Kagame calls for sense of urgency, ownership

African countries should do better in mobilising local resources, advance their regional integration, and involve the private sector if the continent’s resources are to benefit all Africans, President Paul Kagame has said. Kagame delivered the message, yesterday, while addressing Africa’s ministers of finance at their eighth Annual Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “We have become used to thinking about development as something we do with money, or other means, coming from outside our countries, or our continent. However, we must continue to challenge ourselves, focusing on and making better use of what we already possess or can mobilise domestically. And there is plenty,” the Head of State said. He explained that the advancement of the financial sector in Africa, including the creation of national and regional capital markets, is an encouraging sign. Meeting in the Ethiopian capital under the auspices of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Uneca), the ministers of finance explored how they can integrate the African Union’s Agenda 2063 into their national, regional and continental development plans. Agenda 2063 is an international strategy to optimise use of Africa’s resources for the benefit of all Africans. It aims to encourage discussion among all stakeholders of Africa’s development on how to effectively learn from the lessons of the past, build on the progress now underway and strategically exploit all possible opportunities to ensure positive socioeconomic transformation of Africa within the next 50 years. President Kagame said Africans seem to have everything they need to achieve the Agenda 2063, except that they need to have a sense of urgency and ownership. “External support should not determine the right choices. When we are able to build something that works for us, no matter how small, that solves real problems, we are in a better position to invite partners to join so they contribute to scaling up a proven solution,” he said, explaining that such an approach would allow Africans to stop accepting frequent excuses regarding capacity, skills, and funding. The EAC integration way Giving the example of the East African Community (EAC) where, in less than two years, the Northern Corridor Infrastructure Projects initiative has already led to freer movement of East Africans, significant reduction in non-tariff barriers, and a big drop in the cost of mobile phone roaming within the region, President Kagame urged African governments to put regional integration on high priority. “We will achieve our aim of a united Africa faster if we intensify our efforts toward regional integration. There are quick wins to be made by simply applying political will,” he said. The President reminded fellow African leaders that they need to involve the private sector in all their plans if they are to succeed in taking their countries forward. “We are used to taking the big decisions, as governments. But we will not get the prosperous economies we seek unless the private sector plays a prominent role. For Public Private Partnerships to be a reality, government and the private sector need to work together, not only on financing, but also planning and implementation, right from the beginning,” he said. Employees at work at Crystal Bottling Company, a soft drink factory in Bugesera District. (John Mbanda) At the meeting of Africa’s finance ministers, yesterday, the African Union Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, hailed Rwanda for both scrapping visa restrictions for residents of African countries and being an example for women empowerment. “It is important that we see investment in our people as the first prerequisite for Agenda 2063 to happen,” Dr Dhlamini-Zuma said. In reaction to her recognition of Rwanda for empowering women and scrapping visa restrictions, President Kagame said it was a matter of translating political will into actions. “The empowerment of women is a question of rights and it makes sense when they are more involved, whether in economic activities or parliament,” Kagame said. He added: “Regarding visa restrictions, initially there were worries. People thought there would be many threats. But we decided that the risks were worth it because these risks were neither new, nor greater than those that already existed.” All African nationals visiting or transiting through Rwanda get their visas at the point of entry. While in Addis, President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame will also be attending the first day of 18th Comesa Heads of State and Government meeting. Mrs Kagame yesterday spoke at First Ladies roundtable on women’s economic empowerment. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Kagame calls for sense of urgency, ownership