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ZAMBIA LAGS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY
By Mutale Mazimba Kaunda
me in terms of what it could mean for Zambia, I
am also aware of how it unmasks our stagnation in
science and technology. When we read about suc-
cesses in other countries, let us critically reflect on
our own country and how it is contributing to these
advances in technology.
The world has made tremendous strides in terms of
technological development in the 21st century. We
now have robots that are unbelievably close to hu-
man beings. China just had its first genetically en-
gineered babies and 3D printers can recreate body
parts for non-invasive surgeries. Where does Zam- Our greatest invention in Zambia is the Sondashi
Formula 2000 (SF2000). SF2000 can reportedly
bia fit into this changing world?
cure AIDS and costs K300 per week, which is be-
Recently, Chinese scientist He Jiankui genetical- yond the reach of most Zambians living with HIV.
ly modified two embryos which developed into full The drug has been subjected to a series of trials
term babies. What he actually did was make them in Zambia and South Africa, which has reportedly
resistant to HIV/Aids. His experiment has been re- proved that people experienced reduced viral load
ceived with trepidation, as most innovative tech- after six months and that it inhibits subtype C of the
nology usually tends to be received, with scientists HIV from replicating and to a lesser extent, Subtype
worrying that the advances may be manipulated by B. At the 8th Zambia Health Research Conference
people with sinister motives. All great discoveries and the 12th Annual HIV Technical conference, it
make people tremble, so this enormous criticism in was reported that the first phase of the clinical trial
my book validates his experiments. What ethical is- had been completed and showed that the SF2000
was safe and tolerable for human use.
sues it violates can be addressed and amended.
The success of this experiment may open up end- For Zambia to make strides and produce global-
less possibilities for Zambians. For the last nearly ly competitive scientists and technologists to con-
forty years, we have been fighting a losing battle tribute to innovative discoveries, the school should
with HIV/AIDS and malaria. According to UNAIDS be the first step. Information and Communication
2017 data, 1.1 million Zambians are living with HIV. Technology (ICT) has been introduced in schools to
The Zambia National Malaria Control Centre esti- ensure that all children in rural and urban areas de-
mates that in 2015, there were over five million ma- velop values, skills and attitudes that would make
laria cases in Zambia. The sheer cost involved in them successful in a digital world.
managing these diseases has drained government But what immediately became apparent was that
and donor resources and there is still no sustainable this was not going to be an instant success. In a
solution in sight. Perhaps this is the long-awaited country with 60 per cent of its population living be-
answer: gene modification to permanently eradi- low the poverty datum line, chances of all schools
having computers, electricity or functioning labora-
cate HIV/AIDS and Malaria.
Recently, our neighbour, the Democratic Republic of tories are next to none. While children in western
Congo (DRC) was plagued by yet another bout of countries or Asia can build robots and drones, some
Ebola, with 512 confirmed cases in November 2018, of our Zambian children in remote areas like Lunga
according to the World Health Organisation website. have never even seen a vehicle. These issues will
Imagine the possibility of being immune to such dis- have to be addressed for Zambia to survive in this
eases! While Chinese Scientist He’s success excites fast-paced digital world.
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