Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini’s Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, has urged African leaders to move beyond talk and take bold, decisive action to secure the continent’s future.
Speaking at the launch of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035 in Johannesburg on 5 May 2025, Tshawuka called for a complete overhaul in the way African nations approach trade, agriculture, and food security.
“The time has come for the tire to hit the tarmac — and hit it in a totally different way,” Tshawuka declared, stressing that while Africa is richly endowed with natural resources, its people are still plagued by hunger and poverty. “We have soils, rivers, and resources that should feed the world, yet our populations are starving.”
Tshawuka challenged fellow leaders to rethink implementation strategies, noting that although the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers opportunities, “there is very little trade between us as African countries — and that has to change.”
He did not shy away from highlighting the barriers that have long stifled intra-African trade. “Even traveling between African countries is a problem,” he said, sharing a personal anecdote. “A couple of weeks back, I had to go to Morocco, but I couldn’t go straight — I had to go elsewhere before coming here. We need to deal with that reality.”
Tshawuka called for concrete solutions, including improved travel systems, regional travel hubs, common payment systems, and easier visa regimes. “Our currencies must be easily exchanged so we can buy from each other,” he emphasized.
Importantly, the minister also championed agro-processing and the beneficiation of Africa’s natural resources. “If we don’t process our agricultural produce within the continent, we’ll never attain food sovereignty,” he warned.
His message was clear and urgent: “Our continent and our future generations depend on us to do the right things so that we get out of hunger and poverty.”
As Africa charts its agricultural future, Tshawuka’s speech stood out for its clarity, honesty, and call for unity. It was a timely reminder that achieving Africa’s ambitions under Agenda 2063 will require not just strategies, but action — and the political will to tear down the walls holding the continent back.
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