Sundaymail Editor
Sunday Mail Correspondent
AFRICA can be transformed into an economic powerhouse through working together with effective partnerships, the Acting Dean of African Ambassadors in Zimbabwe and Rwanda’s chief diplomat to Harare, Ambassador James Musoni, has said.
Speaking on behalf of African envoys accredited to Zimbabwe while giving welcome remarks at Africa Day commemorations held in Harare on Friday, Ambassador Musoni said Africa has both the human and natural resources to secure a brighter future.
He said there was need for the continent to work towards ensuring food security in line with this year’s Africa Day theme.
“This year’s commemoration is unique because the theme is focused on what has remained the biggest elephant in the room on the African continent — malnutrition and food insecurity,” Ambassador Musoni said.
“The theme ‘Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent’, is befitting especially when we consider that about 346 million people in Africa are facing severe food insecurity with a big number comprising children, who, as a result, are experiencing stunted growth due to malnutrition.
Stunting prevents children from developing to their full potential mentally and physically, and it is largely irreversible.”
Ambassador Musoni said the significance of celebrating Africa Day is to reflect on the close relationship that existed before colonialism and appreciate sacrifices of the Pan-Africanists who fought for independence.
Quoting Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Ambassador Musoni said: “He (President Kagame) said: ‘People talk about African solutions for African problems. That is true, but the slogan doesn’t mean that we don’t need other people’.”
The 59th Africa Day commemorations were attended by Cabinet Ministers, senior Government officials and diplomats.
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