Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
PAN African Parliament president Chief Fortune Charumbira has issued a powerful call for African nations to develop homegrown solutions to drive transformative development and lift the continent’s billion-plus citizens out of poverty.
Addressing a high-level launch of the Africa Strategic Investment Alliance (ASIA), Chief Charumbira said Africa’s vast natural endowments are key to steering the continent from poverty to prosperity.
The event, themed “Uniting People, Capital and Prosperity: Public-Private and Philanthropy,” aims to create partnerships for Africa’s financial inclusion agenda.
“This launch is not only a milestone for Africa’s financial inclusion agenda, but it is also a powerful signal to the world that Africa is prepared to chart its own course through African-led platforms,” declared Chief Charumbira.
He highlighted Zimbabwe’s progress towards its Vision 2030 as a prime example of internal momentum, citing President Mnangagwa’s mantra: “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo (A country is built by its own citizens)”.
“As the direct representatives of the African people, the Pan African Parliament’s mandate is clear: to ensure that the aspirations of ordinary Africans are reflected in the work of the African Union,” Chief Charumbira said.
“We carry the hopes of the subsistence farmer, the woman entrepreneur and the unemployed graduate. This is why ASIA resonates with us. It speaks directly to the struggles of the people we serve.”
Chief Charumbira positioned ASIA as a critical remedy for the systemic issues plaguing African development, particularly the lack of access to affordable finance for Small and Medium Enterprises.
He revealed a staggering annual financing gap of US$330 billion for SMEs, with less than 10 percent successfully securing formal loans.
“ASIA matters because Africa suffers from the informalisation of economies, lack of credit histories, and gaps in financial literacy,” he said. “These are not merely business issues; they are structural obstacles that hold back Africa’s development.”
He described ASIA not just as a financial mechanism, but as a strategic, African-led platform to unite people and capital. The alliance aims to stimulate millions of jobs by channelling resources toward women, youth, and SMEs.
Chief Charumbira pledged that the PAP would work closely with ASIA to ensure it remains a people-centred program aligned with continental priorities, rather than a detached technocratic initiative. Leveraging the Parliament’s grassroots connection, he vowed to help ensure that mobilised funds reach their intended beneficiaries.
He announced that ASIA will be invited to the next PAP Ordinary Session in South Africa for a full presentation before its formal adoption.
The PAP president rallied global governments, investors, and development partners to support ASIA. He firmly stated that Africa is not seeking aid, but rather mutually beneficial investment partnerships.
“We want to use initiatives such as ASIA to court investment to our shores, forging partnerships that allow a mutually beneficial relationship to thrive for the continent’s greater good,” he said.
