For decades, nay, centuries, Africa has been on the back foot of development.

The majority of indigines hardly account for a significant fraction of global wealth.

Therein lies the irony: The continent is blessed with vast stretches of natural resources, but remains poor.

The paradox uncannily provides matter for sad reflection if read against the huge benefits that non-Africans, Westerners to be precise, reap from the Motherland.

The time has come for that to stop.

Africa must step out of its shell and take control of its resources.

And President Mugabe’s election to the helm of the African Union provides the perfect conditions for such a revolution. Cde Mugabe has always been an advocate of African resource control and has made this clear at various international fora.

Part of his AU Chairmanship acceptance speech last Friday homed in on this aspect, which will no doubt constitute one of his foremost tasks.

In 2014, African foreign ministers met at Lake Tana to formulate Agenda 2063 – the AU’s guiding plan through to 2063.

The ministers drew up a list of needs, and one of the main points was a demand for “a strong, bold leadership”.

Other points were essentially lamentations about Africa’s large-scale donor-dependence, foreign interference and the need to realign Africa’s education system with entrepreneurial training.

Of great significance was the realisation that Africa should also take control of its resources.

It goes without saying that this last point figures on President Mugabe’s list of priorities.

He has shown his firm belief that taking control of one’s resources is the first and important step towards total independence and development.

Even back home in Zimbabwe, land reform and indigenisation – as applied to resource-based sectors – are clear indicators of this resolve.

Further, the President has invariably questioned the clear lack of independence in former French colonies.

Africa’s 14 Francophone countries are not free to chart their destiny outside of France.

The Pact Colonial requires them to deposit 65 percent of their foreign currency reserves in the French Treasury.

A further 20 percent should be channelled towards liabilities.

These countries do not have individual monetary policies; they pin everything on the CFA franc.

DRC’s chief diplomat to Zimbabwe Ambassador Mwanananga Mwawapanga says: “For real Pan-Africanists, President Mugabe’s election is a major victory for all of us Africans. His credentials speak for him; it’s not questionable that President Mugabe prioritises and advocates the empowerment and well-being of Africans.

‘‘Those who oppose the President think that Africans don’t deserve better life.” New African magazine editor Baffour Ankomah adds: “The election of President Mugabe is the best thing that has happened to the African continent this year.

‘‘He is a mature leader who is deserving of the post because of what he has done over all these years.

“It is also good that he has become the Chairman at such a time when Africa is confronted by multiple challenges that require his good judgment and astuteness. I was impressed by his speech when he spoke about value beneficiation of the continent’s resources.

“He fully understands that Africa is not benefiting from its resources and he is the best person to lead Africa in its fight to get more from its natural wealth.

‘‘He has already set the pace by implementing the land reform in Zimbabwe. So, the continent will benefit from his leadership now.”

Nuggets from President Mugabe

“During my tenure, I will deliberately provoke your thought to pay special attention to issues of infrastructure, value-addition and beneficiation, agriculture and climate change in the context of Africa’s development.”

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“Numerous studies have pointed out that the lack of physical infrastructure and inter-connectedness in Africa has hampered economic development. While we continue to exploit the mineral resources, we seem not to have paid sufficient attention to their value-addition and beneficiation.”

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“Given that the continent is rich in minerals such resources should be seen to contribute more meaningfully to Africa’s development. While we continue to exploit the mineral resources, we seem not to have paid sufficient attention to their value- addition and beneficiation. If the present practice of exporting minerals in their raw form continues, Africa will continue to have people without employment, who languish in extreme poverty.”

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“African resources should belong to Africans and no one else. Except those we invite as friends, friends we shall have, yes, but imperialists and colonialists, no. Africa is for Africans, let us sing.”