Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
Pan African Parliament (PAP) president Chief Fortune Charumbira has exhorted African states to urgently implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which he says will stimulate economic growth and engender prosperity for more than 1 billion people on the continent.
Chief Charumbira highlighted the creation of a free trade area in Africa as a boon for rapid socio-economic transformation that speaks to Agenda 2063 continental goals.
He was speaking during a meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Angola, Ms Carolina Cerqeuira at the Palace of the National Assembly in the Angolan capital, Luanda.
The PAP president unambiguously stressed the key role rolling out a continental free trade area will play in galvanising economic growth across Africa.
Millions of women and youths, the majority who remain on the economic periphery Chief Charumbira said will be extricated from poverty and play a part in the economic mainstream.
”Africa should enhance trade between and among African countries to reduce dependency on western countries and empower the continent to be an influential player in global politics,” said Chief Charumbira.
”It is time for Africa to lend its full support to the AfCFTA, which has the potential to grow African economies exponentially by 32% through enhancing intra-Africa trade and thus guaranteeing the economic self-sufficiency of the continent.”
The PAP president warned Africa against continuing to rest on its laurels, emphasising that is should not ”remain business as usual” especially at time of changing global dynamics that has seen the US administration using tariffs to bully its global foes and weak nations.
He lamented why Africa should continue to import wheat from a country like Ukraine which is at war, while the continent boasts about 60 percent of arable land which can be used to enhance food security.
Chief Charumbira is visiting Angola to deepen bilateral relations between the southern African nation and PAP.
During his visit to Angola, he will also use the opportunity to engage Angolan President Jao Laurenco, who is the current chairperson of the African Union, on issues blighting the operational effectiveness of PAP and the continental legislature role in Africa’s governance architecture.
Online Reporter