Online Reporter
Kuda Bwititi in BEIJING
Zimpapers Politics Hub
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa’s mantra that “a nation is built by its own people” can provide a guiding philosophy for the Global South as countries seek to strengthen unity, self-reliance and sustainable development, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works Tawanda Mavunga has said.
Addressing a Global South symposium attended by Government officials, scholars and civil servants from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, in Beijing, Deputy Minister Mavunga said the future of developing nations depended on collective action and the ability of their people to take ownership of their development pathways.
He delivered Zimbabwe’s message of solidarity, drawing from the country’s liberation history and the broader aspirations of the Global South.
“President Mnangagwa always says, ‘ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo’ — a nation is built by its own people,” said Deputy Minister Mavunga.
“May it be known today that the Global South is built by its own people. We are the inhabitants of the Global South; let us build it together.”
Deputy Minister Mavunga said the Global South had moved beyond being viewed merely as a geographical description and had become a platform for nations to pursue shared interests, economic cooperation and a greater role in global affairs.
He said developing countries had historically contributed significantly to global economic growth through their natural resources and labour but were often excluded from key decisions shaping international systems.
“The question before us is simple but profound: will the Global South rise divided, or will we rise together as one formidable force?” he said.
The Deputy Minister called for deeper cooperation among countries of the Global South through increased trade, technology sharing, regional value chains and knowledge exchange.
He cited initiatives such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the Belt and Road Initiative and BRICS as examples of platforms where countries were pursuing stronger partnerships.
He said economic cooperation should enable countries to add value to their resources, including ensuring that Africa’s minerals and agricultural products contribute more directly to industrial development.
“Unity must move beyond speeches. It requires economic solidarity; we must trade more with one another, building regional value chains,” he said.
Deputy Minister Mavunga also highlighted the importance of technological advancement, warning that the digital divide should not become another barrier to development.
He urged young leaders attending the symposium to embrace cooperation across continents and become drivers of innovation and shared prosperity.
“The Global South holds the keys to humanity’s greatest challenges: critical minerals for green energy, arable land for food security and the youngest populations for innovation,” he said.
Deputy Minister Mavunga said Zimbabwe’s philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasises interconnectedness and shared humanity, aligned with the vision of building a future based on cooperation rather than exclusion.
He said nations of the Global South were not seeking charity, but equitable partnerships that recognise their contribution and potential.
“We are not asking for charity; we are demanding partnership. We are not seeking to destroy the world order; we are seeking to make it fair, just and inclusive,” he said.
The symposium brought together representatives from across the Global South to discuss cooperation, development and strategies for addressing common challenges.
