SPEECH BY MR. BALISI BONYONGO
DEBSWANA MANAGING DIRECTOR
AT THE
UB FOUNDATION DINNER
HELD AT THE GICC,
14th SEPTEMBER 2018

  1. Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education Research, Science and Technology, Honourable Fidelis Molao and Mrs. Molao
  2. Former President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency Festus Mogae and Mma Nametso
  3. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tertiary Education Research, Science and Technology Dr. Theophilus Mooko,
  4. Chancellor of the University of Botswana and Deputy Chairman of the University of Botswana Foundation Ms. Linah Mohohlo
  5. Acting Chairman of the University of Botswana Council, Mr Mathais Chakalisa
  6. Chairman of the University of Botswana Foundation Mr Satar Dada and Mrs. Dada
  7. Members of the University of Botswana Council here present
  8. Trustees of the University of Botswana Foundation here present
  9. University of Botswana Deputy Vice Chancellors
  10. Former Vice Chancellors of the University of Botswana, Professor Bojosi Otlhogile and Professor Kgomotso Moahi
  11. Distinguished Members of the University Community
  12. Captains of Industry
  13. Members of the Media
  14. Distinguished Guests

 

  1. Allow me to start by thanking the Vice Chancellor of the University of Botswana, Professor David Norris and the University of Botswana Foundation Board for inviting me to be part of this occasion.
  2. From very austere beginnings, the University of Botswana Foundation has shown exemplary fortitude through its Endowment Fund initiative to augment access to the nation’s foremost tertiary institution beyond enrollment numbers that our Government can sustain.
  3. Therefore, it is an honour for me to humbly stand before such an array of UB alumni, most notable of whom is His Excellency, President Masisi. If my facts are accurate and I believe that they are, His Excellency is the first UB alumnus to achieve ascendency to the highest office of state and I propose that this merits an applause.
  4. Thank you ladies and gentlemen.
  5. This evening’s theme is Nurturing a Knowledge-Based Economy Through Alumni Engagement. This theme should resonate with most, if not all of us here, for we are either direct or indirect products of the University of Botswana.
    This lineage imposes an unavoidable responsibility upon us all to be the initiators of a knowledge revolution that moves Botswana forward with a sense of formation and urgency.
  6. BUT WHY NOW, AND MORE THAN EVER BEFORE?
  7. Since the discovery and mining of minerals, our national economy has become predominantly reliant on this industry as its main revenue driver, in particular diamonds. These assets are however both finite and increasingly vulnerable to macro-economic turbulence that has become a norm in recent years. This makes it imperative for us to think very, very differently about a new development trajectory for Botswana’s economic progression into the second half of its century post 1966.
  8. As we do this, there are some sobering facts that we need to think deeply about.
    • Diamonds propelled Botswana to upper middle-income status from being the third poorest nation in the world at independence, and we have remained within this threshold for close to three (3) decades now. No doubt a commendable record of progress.
    • However, as much as diamonds have enabled our successes, they alone cannot retract us from what is now described as the middle-income trap and we have some priority challenges to overcome in this regard:
      1. Unemployment levels, especially amongst our young people remain high, as does income inequality generally.
      2. Poverty levels are still high for an upper middle-income country, especially in rural areas and affecting mostly women-led households.
      3. Extreme weather conditions are making access to clean water extremely costly in the more arid parts of our country.
      4. Compared to other upper-middle income countries, Botswana has not been doing well in terms of competitiveness and ease of doing business.
      5. Our community is facing an ever more complex cocktail of social stressors and ills that threaten to deface our moral fabric if not resolved.
  9. THE PIVOTAL QUESTION IS THIS: “HOW DO WE ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES WITHIN A KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY CONTEXT”
  10. Director of Ceremonies, we have a great opportunity to do so through our national Vision 2036 whose torchbearer is our President, His Excellency Rre Mokgweetsi Masisi. Please therefore allow me to directly reference Vision 2036 and expound further.
  11. Vision 2036 seeks to achieve prosperity for all. “By 2036, our country aspires to be a high-income country, with an export-led economy underpinned by diversified, inclusive and sustainable growth driven by high levels of productivity.” Consequently, the economy will be efficient, vibrant, innovative and knowledge-based with access to a skilled and internationally competitive workforce, leading edge technology and infrastructure.
  12. Specifically regarding the knowledge-based economy, our national vision clearly articulates, and I quote, “that we will promote the use of science, technology and innovation in our social, economic and business spheres in order to enhance the benefits of efficiency.
    Our education, training and skills development systems will be developed accordingly to leverage the mentioned improvement drivers.
