his job and cant embrace technology and be innovative then he should be considreing to go back to the land kumawa.

  10. Very gud observation but Zambia is still 100000% dependent on external tech….we ar still very far.The best thing to do is to reduce the number subjects taught from primary via colleges or universities. honestly, whats the relevance of learning local languages when your dream carrier is to be an engineer???? so, let govt encourage specialization from th lower grades.just my thots

  11. Dr. i feel the Government need to begin investing in local universities by giving students funds to research on things that will develop our land. At the end of the day the student will have a degree and the nation will have information to develop its nation. We can pump money in areas where we feel we are lacking and invite the private community to support that. Thant way we are not going to support foreign technology which Zambians were a part to develop when they studied abroad

  12. This combination of John Phiri and Bob Sichinga is like having two small boys learning how to walk. The two belong to some academic world. Now you add villager Gondwe at BOZ, you have a full team of useful Kaponyas misleading the hiding Headman.
    As Zambians, we just have to accept that we have dreamers leading us. Maybe it was just meant to be.

  13. These are tired minds that belong to the Era of mr kk90 who not long ago saw no value in the power of ICT!
    Does it really matter where the technology comes from?
    Do you want to invent a different type of science?

    Zambia will continue lagging behind if it does not move fast to embrace DIVERSITY and the cross pollination of ideas! Why re-inventing the Wheel?

    I am getting convinced everyday that education sometimes causes some people to stop thinking logically especially in common sense issues.

    • We need to embrace the technology first in order to be able to convert the Raw materials into the silly things like toothpicks and cooking oil we keep importing from Asia! This is what an Education Minister should be saying!

  14. MMD Chief Boot leaker. I agree with you. But let me mention realities. First of all, The Dr Phiri Knows very well that, his ministry has killed the research and development in Zambia. My point here is. 1. The original idea of creating National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NCSR) was for the sole purpose of what Dr Phiri is singing now. The Institute was created in the late 1970 and had outlet in Kitwe, Chilanga while its head quarters is still based in airport road. Let me not forget, it also had a Textile laboratory based in Industrial Area. The question is where did thing go wrong? Before I go to that, NCSR had different expertise such, a) engineering, Radio and nuclear research, water and environment, building and industry minerals, had animal research, food tech./..

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