The Kingdom of Eswatini has affirmed a commitment to work with fellow African countries to tackle multiple crises characterized by high debt levels,
climate change, multiple disasters caused by natural and man-made phenomena, armed insurgents, high unemployment,
especially among the youth, economic instability, public health emergencies and political instability, to mention but a few.
PM Russell Dlamini emphasised that Africa has great potential, whose time is ripe to be realised in this lifetime.
“Our continent is blessed with a wealth of natural endowments such as its climate, fertile soils, and a vibrant youthful population. Such assets must be protected from both internal and external threats that seek to exploit and plunder them without limit.
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The era when African resources enriched foreign lands while our people suffered in poverty and hardship must urgently come to an end. Africa has some of the largest untapped reserves of natural and mineral resources, which are often exported in their raw form,” he said.
This practice he said must be transformed through a deliberate move from planning to real action on value addition through beneficiation of our vast primary products spanning sectors.
The PM said exporting raw materials is tantamount to exporting jobs and wealth outside the continent, therefore African countries must add value to their resources to reap the full benefits of their hard work.
Where technology is lacking, Dlamini said there should be skills sharing among African nation-states, and where necessary,
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mutually beneficial partnerships for technology transfer must be established, adding that the 4th Industrial Revolution should anchor the continent’s transformation to produce food, goods and services for a fast-urbanising African society.
The PM further noted that it was fitting that the theme “Educate an African fit for the 21st Century” is on education, which means Africa’s predominantly young population must be skilled and empowered to uplift their economies.
They not only need jobs, but a change in their mindset and the ability to think critically and independently, discerning what is right and wrong for Africa and her values.
“Our youth must be encouraged to be innovative and technologically savvy, capable of solving Africa’s problems with homegrown solutions.
Africa must believe in her people and come up with solutions to the African challenges The time for believing that the best solutions to the plethora of problems that Africa faces should come from abroad is over,” he said.
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