peterJames Musoni, Sunday News Reporter
The Acting Dean of African Ambassadors in Zimbabwe and also Rwanda Ambassador to Zimbabwe, James Musoni says Africa can be transformed into an economic powerhouse through working together with effective partnerships.
“We can achieve all the Sustainable Development Goals and ensure that the needs of our continent are fully realised,” Ambassador Musoni said while giving welcome remarks at the Africa Day commemorations held in Harare on Friday.
“Africa has so much potential.
It has both the human and natural resources to secure a brighter future through contribution to the realisation of the Africa we want as per African Union’s vision of Agenda 2063.”
He was speaking on behalf of the African Ambassadors’ Group.
He said there is a need for Africa 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.”
He added: “In addition to existing malnutrition challenges, the global health pandemic of Covid-19 has greatly exposed the economic vulnerability of African countries and the weaknesses of their health and food systems.”
Ambassador Musoni said the significance of celebrating the Africa Day was to reflect on the close relationship that existed between Africans for centuries before colonial time, appreciate efforts and sacrifices of the pan-Africanists who fought for Independence such as King Rudahigwa of Rwanda and others who lost their lives in pursuit of the freedom of Africa and to assess the prevailing challenges that need a unified action.
“Africa Day is an essential occasion for cherishing the importance of solidarity, unity and ideological clarity that characterised the earlier liberation struggles that framed the light leading to the fall of colonialism.
“For instance, through support of nations that had got their independence earlier Zimbabwe got her Independence in 1980.
As you are aware, Zimbabwe’s struggle was tough but through the sacrifice of Zimbabwean sons and daughters as well as support from other African countries, Zimbabwe dreams came true.”
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.
It just means we start with what we are able to do for ourselves and then partner with the rest of the world’.”
The 59th commemorations of Africa Day were attended by Zimbabwe’s government ministers, officials and ambassadors from African countries and beyond.
Online Reporter