20 Feb 2022

There is no need for sparring by any of the big economic world players in the European Union, the US and China over Africa. Nor is there call for anxiety as Africa has had long and fruitful relations with these subcontinents. The underlying principle should, and will always be, Africa’s interest first. 

This is what comes out clearly at the tail end of President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s interview with the BBC Africa’s Peter Okwoche on the sidelines of the 6th European Union-African Union summit in Brussels, Belgium that ended Thursday. 

In the interview President Masisi talks about Africa’s drive to produce own vaccines for its 1.3 billion people as well as supply the rest of the world, but that a lot of work still lies ahead… 

Masisi: There’s a lot more that needs to be done...we need to invest more in the value chain of vaccines and that involves R&D, a lot of research goes into it to create the patents’ intellectual capital and the underlying foundational capacity to produce knowledge needs to be developed; the whole ecosystem of legal frameworks that protect these intellectual properties, not only on the African continent but globally for why couldn’t we fathom that one day… not in the too distant future we could actually have a patent coming from Africa that ‘s solely sought after? That we see happening from Africa, that which is happening now from Europe, with this supply and capacity in Africa and there is demand and need in the rest of the world? It is just beginning because with the biggest common free trade area in the world - in Africa – through the AfCFTA – 1.3 billion and growing…we’re the youngest continent, the magic is happening in Africa, and so more of this needs to be done; That’s why in Botswana, even though we’re not among the six, we’ve developed our own interest in vaccine development. We’re developing our own ecosystem, we will cluster around these and grow to the best of our capacity to develop other vaccines using the latest technology 

BBC: Covid has been a shock to the system for the world, but more so for African countries especially given the dearth of vaccines on the continent now. This is more like a wake-up call for the continent, now. In your dealings with other heads of state are you beginning to see a commitment, for instance to fund the research that you’re talking about to fund the manufacture of vaccines that you’re talking about? 

Masisi: I’m seeing a deep desire. I’m seeing a deep commitment, resolve, particularly among African leaders, Botswana included. We have a burning desire to use first and foremost our own resources because yes, it’s been a shock, but I hazard to say it will not be the last shock. Other pandemics will come, other variants will come, we must be better prepared 

BBC: A lot of people have described it as a summit that is needed to reboot the relationship between Africa and Europe, is that the way the African heads of states are seeing this as well?

 Masisi: I think on the main they are and they’re very grateful for that. You must remember that the EU has been very generous, it’s been the biggest contributor of vaccines to Africa – more than any other part of the world, they’ve contributed very generously and to a large extent they’ve also…. BBC: But they have not contributed enough! that’s the thing… you know they’ve…

Masisi: They’ve contributed more than anybody else but they…

BBC: But they haven’t hit their targets Masisi: No, no no! Nobody has, but they’ve done the most and that should be acknowledged and we’re grateful for it. And we’re urging them to do more, and they’re willing to do more, and part of doing more was to transfer technology; part of doing more was to reach a compromise that we agreed to today, which is a stellar, and a breakthrough for the summit. It is therefore I conclude that this summit has been a huge success because we agreed to compromise on those who wanted not to release the copyright protection and those who demanded that it be released.

BBC: A lot of people say that Europe actually needed this summit because it’s uncomfortable with the speed at which Africa is gravitating towards China…what’s your view on that..

 Masisi: Well, I leave it to those… others who’d spectate and express their view. I’m a pragmatist acting on the ground. We have a long history of relations with Europe, we have a long history of relations with China, we have a long history of relations with the US. We will manage our relations with whoever and the guiding principle will be our interest, Africa’s interest, that’s what comes first BBC: Has this summit been a success? 

Masisi: The summit ha been a success, I pronounced it so. Botswana is expected to continue discussions on manufacture of vaccines behind the scenes, to be able eventually o manufacture a cocktail of vaccines. 

ends