27 Mar 2022

The establishment of NantBotswana will provide an opportunity for the country to use its indigenous knowledge in the health sector and reduce the import bill. 

In an interview with BOPA, Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe said the project, set to be unveiled by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi today, would benefit Batswana, not only through sharing and enhancing of knowledge but through employment creation. 

He said the country had abundant indigenous knowledge in the form of traditional medicines that were known to cure varied ailments adding that NantBotswana will be in a position to consider some of the knowledge in coming up with solutions to the health sector. 

“We assure you that Batswana will take part in the project in various ways. Some will provide the expertise that will be used, others will be physically engaged as scientists in the project, share our indigenous knowledge and learn from them to improve on areas where we are lacking,” he said. 

NantWorks, a US-based pharmaceutical company has collaborated with government to establish NantBotswana to manufacture and produce COVID-19 vaccines, including cancer treatment and next-generation cell-based immunotherapy. 

Dr Letsholathebe said the project was one of those that would explore the drug manufacturing value chain where Batswana were bound to benefit including expertise. 

While NantWorks will be engaged in the actual manufacturing of the drugs, spillovers and value chain opportunities attached to the major project would require other companies and personal skills and knowledge to provide and supply the necessary ingredients that the drug manufacturing recipe would require. 

Dr Letsholathebe applauded President Masisi’s lead role in luring investors and said it was testimony to the country’s determination towards a private sector-led economy. 

“As government, our primary role is to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive including development of human resources,” said Dr Letsholathebe. 

The minister said it was without doubt that over the years Batswana were being empowered through education, in preparation for any business opportunity that might come in the future. “NantBotswana is unveiling at a time when the country has the requisite personnel to partner and share skills with the investor,’ he said. 

Dr Letsholathebe said the current fight against COVID-19 required concerted efforts to defeat noting that NantBotswana would bring together experts and the locals to share ideas and develop vaccines that would save the world from the pandemic. 

He said through Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI), the country had proved that it had the requisite knowledge to manufacture vaccines. In terms of marketing the vaccines, Dr Letsholathebe said the country would take advantage of open trade in the global village moreso that Africa was advocating free trade. 

“We’re not going to focus on the local population only, but will widen our scope to capture the global market,” he said. 

The minister said his ministry’s mandate was to encourage Batswana to utilise their knowledge to rather to drive the economy, empower themselves and improve their livelihoods. 

Dr Letsholathebe assured those with indigenous knowledge to come forward as their intellectual property would be fully protected and used to earn them income. Ends