South Africa and Namibia Partner to Advance the Africa Millimetre Telescope Project
The University of South Africa (UNISA) and the University of Namibia (UNAM) have formalised a collaboration by signing an agreement to advance the Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT) project, strengthening African-led research and collaboration across the continent. The agreement was finalised during a high-level visit to Namibia on 24 and 25 February 2026, led by Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, alongside senior management, academics, student researchers in astrophysics, and professional staff. The delegation met with UNAM Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kenneth Matengu, to reaffirm their joint commitment to developing research infrastructure, supporting postgraduate development, and promoting long-term scientific collaboration.
LenkaBula emphasised that the collaboration extends beyond a scientific project. “The Africa Millimetre Telescope is more than just a scientific instrument; it embodies Africa’s intellectual ambition,” she said. “Through this partnership, we are strengthening African-led research infrastructure and ensuring that our continent makes a meaningful contribution to global knowledge production.”
Furthermore, she highlighted that Unisa’s involvement reflects a strategic commitment to research excellence and continental cooperation, emphasising that the partnership represents an investment not only in the telescope itself but also in people, postgraduate development, and sustainable scientific ecosystems that will serve Africa for generations.
Advancing Africa’s First Millimetre-Wave Radio Telescope
A highlight of the visit was the formal signing of an agreement to the existing memorandum of understanding between Unisa and UNAM at Gamsberg in Namibia’s Khomas Highlands, the designated site for Africa’s first millimetre-wave radio telescope. Situated at 2,347 metres above sea level, Gamsberg offers high-altitude, exceptionally dry air and minimal interference, making it one of the world’s premier locations for astronomical observation.
Under the agreement, Unisa has committed a foundational financial contribution of NAD 4 million (USD 243,000) and will provide technical expertise during the telescope’s commissioning and operational phases. The partnership prioritises postgraduate training, skills transfer, joint research initiatives and public science outreach.
Unisa Registrar, Prof Moloko Sepota, highlighted the importance of the collaboration for students, “For our postgraduate and emerging researchers, this partnership creates access to world-class infrastructure and provides experiential learning opportunities that are transformative, enabling our students to participate directly in frontier science rather than observing it from a distance.”
Strengthening Africa’s Leadership in Science
The delegation also visited the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.), one of the world’s leading gamma-ray observatories located near the future AMT site. The visit highlighted Namibia’s established scientific credibility and the region’s growing astronomy ecosystem. For both institutions, the collaboration signals confidence in Africa’s capacity to host and lead complex research infrastructure projects. Participation in the AMT consortium positions Unisa and UNAM within a global network, while ensuring that African institutions remain central to decision-making, innovation, and discovery.
As engagements moved from the broadcast studio to the summit of Gamsberg, the message was clear: Africa is not observing science from the margins; it is building the instruments that will shape its future.
Click here to read:Why Astronomy in Africa Is Not Just Pure Science, but a Driver for Impact and Innovation