  13. These will be supported by appropriate mechanisms to encourage the commercialisation of national Research and Development (R&D), as well as innovation outcomes, which includes the adequate protection of our acquired intellectual property rights and inherent indigenous knowledge.”
  14. The question still remains though, how do we practically implement a knowledge-based economy? Please allow me to put a few questions before our alumni, which are intended to provoke thought and stimulate strategic conversations.
  15. As individuals and as a cohort, we need to ask ourselves the following questions:
    First: Are there problems out there which if solved can trigger disruption to the way society, industries governments and economies function, thereby increasing efficiencies? We have lessons to draw from start-up technical companies that have walked the path of radical innovation. Think Google, Amazon, Facebook, Netflix and Alibaba who, once they had monetised their knowledge, emerged from their respective home bases and disrupted the way we live and work all over the world.
    Second: Do we have the skills to solve these problems? This question puts us at the logical starting point, which is to locate our established sources of “Human Knowledge Assets” – put simply, Who Knows What? And Where Are They? We need to develop the capacity of our people, especially our entrepreneurs, and then support them to innovate and solve these problems.
    Third: Do We Comprehend The Extent of Our Holistic Knowledge Library That Exists Across the Entire Continuum of Academia, Commerce, Government and Society? Where is the considerable knowledge that Botswana has amassed pre and post-independence?
    • In mining where we have close to 50 years of involvement, in health through our pioneering HIV/AIDS efforts on the continent,
    • In animal production where we have accumulated years of experience in fighting Foot and Mouth disease.
    • In the successful conservation of our wildlife and flora over many years.
    • In our historical knowledge of super foods, traditional remedies and veldt products that the Creator has interspersed throughout our diverse habitat.
    • In the home grown technology and intellectual property that has been developed by likes of the old Rural Industries Innovation Centre, Botswana Technology Centre and the National Food Technology Research Centre.
    • The expertise that once sustained Botswana as a leading global exporter of the finest beef and beef by-products.
    • These are just but a few.
    Fourth: If we know where our knowledge assets are located, have we made tangible efforts to commercialise these as Proudly Botswana products or services for regional, continental and global consumption? If not, what are the stumbling blocks?
    Fifth: What needs to be true for us the alumni to facilitate a value-adding, profitable knowledge eco-system in Botswana? In other words, how do we ensure the existence of a systematic and dynamic process of knowledge creation, development and sharing between entities to improve decision-making and innovation?
  16. We need to reflect and introspect on the hidden value of our national body of knowledge, and more importantly our ability to convert it into an exportable product that serves as a force multiplier for economic diversification. There are many prizes for Botswana if we solve this puzzle.
    1. With technology leading the way, we can trigger employment opportunities in all sectors of the economy that might appear non-existent.
    2. Innovation can be leveraged to transform how work is currently done and elevate productivity.
    3. The use of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and robotics in agriculture, health, education, manufacturing, retail and financial services to mention but a few, can revolutionise work and deliver breakthrough efficiencies. We should not fear the capital intensive orientation of technology because it offers significant employment of ICT skills.
  17. How do we achieve these prizes?
    1. Our education systems and talent development must be appropriately positioned to capture these opportunities.
    2. Equally important we must collaborate with the right partners to succeed in these aspirations, with partners who are technological and innovative in orientation.
  18. This approach is being used to great effect in Australia through its Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Programme, which supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community. It is a proven model for linking researchers with industry to focus on research and development towards use and commercialisation.
  19. The outcomes of this CRC Programme include new technologies, products and services, and very importantly the enhanced competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries, especially where Australia has a competitive strength and in line with its government priorities.
  20. As I conclude, the translation into reality of our vision of a knowledge based economy is everyone’s responsibility. I challenge us all to step back from never ending benchmarking, workshopping and conferencing and move in a radically different direction. We need to execute, execute and execute!
  21. The same way our iconic University of Botswana was built through contributing cattle, we can co-create new prosperity for all by contributing intellectual cattle in the form of commercialised knowledge assets. Let us therefore get straight to work with renewed commitment and let us make the required haste as we do this.
  22. I thank you for your kind attention. PULA!!!

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