Story by Ian Zvoma, News Editor
AFRICA is gearing up to speak with one voice at the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit set for Johannesburg, South Africa, in November.
This is the position agreed upon at the Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments hosted by the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa, this Monday.
The summit is set to be held on African soil for the first time, an opportunity for the continent and the Global South to address the lopsided world economic order.
“This summit must not be business as usual, the world is gathering in Africa, and it will require that Africa speak with clarity, but more importantly, with courage under the theme: Solidarity, Sustainability and Equality. South Africa’s G20 Presidency provides us with the historic platform to insist that the G20 prioritises the needs of the global south,” South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Honourable Alvin Botes said.
The late great Bob Marley said none but ourselves can free our minds, and in that vein, Africa is ready for the task at hand.
“It is very significant because when you talk about G20, which is being hosted on the African continent, it is really something all the African countries are proud of, simply because it is very evident that Africa actually has a great role to play in the economic development of the whole world. So hosting it here gives us an opportunity to talk to our partners, to talk to other leaders, particularly on the side of parliament. Because again, when you talk about any government on the continent or worldwide, parliament cannot be left behind,” Gambia, Honourable Alhagie Mbow said.
“We are there to learn and map the way forward to transform our economies in Africa, and we push for the African Continental Free Trade Area. Because we have to prepare for the future where we are not sure of the intentions of the global north,” Honourable Tafanana Zhou said.
Step by step, Africa is on course to economic emancipation.
