Says Africans have the talent and skill to transform Botswana into a knowledge- based economy

Solar backpack puts Motswana innovator on global map

Motswana electrical engineer and innovator, Kedumetse Liphi is passionate about creating innovations that make a positive impact in Botswana communities. He has created a solar backpack which he hopes will transform the lives of rural children in Botswana.

He told Botswana Guardian that he now wants to partner with several stakeholders including Government, private sector and non- governmental organisations, to ensure that the solar backpack reaches as many school children as possible, most of who lack resources in their educational pursuit.

Together with a group of six youth, Liphi also pioneered the creation of a Covid- 19 automatic diagnostic combo machine last year. Liphi, is the director of Kedi Liphi Electronic Technicians, which specialises in electronics engineering and innovation, and using it to solve day- to- day problems in Botswana and Africa. “We believe that Africans have the talent and capability to transform Africa into a knowledge- based economy,” he told this publication. He reiterated this in a recent interview on CNN’s Inside Africa, which introduced him to the rest of the world. Liphi is a demonstration to the globe that the awakening in Batswana as critical thinkers, creators and innovators is empowering their communities and embracing a new age, where knowledge and not minerals could define the economic growth of Botswana. The automatic diagnostic combo machine was designed to automatically disinfect and sanitise hands, screen body temperature promptly, register personal information by identity number ( Omang) or passport scanning. It also utilises face recognition features for security purposes. Liphi said they are selling the innovation to institutions that prioritise high security such as Police, BDF and Prisons among others. “This is a multipurpose device with a security component, and this is what sets it apart and will ensure that it is always relevant,” he said, adding that there had been a delay while they waited to patent the idea, which they worked on for six months. Liphi, an electronic technician by profession, was born in Tutume but hails from Senete village. He was raised in Gaborone and completed his education at St Joseph’s College before going to ABM University and Jwaneng Technical College. Liphi said Botswana is a developing country and both the private sector and government should believe and invest in its people, particularly youth. He said sometimes young people have impressive ideas that can be turned into viable enterprises or innovations, but lack of access to resources negatively impacts their efforts. “The National Vision 2036 identifies generation, adoption and adaptation of technology and innovation as one of the imperatives of the National Transformation Agenda. “We will leverage leading information communication technology as a key contributor to economic growth and employment whilst also enabling an efficient private and public sector. “To this extent, the provision of internet services will enhance creativity and innovation, and as such facilitate economic diversification,” he said. Liphi also noted that it’s important for any innovator to secure buy- in from relevant stakeholders, to help them to commercialise their innovations and catapult them to greater heights. “We believe in our skills and talent and hope to reach out to a bigger global market and one day create a manufacturing factory that will employ approximately 100 technicians and other personnel. “We want to find innovative solutions to challenges in our daily lives and also contribute to the economy of our country”.