President praises AfDB boss

Harare Bureau

Through unity, honest hard work, innovation and resilience, Africa can become a modernised and industrialised continent that is truly food and energy secure, peaceful and independent, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.

In his congratulatory message to African Development Bank (AfDB) president Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who will be leaving the post this year after having served at the helm of the continent’s development bank for the last 10 years, President Mnangagwa said Dr Adesina had served the continent with distinction.

He had reignited a sense of hope and confidence in what Africa can achieve, leveraging on its abundant natural resources.

“On behalf of the people and Government of Zimbabwe, and indeed on my own behalf, I congratulate the untiring son of Africa and ‘Africa’s Optimist-in-Chief’, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, for the 10 years of exceptional leadership as President of the African Development Bank Group. Congratulations, Mr President,” he said. 

“In his 10 years of astute and steadfast service to our continent and the peoples of Africa, Dr Adesina has made us shift our perspectives towards the meaning of development finance. He reignited, among us, a new sense of hope and confidence in what we can achieve as an African people, leveraging on our resources.”

President Mnangagwa urged the youth and future generations to emulate the passion for Africa’s development exhibited by Dr Adesina.

The President appointed the AfDB chief as the Champion of Zimbabwe’s arrears clearance and debt resolution platform in 2022, a task he undertook with “impeccable zeal and commitment”.

“This being his farewell year, I challenge current and future generations, the youth and women, to cherish the work of Dr Adesina and many other illustrious sons and daughters of Africa, as we work hard to realise a thriving and prosperous continent. 

“Through unity, hard honest work, innovation and resilience, we can realise a modern and industrialised Africa, that is truly food and energy secure, peaceful and independent. 

“In 2022, I was pleased to appoint Dr Adesina as the official Champion of the Zimbabwe Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution process. He has undertaken this arduous task on behalf of my administration with impeccable zeal and commitment,” said President Mnangagwa.

As the Champion of Zimbabwe’s arrears clearance and debt resolution process, Dr Adesina saw through constructive dialogue and the bringing together of all parties concerned. This has aided the Second Republic in deepening its engagement and re-engagement within the comity of nations.

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe, as an agro-based economy, had benefitted immensely from Dr Adesina’s agriculture credentials and mission to transform Africa’s rural farmlands into regions of prosperity. 

“Under his leadership, the Bank’s flagship, Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) was launched, delivering climate-smart and weather-resilient staple seeds to more than 40 million smallholder farmers across 30 countries on the continent. 

“This is set to see Africa produce an extra 120 million tonnes of food by the end of 2025,” he said.

Under Dr Adesina’s leadership, the continent’s premier development finance institution had grown into a global, award-winning brand. 

“Resultantly, the bank has become a reputable development finance partner of choice. Under his leadership, the African Development Bank Group has emerged as a global champion of inclusive green growth food security, climate-smart infrastructure, energy access for millions of Africans and financial innovation,” he said.

The President went on to describe Dr Adesina as an iconic, true son of Africa.

“Having known and interacted with Dr Adesina for many years, I applaud the numerous milestones he has achieved during his illustrious career. 

“He stands tall as one of the iconic and true sons of Africa, always advancing Africa’s cause and interests. Undoubtedly, his footprint and impact on Africa to realise its development aspirations will remain indelible

“Mr President, Africa, and Zimbabwe, express their profound gratitude and thank you for your selfless, bold, decisive and dedicated service to our mother continent of Africa and her peoples.

“Congratulations once again, Your Excellency, Dr Adesina, for your exceptional leadership during your tenure at the helm of the African Development Bank. I wish you continued success in the years ahead,” said President Mnangagwa.

Since assuming the reins at the AfDB in 2015, Dr Adesina, a World Food Prize laureate, has been instrumental in attracting global investment, spearheading innovative development strategies, and consistently positioning Africa as a continent of immense potential and opportunity.