I am delighted with the duty I have this morning at the National Workshop sponsored by the Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA). OSSREA has its Headquarters at the University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. Since its formation in 1980, OSSREA has supported research and publication activities among scholars in universities in Eastern and Southern Africa. I am therefore delighted because the activities of OSSREA are among the activities my job requires me to undertake in the University of Swaziland.
Given that special responsibility and my interest in scholarly research, I want to appeal to all participants in this workshop to take the workshop seriously. The first reason for my appeal is that we must complement OSSREA for its long history of promoting and supporting research activities in Swaziland through the University of Swaziland. OSSREA has been a reliable ally for more than ten years. In December 1989, OSSREA sponsored an international conference at the University of Swaziland. The conference was held at the New George Hotel and it attracted about fifty scholars from universities in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. Most of the papers read at that conference were published in a special issue of the Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review Vol. VI, no. 2 and Vol. VII, no. 1 (June 1990/January 1991). Five papers from the university of Swaziland were presented. Two of the presenters whose papers were also among those published in this special issue, and who are still in this University, are Dr. B. A. B. Sikhondze, Dean of Humanities, and Prof. A. M. Kanduza. OSSREA also sponsored another workshop in April 1997. This workshop was only for scholars at the University of Swaziland. Today, we have a second national workshop. Since OSSREA has been so supportive, I do not expect anyone here to doubt my appeal that we must reciprocate to OSSREA.
There is more that OSSREA has done in this University and other Universities in the region. OSSREA sponsors two research competitions every year. One is on gender issues and the second one is a general social and human science competition. I have been informed that many scholars from the University of Swaziland have been successful. I am delighted to note that among the winners this year was Miss Tehlile Dlamini, a recent graduate of the University. In this act, OSSREA is sewing a seed that will produce future academics for the University and the Swazi Nation.
May I say, however, that this good relationship with OSSREA could still be improved. I have been informed that in 1996, OSSREA decided to support annual national workshops in each country whose universities are members of the Organisation. Therefore, now we should have had about four national conferences in Swaziland and not only the one held in 1997. It is good there is a second one today. I challenge you that I want to come back this time next year to open another National Workshop. OSSREA has assured me that they are prepared to support any good conference proposal every year. The papers you present in these national workshops can be published in UNISWA journals or the OSSREA journal, the Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review.
Members of OSSREA have an enormous task. I am delighted that with the clarity of vision demonstrated through this workshop you know the challenge before you. I am delighted that academics at the University invited members of the NGOs to participate in this important workshop. The NGOs are practitioners. These are the institutions that influence the formulation and implementation of policies which reduce poverty. The University may have its armchair critics or its ivory-tower theoreticians. However, a dialogue is needed between researchers and those who implement policies to reduce poverty in Swaziland and beyond. I commend the organisers for inviting NGOs, UNDP and UNESCO to this workshop. I hope that future research and publications will demonstrate an essential partnership between the University of Swaziland, the NGOs and the UN institutions in this country. This collaboration should help in finding funding should publication be necessary.
I should further ask you to support OSSREA by paying for your membership. The fees are US$10.00 (Ten US dollars). Membership of professional associations is valued highly in the University of Swaziland. I have also learned that you will elect a committee to run the affairs of OSSREA here. I wish you well in this important activity. In building up local scholarship, I am pleased to learn that OSSREA has decided that all liaison officers must be nationals of the country in which the OSSREA chapter operates. You should reflect the practices of the University of Swaziland which promote a partnership between local and non-local staff to reflect the true universality of a university. I caution that you should be sensitive to change. Prof. Kanduza was Liaison Officer for nine years. For change and dynamism, I appeal to you to give all members of OSSREA a chance to lead the Organisation.
In concluding my remarks, I must thank OSSREA for funding this workshop. This workshop promotes university involvement in national development. I look forward to your deliberations and conclusion. Therefore, it is my pleasure to declare this workshop officially opened.
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