adminAmbassador Dung told an audience at a University of Zimbabwe Institute of Development Studies public lecture that reports from various multi-lateral institutions predict that seven of the world’s fastest growing economies over the next five years will come from Africa.
“The prospect of African economic development no longer attracts huge controversy. Most experts agree that Africa’s prospects are bright. Even western journalists who not too long ago called Africa ‘the hopeless continent’ are now writing headlines like ‘Africa Rising,’
Reports by the International Monetary Fund and the Economist Magazine indicate that Africa has surpassed Asia as the fastest growing continent. Africa is posting growth rates of 5 percent per annum, higher than most other rates for other continents.
“The basis for this optimism and prediction is well founded and convincing. The Mckinsey Global Institute research report says Africa will likely maintain the strong growth with support of both external and internal factors,” the Ethiopian diplomat said.
Africa, he said, needed to consolidate the economic growth by enhancing regional integration, diversifying its economy, investing in infrastructure and creating adequate jobs for its youthful and rapidly urbanising population.
The UZ public lecture was held under the theme: “Fifty Year Journey of OAU/AU: Achievements, Challenges and Prospects.”
The lecture provided a platform for speakers to reflect on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union.
“The UZ is launching the lecture series to help promote a culture of dialogue, negotiation and tolerance,” said UZ Vice Chancellor Prof Levy Nyagura.
“It’s important to share the dreams of our forefathers who founded the OAU. We begin the lecture series with a reflection of the continent’s achievements and challenges over the past 50 years.
“Most of the issues that were echoed by our forefathers in 1963 when the OAU was founded are still relevant today.
“The question we have to ask ourselves is how far have we gone in realising Kwame Nkrumah’s dream of a united Africa?”
Political analyst Dr Ibbo Mandaza said the xenophobic tendencies displayed by Zimbabweans and South Africans against their fellow Africans were quite disturbing and anti-African.
“Zimbabweans and South Africans seem to suffer from very acute amnesia forgetting the sacrifices that were made by other African countries for them to be liberated,” he said.
“We were at home in Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique. Nigerians in the 1970s gave a $1 each for the liberation fund.
“We cannot be pan Africanists while at the same time we are xenophobic — calling Malawians and Zambians ‘aliens.”
He urged African countries to remove barriers and allow free movement and inter-African trade to take root among its own people to help facilitate economic integration and unity.
Online Reporter