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TO NEPAD PROJECTS CONFERENCE GALA DINNER
8th October 2007
Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa
Dr Reuel Khoza
CHAIRMAN: AKA Capital / Nedbank Group / NEPAD Business
Foundation
AFRICA, TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN DESTINY
Look at the people sitting around you. You, we, all of us, are
the fruit of seeds that were sown over 50 years ago, when the
first visionary African leaders strove to create independence.
It was a lonely and difficult road, that at first was undertaken
in isolation. Dr Kwame Nkrumah stood as the precursor and role
model for the rest of Africa when Ghana obtained independence in
1957. And Julius Nyerere was one of those who took up the baton,
but together with other Pan-African leaders, realised that going
it alone was not ideal. The way forward was in partnership with
others of like mind.
So together, these forerunners established the OAU in 1963. They
also espoused several principles for us to learn from. First and
foremost I believe, is that African countries have the potential
to unite and to become a force to be contended with. Secondly,
that we Africans, need to protect and sustain our own terms of
reference, our own conditions, not resign ourselves to dealing
with others on their terms. Thirdly, that it is from standing
together that we will draw strength and resolve and that
synergies will flow. This concept of partnership lies at the
heart of Nepad, and is the essence of the Nepad Business
Foundation (NBF). It is what has brought us here tonight and it
is the force which must propel us ahead to realise our dreams.
It was our own visionary, Madiba, who stated that "the future
belongs to those who believe in the beauty of dreams." NEPAD has
a dream, a beautiful dream, a dream for African renewal, for the
resurgence of a continent that looks to its own people for its
own salvation. A continent, which works as an equal with its
partners, drawing on their strengths while contributing its own
to them.”
For the very foundation of Nepad is partnership. But this is not
a philosophical, idealistic concept. It must be grounded in
reality, not pretty words. Which is why the private sector is
fulfilling such an important role in realising our African
dream. There needs to be a meeting together of spirit and will,
of vision and action. As the visionaries look into the future
and inspire their followers, working to create bonds and
alliances, they are joining hands with those who are
business-oriented, who can take the strategies and policies and
turn them into action.
Business, I am pleased to say, has caught the dream. I would be
the first to admit that Nepad has frequently been greeted with
scepticism, as the cynics point to the mistakes of the past. But
we are no longer in that preliminary stage of seeking our own
feet. We have the maturity to learn the lessons of the past. And
one of those is the art of government. Nepad is in the forefront
of creating political stability and conflict resolution,
inculcating African peoples and governments with the
understanding that prosperity, development and security come
from the ballot box. Democracy is becoming a norm.
This means that business itself grows, and from its cooperation
with the NEPAD strategies and ideals flow synergies. The ripples
of this partnership affect poverty alleviation, job creation
socio-economic upliftment, improved quality of life. In turn
this inspires greater aspirations, creates more opportunities
and incidentally, makes the continent an increasingly attractive
business proposition to both the West and the East.
So in effect, we find ourselves at a crucial crossroads. Are we,
in our goal to develop and create prosperity, going to repeat
the mistakes of the past which led to the rape of Africa?
Because let me assure you, many international stakeholders are
looking at our raw materials and resources with very hungry
eyes. Are we going to allow another "scramble for Africa" which
saw the continent partitioned wily-nilly by those outside
ourselves?
We need to stand together in partnership to prevent this. We
must consolidate our regional efforts to ensure that our
partnerships are solid and effective. Our regional organisations
such as SADEC, COMESA, ECOWAS and Magrheb need to dovetail
strategies, policies and vision. It is up to us to make a
decision to consolidate so that we can function effectively as
one united continent which can stand toe to toe with global
powers. Because we have the potential to compete and cooperate
in consumer power, manufacturing power, commercial force.
We know that both China and India are growing economic
super-powers - and they need to fuel their growth with raw
materials and resources. And guess whom they are eyeing? Neither
is the West standing idly by. They are also going to muscle in
for their piece of the turf. Historically, Africa has offered
the deep mines and dispensed its mineral resources. But now it
is time to move up a step. We have the capability to value add.
We have the skills and resources to beneficiate. Through NEPAD
partnerships we can achieve that.
At the same time, we need to ensure that the regulatory
framework is not only conducive to trade, but that it is
structured in a way which tips the scales in Africa's favour.
This is one of Nepad's objectives. The private sector is
partnering with us to achieve this.
We can see, looking back at the pioneers of national
independence who yet saw the need for a greater Pan-Africanism,
that the "lone ranger" approach will not work. Political leaders
on their own without the cooperation, support and commitment of
business, cannot realise their ideals and plans. Business
without political support is stranded. But business will also
not buy into unrealistic dreams and rhetoric. Business wants
facts. It wants realism. It wants concrete proof.
To date, I am pleased to say, that the first partnerships have
provided just that. Not only is business benefiting, Africa is.
So it has become a mutually beneficial partnership. And by this
I am not implying that business leaders seek only profit. Far
from it. Our partnerships with business leaders from all
industries have been based on the desire to see socio-economic
development and progress. No one wants to live or operate where
there is extreme poverty, lack of infrastructure, disease and
oppression. But business needs to see its way clear to
contribute positively to remedying these ills. And through NEPAD,
it is finding solutions.
The NBF is the platform where business interacts with NEPAD
strategies. The NBF is the database for NEPAD information,
intelligence on African markets, the hub for support structures
and networks.
I am confident that we are devising a formula for a new, bolder
and stronger Africa. Through Nepad, it is a road we are mapping
as we work: pooling resources, learning from mistakes, building
on successes. This road has not been travelled before in Africa.
I believe it is the right road. I repeat, that we are at a
crossroads in our history.
I can do no better than quote a leading Black American thinker,
Frederick Douglas, on self-determination:
“Our destiny is largely in our own hands. If we find, we shall
have to seek. If we succeed in the race of life, it must be by
our own energies and our own exertions. Others may clear the
road, but we must go forward, or be left behind in the race of
life. If we remain poor and dependant, the riches of other men
will not avail us. If we are ignorant, the intelligence of other
men will do but little for us. If we are foolish, the wisdom of
other men will not guide us. If we are wasteful of time and
money, the economy of other men will only make our destitution
the more disgraceful and hurtful.”
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