Date: 24/10/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Conference on Africa 2025
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA AT THE OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE ON AFRICA 2025: SCENARIOS FOR SUB SAHARAN AFRICA, Parliament, Cape Town, 24 October 2003
The Speaker of the South African National Assembly, Frene Ginwala,
The Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Dr Naledi Pandor,
Deputy Speaker of the Ecowas Parliament, Prof Abdoulaye Bathily,
Former President of Botswana, Sir Ketumile Masire,
Former Prime Minister of Senegal, Mr Mamadou Lamine Loum
UNDP African Representative, Mr Janneh,
It is my pleasure this morning to participate in this conference on the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) African Futures publication, "Africa 2025", on possible scenarios for Sub-Saharan Africa.
This conference provides us with an opportunity to debate future scenarios in areas ranging from governance to technology, and how these would impact on the lives of the African peoples.
A lot of work went into the research and production of the book that will be discussed this morning, and we commend the researchers for such good work. Scenario planning allows us an opportunity to crystal gaze into the future, and plan for the kind of life we would like to lead at a particular time.
This study has therefore forced us to take time off our routine work to once again visualise the kind of Africa we envisage, and how we can achieve it.
We must note the fact that the scenarios are being presented during an opportune period when African leaders are committed to doing things in a new way.
The mood in the continent is that of working for an African Renaissance, the building of a new Africa which generations to come will be proud to live in. There is a determination to reverse the legacies of slavery, colonialism, apartheid and resultant underdevelopment.
There is a clear vision of a new Africa, characterised by democracy, peace and stability, respect for human rights and the rule of law. We envisage a continent free of poverty, disease, homelessness and all other social ills that threaten our advancement to a better life.
The research work on this UNDP futures study also coincided with the period during which African leaders were already working towards unifying the continent's efforts towards sustainable development, through the formation of the African Union (AU) and its programme, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
Therefore, information contained in this report will contribute to the carving out of a common vision for the future development of Africa and her people, as well as to ensure that programmes developed for Africa dovetail with the objectives of NEPAD.
We trust that in your deliberations here today, you will as scholars be able to assist us through unpacking the scenarios and applying them to continental objectives, as espoused in the Constitutive Act of the AU, and programmes such as NEPAD.
The planning should also involve the conceptualisation of Africa's future relationship with the world, especially based on our determination to be engaged as equals by our development and social partners internationally.
The world will be an even smaller village in 2025, and in planning for the future, we need to also look at the transformation of international institutions. For example, the restructuring of multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and others should result in a more equitable and fair representation of the developing countries.
Policies that are developed and adopted must be towards alleviating the suffering of the billions of poor, homeless, unemployed and undernourished peoples of our global village.
Our future planning should also take into account the objective of achieving peace and stability, as important factors in ensuring sustainable development and human security.
The divisions entrenched by Africa's colonial history should not be allowed to plunge us into perpetual conflict. Given current planning, we envisage that by 2025, Africa should be characterised by sound and efficient conflict resolution techniques.
We anticipate that there will be fully-fledged and functioning instruments such as the African Standby Force and AU Peace and Security Council, to safeguard Africa's peace and stability. Most importantly, the political will already exists to manage, prevent and resolve these conflicts, and to work towards post-war reconstruction.
With peace having been achieved in South Africa, Mozambique and Angola and with peace in the offing in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Burundi and the Sudan the dividends of peace are truly being realised.
Other important institutions that we foresee being fully functional and making a difference by 2025 include the Pan African Parliament, the African Court of Justice and the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC).
All these institutions will allow for full participation of Africa's stakeholders from civil society in the affairs of the continent and the sub-region as partners of governments.
Ladies and gentlemen, although the study to be discussed at this conference presents a number of critical uncertainties, it nevertheless lays strong emphasis on Africa's self-reliance so as to avert a negative influence of external factors in Africa's development.
The message to all of us is that Africans cannot afford to be passive bystanders in the continent's development. All sectors including government and civil society need to become active participants in the rebuilding and regeneration of our continent. A gathering such as this allows us an opportunity to share ideas and move the process even further.
As said earlier, we are delighted that the book is aligned to the vision of the new Africa that we envisage.
The second section of the book presents scenarios, which are truly relevant to the direction that Africa is taking, and the metaphorical names given to the scenarios are not misplaced, namely; "the lions are trapped; the lions are hungry; the lions come out of their den; and the lions mark their territory."
We eagerly await the resolutions of this conference, as a contribution to the achievement of the objectives of an African renewal.
I wish you all the best in your deliberations.
