Africa-Press – Eritrea. THE former South African President, Thabo Mbeki said the future of Africa cannot continue to be decided by others–it must be shaped by the decisions, efforts, and solidarity of Africans themselves.
Mr Mbeki said that during a special Africa Day lecture held at the Nkrumah Hall of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.
The event was organized in collaboration with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and brought together scholars, youth, and various stakeholders to discuss the future and development of the African continent.
In his address, Mbeki used a historical context to reflect on Africa’s current state, highlighting the lasting impacts of colonialism, the weakness of internal institutions, overreliance on foreign nations, and the urgent need to strengthen African unity and its institutions to achieve genuine development.
“Africa’s future cannot continue to be decided by others—it must be shaped by the decisions, efforts, and solidarity of Africans themselves,” Mbeki stressed.
Despite the political gains achieved following independence, Mbeki pointed out that the continent still faces numerous challenges, including economic hardships, insecurity, and a lack of internal cohesion.
He urged African nations to safeguard and promote unity and solidarity, adding that institutions such as the African Union (AU) and its Commission must earnestly uphold the principles upon which they were founded and fulfill their intended objectives.
Speaking on leadership in Africa, Mbeki emphasized the need for visionary and ethical leaders, likening the ideal to the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, to steer the continent towards its desired future.
He also called upon university students to collaborate with their peers across Africa and use their positions to guide discourse on how to revive hope and redirect the continent towards sustainable development.
The lecture was part of the annual Africa Day celebrations, commemorated every May 25, and served as a platform to discuss strategic pathways for building a free, united, and progressive Africa for its people.
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