adminPamela Shumba in Arusha, Tanzania
AFRICA has remained poor for too long, and should now create employment and protect its natural resources, President Mugabe has said. At the Third Africa-China Young Leaders’ Forum here yesterday, the African Union Chair made an emotional plea to African youths to utilise the continent’s resources optimally.
“A continent of abundant resources remains in the throes of poverty. There is not enough to eat. There is not enough to give health to our people. There is not enough to send children to school. Why, why, when our resources daily flow out to other continents?” queried the President who was guest of honour at the event.
“This is the great question for the continent; the great question for the nation-states of Africa, indeed the great question which should exercise the youths of Africa.”
President Mugabe said the continent needed skilled youngsters who will jointly map out a new future and end suffering by standing against Western machinations.
He also implored African youths to uphold the legacy of the continent’s iconic forebears like Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of fighting for the emancipation of the people.
“Today, who wields the wealth of Africa? Who controls Africa’s wealth? Who squanders it; wrestling it from the mouths of her starving children? Much worse, throwing the continent in distracting wars. We saw it in Zimbabwe. We can testify.
“. . . The burden of preserving and defending that freedom falls right on the youth. The beast of imperialism is back on the prowl, in heat again. It seeks re-conquest, re-occupation of our continent under a different guise. Take great care, you the youth of Africa.”
He added: “The very freedom and independence you enjoy today came at great cost, after huge sacrifices. Many had to die. Many are crippled. A lot more missed lifelong opportunities so you could have a brighter day, an African day. They reposed a politically free Africa in your hands.
“Let us not throw it away or give it up for filthy lucre. I state categorically that our founding fathers gave us a vision which remains immutable: the vision of a free Africa. We can never escape it; maybe only betray it to our detriment. My generation fought for political independence; and the fighting force comprised the youths of Africa, your elder brothers.
“Our youth have never negated the responsibility of solving great questions of the day on our continent. And when you visit a country like Tanzania, the question nags you with unremitting insistence. Nyerere keeps asking us, keeps asking all of us as African leaders: ‘What have you done; what are you doing to extricate the children from the clutches of resource imperialism? How has your unity as Africans aided and abetted resolution of this age-old question?’ He asks, his face full of sorrow.”
The international forum — organised by Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) — was themed “Friendship, Cooperation and Development”, and drew guests from over 40 African countries who discussed youth participation in development.
The discussions also explored how African youth and China could cooperate to utilise business opportunities available to both parties.
The forum has previously been held in Windhoek, Namibia and Beijing, China, and seeks to create a platform for regular interaction and cooperation between young Africans and their Chinese counterparts.
China contributes in a major way to African development and holds many opportunities for youths.
Further, the interactive platform aims to raise young people who understand their critical role in accelerating socio-economic development in their countries.
Online Reporter