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
24 October 2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Conference on Africa 2025
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA AT THE OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE ON AFRICA 2025: SCENARIOS FOR SUB SAHARAN AFRICA, Parliament, Cape Town, 24 October 2003
The Speaker of the South African National Assembly, Frene Ginwala,
The Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Dr Naledi Pandor,
Deputy Speaker of the Ecowas Parliament, Prof Abdoulaye Bathily,
Former President of Botswana, Sir Ketumile Masire,
Former Prime Minister of Senegal, Mr Mamadou Lamine Loum
UNDP African Representative, Mr Janneh,
It is my pleasure this morning to participate in this conference on the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) African Futures publication, "Africa 2025", on possible scenarios for Sub-Saharan Africa.
This conference provides us with an opportunity to debate future scenarios in areas ranging from governance to technology, and how these would impact on the lives of the African peoples.
A lot of work went into the research and production of the book that will be discussed this morning, and we commend the researchers for such good work. Scenario planning allows us an opportunity to crystal gaze into the future, and plan for the kind of life we would like to lead at a particular time.
This study has therefore forced us to take time off our routine work to once again visualise the kind of Africa we envisage, and how we can achieve it.
We must note the fact that the scenarios are being presented during an opportune period when African leaders are committed to doing things in a new way.
The mood in the continent is that of working for an African Renaissance, the building of a new Africa which generations to come will be proud to live in. There is a determination to reverse the legacies of slavery, colonialism, apartheid and resultant underdevelopment.
There is a clear vision of a new Africa, characterised by democracy, peace and stability, respect for human rights and the rule of law. We envisage a continent free of poverty, disease, homelessness and all other social ills that threaten our advancement to a better life.
The research work on this UNDP futures study also coincided with the period during which African leaders were already working towards unifying the continent's efforts towards sustainable development, through the formation of the African Union (AU) and its programme, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
Therefore, information contained in this report will contribute to the carving out of a common vision for the future development of Africa and her people, as well as to ensure that programmes developed for Africa dovetail with the objectives of NEPAD.
We trust that in your deliberations here today, you will as scholars be able to assist us through unpacking the scenarios and applying them to continental objectives, as espoused in the Constitutive Act of the AU, and programmes such as NEPAD.
The planning should also involve the conceptualisation of Africa's future relationship with the world, especially based on our determination to be engaged as equals by our development and social partners internationally.
The world will be an even smaller village in 2025, and in planning for the future, we need to also look at the transformation of international institutions. For example, the restructuring of multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and others should result in a more equitable and fair representation of the developing countries.
Policies that are developed and adopted must be towards alleviating the suffering of the billions of poor, homeless, unemployed and undernourished peoples of our global village.
Our future planning should also take into account the objective of achieving peace and stability, as important factors in ensuring sustainable development and human security.
The divisions entrenched by Africa's colonial history should not be allowed to plunge us into perpetual conflict. Given current planning, we envisage that by 2025, Africa should be characterised by sound and efficient conflict resolution techniques.
We anticipate that there will be fully-fledged and functioning instruments such as the African Standby Force and AU Peace and Security Council, to safeguard Africa's peace and stability. Most importantly, the political will already exists to manage, prevent and resolve these conflicts, and to work towards post-war reconstruction.
With peace having been achieved in South Africa, Mozambique and Angola and with peace in the offing in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Burundi and the Sudan the dividends of peace are truly being realised.
Other important institutions that we foresee being fully functional and making a difference by 2025 include the Pan African Parliament, the African Court of Justice and the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC).
All these institutions will allow for full participation of Africa's stakeholders from civil society in the affairs of the continent and the sub-region as partners of governments.
Ladies and gentlemen, although the study to be discussed at this conference presents a number of critical uncertainties, it nevertheless lays strong emphasis on Africa's self-reliance so as to avert a negative influence of external factors in Africa's development.
The message to all of us is that Africans cannot afford to be passive bystanders in the continent's development. All sectors including government and civil society need to become active participants in the rebuilding and regeneration of our continent. A gathering such as this allows us an opportunity to share ideas and move the process even further.
As said earlier, we are delighted that the book is aligned to the vision of the new Africa that we envisage.
The second section of the book presents scenarios, which are truly relevant to the direction that Africa is taking, and the metaphorical names given to the scenarios are not misplaced, namely; "the lions are trapped; the lions are hungry; the lions come out of their den; and the lions mark their territory."
We eagerly await the resolutions of this conference, as a contribution to the achievement of the objectives of an African renewal.
I wish you all the best in your deliberations.
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
24 October 2003
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