King Mswati urges African countries to invest in technology

ESWATINI leader King Mswati III has implored Africa to embrace digital transformation through investing in technology, saying it will help unite and leapfrog its economy and close the global market gap.

In his remarks during the official opening of the 6th Edition of Transform Africa Summit (TAS) in Victoria Falls yesterday, the monarch said Africa can achieve more as a united front.

King Mswati III said now is the time for Africa to focus on technology as a vehicle that can enhance development that bridges the digital divide with the West.

“It is an honour to participate at Transform Africa Summit for the first time. We now live in an exciting time where the world is transforming in an unprecedented pace, the rate of technology development is fast and Africa should not be left behind,” he said.

“As we move forward, we must embrace digital transformation if we hope to get better future for ourselves and generations to come in our beloved continent. Africa has to be united for us to promote the Africa we want as espoused in the 2063 Agenda.”

King Mswati III called for adoption of technology to add value to local products before they are exported to the external market, a policy direction that the Second Republic has since taken to value add local endowments.

He said the continent can leverage on technology to foster unity, attract investment, develop economies and ultimately uplift lives of its citizens.

King Mswati III said the African Continental Free Trade Area is one of the pillars the motherland can leverage on to help build a united force in terms of trading among member states.

“In today’s world, digital infrastructure and connectivity are vital to the success of business. They are the backbone to digital economy which has become important. We need to share technology such that when African countries come together and work towards a common goal they can achieve more than they would as separate countries,” said the King.

“A united Africa can create a more stable and secure environment that encourages investment, job creation and economic growth. It can also lead to increased political power and influence on the global stage.”

King Mswati III said in recent years technology had enabled people to communicate and collaborate across borders.

With widespread use of internet and mobile devices people can access information and other services such as mobile money transactions and e-services which are critical to socio-economic development and breaking traditional barriers.

King Mswati III said technology can also promote cultural exchange and better understanding if harnessed and used responsibly.

“A united Africa can be a strong Africa that benefits all its citizens. Technology can play a significant role in defining Africa by breaking barriers to communication, trade, education, e-health and cultural exchanges,” he said.

“By embracing technology and working together towards common goals, Africa can achieve greater political power and global influence. It is trite that Africa as a continent keep up with the rest of the world and we can start by embracing technology in our daily lives and open up new opportunities through creativity and innovation.”

The King said through technology Africa can support start-ups especially by its youths.

He said Africa has potential to be a global leader in technology.

“The continent’s digital transformation is not an individual effort, but a collective effort that requires every citizen to play a part. African governments should craft enabling policies that promote investment towards building the Africa we want,” he said.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema concurred saying the continent should follow its ambitions by overturning colonial imbalances as evidenced by the fact that the continent is lagging behind in many aspects.

He said Africa can leapfrog its economy through technological developments.

“On the economic front, it is for this reason that we set the African Agenda. We cannot leapfrog our economies without creating jobs for our youths and being ambitious,” said President Hichilema.

“We must accept that we cannot avoid digitisation in our households, businesses. We need technology to share market information, we need to move towards digitalisation at our borders because we can’t afford inefficiencies at borders.”

President Hichilema said the one-stop-border concept that many countries are pushing, including Zimbabwe, should rather be turned into a “non-stop border concept” where goods and people destined to any African country from within the continent should not be stopped along the way.

“This forum is vital and important because we can’t have free trade without digital platforms that talk to each other. Our laws are not harmonised, we must harmonise laws and digitise all government services as well as remove bureaucracy,” he said.

The Zambian leader slammed slow government service in member states, saying it is fuelled by public service workers who have a hidden corrupt interest that thrives on deliberately slackening service delivery, which ultimately renders public service beyond ordinary citizens.

President Hichilema said Africa has been exposed by the war in Ukraine on food production, hence it has to invest in technology to boost food production.

“We need to also use digitalisation in our movement of goods across our borders. We should have non-border posts unlike one-stop border posts. There is no need to stop trucks destined for Zimbabwe or Malawi at border posts and that can be achieved through technology,” he said.

The summit is Africa’s leading annual forum bringing together global and regional leaders as well as digital experts to collaborate on new ways of shaping, accelerating and sustaining Africa’s ongoing digital revolution.

This year it is being held under the theme: “Connect, Innovate and Transform.”