… Calls for Africa to look inward for solutions

Speaking at the 56th Session of the Economic Commission for Africa Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Victoria Falls, President Mnangagwa called for Africa to look inward for solutions to challenges affecting the region as a result of climate change.

The President said this while addressing the African Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning held in Victoria Falls from, 28 February 2024 to 05 March 2024.

 “We must look from within and among ourselves for solutions. We cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand. I therefore challenge you to pursue robust and innovative measures to unlock maximum benefit from our natural resources which essentially starts with sharing of ideas through deeper collaboration,” said the President.

The President also urged the continent to implement green energy policies in order to achieve sustainable development.

“We must think outside the box and trust in our home grown initiatives. This should be complemented by mainstreaming the principle of green economies in line with technological advancements to meet climate goals and emerging demands.

 “These realities necessitate structural shift towards resource efficient, non-polluting, equitable models of growth. Hence it is commended that this year’s conference will discuss financing solutions, technology developments as well as policy options and opportunities for the transition to green economies in Africa.”

President Mnangagwa said that Africans were aware that clean technologies had a vast potential to ensure that they make maximum utilisation of their resources through value edition and beneficiation.

“Meanwhile as Africa we remain cognisant that the movement towards clean technologies presents immense opportunities to unlock our continent’s huge natural resource and human potential. We must be proactive and mobilise financial resources both from domestic and international sources to facilitate the adoption of clean and low carbon technologies,” said the President.

The call for Africa to consider ways of climate financing comes at a time when global greenhouse gas emissions are on the rise wreaking havoc on nations that are least responsible for emissions. The global North which accounts for most of the greenhouse gas emissions is not forthcoming in terms of fulfilling its pledge made at COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland, to fund climate change adaptation measures.

The President indicated that Zimbabwe is implementing a raft of measures under the National Development Strategy 1 to increase agricultural production and productivity through irrigation development especially in communal areas.

The conference was attended by representatives from 32 countries and ran under the theme “Financing the transition to inclusive green economies in Africa: imperatives, opportunities and Policy options.”