‘Harness partnerships, drive Africa’s development’

Debra Matabvu in Manzini, Eswatini

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has urged Africans to harness partnerships and collaborations to drive industrialisation and modernisation, fostering socio-economic development across the region and the continent.

Speaking while officially opening the 57th Eswatini International Trade Fair at the Mavuso Exhibition and Trade Centre yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the responsibility to industrialise and modernise Africa lies with Africans themselves.

The trade fair coincides with Eswatini’s national day celebrations.

President Mnangagwa emphasised the need for self-sufficiency and sovereignty in all spheres, particularly the economy.

“As Africans, let us continue to embrace our identity, assert our self-sufficiency and sovereignty across all aspects of our lives and economies,” he said.

“By believing in ourselves, valuing our own products and investing in our own industries, we build stronger, sustainable and more resilient economies.

“Your Majesty, at the core of the development of our continent is embracing our own culture, which is the soul and heartbeat of our nations. Preserving such cultural expressions is not only a duty to history, but also a compass to guide future generations. It must form the strong base upon which we innovate and modernise our economies.

“As I conclude the Eswatini International Trade Fair, we go back home with lasting impressions of this visit.

“The onus is on us all, to harness the immense potential of our relations to drive innovation, modernisation and industrialisation as well as integration in Sadc and the broader African Continental Free Trade Area.”

He called on Zimbabwe and Eswatini to deepen socio-economic and cultural ties, leveraging their natural resources and technology to improve people’s lives.

“Now we are forging stronger bonds as we march forward hand-in-hand towards modernised and industrialised economies, as well as the realisation of shared aspirations for a united and prosperous future for future generations,” he said.

“It is critically important that we leverage on our abundant natural resource endowments, science, technology and innovation to deliver a higher quality of life for our peoples, which is anchored in our rich heritage and culture.

“The ingenuity of our young people, resilience of our women and entrepreneurial spirit of our communities should be harnessed to create self-sufficiency and sovereignty in all aspects of our lives.

“Us, the people of this region and respective jurisdictions, bear the responsibility to develop our economies and to answer the challenges of our times, such as climate change, health pandemics and a fluid global international relations environment.”

The President urged Africa to seize opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI), and science and technology to accelerate development.

He also commended Eswatini for its unwavering support during Zimbabwe’s political and economic isolation and the imposition of illegal sanctions.

“The theme for this year’s fair, ‘Digital Transformation 2.0: Creating Business Networks’, is both profound and timely not as an end in itself, but a call to action,” he said.

“It challenges us to embrace innovation and connectivity, science and technology as a foundation for prosperity and to ready our countries for the world of the future.

“This is critically important more so that the ongoing technological revolution continues to significantly alter the way we live, work and relate to one another.

“The fusion of technologies is blurring the lines between the physical, digital and biological spheres, extending to industries, transforming entire systems of production and management.”

He called on governments and businesses in the region to leverage technology to boost economic growth, noting Zimbabwe’s adoption of the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model.

“We established innovation hubs and industrial parks, which are creating a new breed of entrepreneurs and seeing the establishment of new industries,” he said.

“Digital innovation outputs are positively impacting climate change mitigation in our agriculture sector, along with other benefits in health, transport, mining and energy sectors and also within the SME spaces. We are determined not to leave any community behind as we embrace the digital-driven world.”

President Mnangagwa also encouraged the private sectors in Zimbabwe and Eswatini to explore joint venture opportunities in agriculture, sugarcane production, mining, tourism, manufacturing, infrastructure, renewable energy and information technology.

“We must equally nurture our entrepreneurs, empower the youth and support our local investors to transform these sectors into engines of inclusive growth,” he said.

He further called for regional tourism partnerships to boost trade, business exchanges and linkages.

The Eswatini International Trade Fair was attended by King Mswati III, the royal family, former South African President Jacob Zuma, former Botswana President Ian Khama and dignitaries from across the continent.

President Mnangagwa was accompanied by several Government Ministers.