Addis Ababa:Former African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has made a compelling call for African nations to fundamentally restructure their economic systems. She advocates for the continent to move beyond being a mere exporter of raw materials to becoming a global hub for value-added production.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, in an interview at the Russia-Africa Summit, Dlamini-Zuma highlighted the "African paradox," where immense natural wealth coexists with persistent poverty. She emphasized the importance of "decolonizing the mind" and taking control over Africa's resources to achieve prosperity.
Dlamini-Zuma pointed out the structural flaws in current trade patterns, criticizing the practice of exporting minerals directly from mines to ports without local industrialization. She warned that this results in exporting Africa's future, as it forfeits high-level job creation and revenue generation opportunities.
By processing resources locally, Dlamini-Zuma argued, African nations could generate the necessary revenue for a "skills revolution" to empower the youth to contribute to their nations instead of seeking opportunities abroad. She also emphasized the need for food sovereignty, suggesting that food insecurity is a choice given Africa's vast arable land and resources.
Furthermore, she proposed enhancing intra-African trade via the African Continental Free Trade Area to reduce dependency on external imports. Dlamini-Zuma also stressed the importance of political and social integration, urging states to ratify protocols on the free movement of people to facilitate trade.
In her vision, uniting as a continent would amplify Africa's influence on the global stage, allowing it to present a unified diplomatic front. Dlamini-Zuma's proposals aim to position Africa as a self-reliant, unified, and prosperous participant in the global economy.
