‘Africa should unite, look inward for development’
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has called on African countries to focus on internal resource mobilisation and an inclusive pro-people development philosophy that promotes cooperation among nations to ensure balanced development across the continent to attain the “Africa we want”.
The President said this here yesterday while officially opening the 56th Session of the UNECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
Primarily, the objective of the conference is to promote the economic and social development of African member states, foster intra-regional integration and promote international cooperation for Africa’s development.
The conference, which started last Wednesday and ends today, has attracted high-level representatives from 32 countries and over 200 delegates.
It is running under the theme, “Financing the Transition to Inclusive Green Economies in Africa:
Imperatives, Opportunities, and Policy Options”, which President Mnangagwa said was apt, given the complex climate-change-related challenges confronting the world today.
“As African countries, we have the weighty responsibility to boldly and decisively tackle the challenges faced by our respective economies,” said the President.
“We must look from within and among ourselves for solutions. We cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand. I, therefore, challenge you to pursue robust and innovative measures to unlock maximum benefits from our natural resources, which essentially starts with the sharing of ideas through deeper collaborations.
“Africa must build climate-resilient infrastructure to drive green industrialisation that is inclusive, sustainable, eradicates poverty and creates jobs.”
While Governments have the mandate to deal with emerging challenges, President Mnangagwa said businesses have the innovation, technology and drive to deliver on the required solutions.
Through investments in science, technology and innovation, the transition to inclusive green economies must aid in the development of technologies that emphasise on sustainability, resource efficiency and emissions reduction.
In turn, these will facilitate and accelerate improvements in the economic and social well-being of the people, said the President.
“No matter what difficulties may come our way, we must focus on a people-centred development philosophy that leaves no one and no place behind; one that builds synergies among nations and promotes balanced development across the continent.
“Together with unity of purpose, we can indeed build the ‘Africa we want’, ‘Brick upon brick, stone upon stone and step by step’,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said to fight the impact of climate change, financing instruments must be leveraged to reap maximum benefits from the vast natural resources of the continent.
Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development from across Africa, he said, should come up with alternative resource mobilisation initiatives that transform economies in line with technological developments to meet climate goals and emerging demands.
“We must think outside the box and trust in our home-grown initiatives. This should be complemented by mainstreaming the principle of green economy in policy reforms, regulation changes and strategic investments in order to ensure sustainable development that leaves no one and no place behind.
“We should, however, be mindful of the need to take account of the uncertainties and risks to future economic growth inherent to replacing the conventional economic model, with a green economy.
“In addition, African countries should take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement riding on ICTs and new technologies,” he said.
The President said the need to
◆ nurture and grow a broad spectrum of value chains that can generate green industrial development cannot be overemphasised.
He urged nations to equally promote investment in green sectors, facilitate technology transfer, develop green investment standards and encourage regional cooperation.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe had been actively participating in international negotiations on climate change for some time, and was among the first countries to sign and ratify the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which was followed by Harare’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.
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