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THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

P.O. Box 32379 Tel: 290429/293343 Lusaka 10100.Zambia Cell: 095 808239 Fax: (260-1-)253952 E-mail: gchinyam@natsci.unza.zm Telex:UNZA ZA 44370 Professor Maaza Malik, Dear Prof. Maaza,

SUBJECT: AFRICAN NANO-NETWORK,

Informed that you were the founding member & initiator of the South African Nanotechnology Initiative (SANI), I take pleasure in learning that you have decided to involve our University in the initiative to initiate an African Network in Nanosciences. Our Department is indeed very active in the area of photovoltaic solar cell research. We have, on a number of occasions ,taken part in the installation of solar power in the rural areas of our country. This has been a success story. I am reliably informed that one of the research fields you are concentrating on is the dye sensitised solar cells (DSSC). I am also informed that, if successful, these cells promise to be of lower production cost. This is but very good news to us in the developing world as far as energy costs are concerned. We sincerely hope that your research effort and that of your colleagues will go a long way in solving some of the problems attendant to DSSCs.

In view of the foregoing observations, I must take this opportunity to assure that our Department supports this initiative of the African Network in Nanosciences. It our desire and wish that you will eventually extend this to as many African countries as possible within the confines of the budget. This is especially necessary in view of the multidisciplinary nature of this subject. The earlier this is implemented, the better since we in Africa are in a hurry to reduce the gap with the North.

Thanking you in advance,

Your Sincerely,

G. K. Chinyama. P.K. Kalebwe

Head Department of Physics Member Department of Physics

23-01-2005 Dear Dr Maaza, NANO AFRICAN NETWORK. It is very encouraging to note your innovative initiative to set up a Nano African Network at a time when materials science research is gaining worldwide attention. Its importance is clearly seen in the recent US – Africa Materials Network Initiative supported by NSF to promote research and development in advanced materials in Africa in collaboration with other international institutions and research centres. Such an attempt is expected to synthesize novel materials and products for future technological development. Nanotechnology is one such area which needs collaborative efforts for its development in Africa and hence the importance of an African Network. I am also pleased to note that you are running an open research program on Nanosciences where materials scientists from other countries are benefiting from the infrastructure and advanced research facilities available in the iThemba LABS of the South African National Research Foundation for processing and characterisation of materials. This is definitely a praise-worthy attempt as part of the African renaissance. I support persuasively this initiative and wish you every success in all your future endeavours in its implementation. You have all our support. I shall give enough publicity on this to other materials scientists and organizations in Swaziland as well as with the US-NSF Africa initiative. Dr AJ.Varkey Department of Physics University of Swaziland P/bag Kwaluseni Swaziland.