Address by Hon Premier TSP Makwetla on Africa Day Kwaggafontein Stadium, Thembisile Municipality

Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Thembisile Municipality, Clr VV Nkosi
Executive Mayor of Nkangala District, Clr S Mashilo
Members of the Executive Council
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Education, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Mr SN Sikhosana
Members of Traditional Leadership among us today
Esteemed delegation from Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Fellow Africans
Comrades and compatriots
Ladies and gentlemen

On the occasion of celebrating Africa Day today, we should draw inspiration from progress and achievements that Africa has made in advancing struggles for freedom and equality, democracy and peace on the continent. From the brutal colonial past, characterised by the dehumanising experience of oppression, underdevelopment and global marginalisation of the peoples of Africa, we should join hands with our fellow Africans across the continent and the Diaspora to celebrate Africa's independence and freedom from the shackles of colonialism.

The founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on this day 44 years ago signified a critical moment in the evolution of Africa's political life and history. It was a day that affirmed the realisation that political emancipation, success and growth of the African continent depended on working together in a united manner among African people towards a shared vision, common goals and interests, as well as a common destiny for African people. It was a voice that signalled that Africa must unite.

The launch of the African Union (AU) in 2002 was an affirmation and continuation of the vision, values and aspirations embodied in the founding principles of the OAU. The establishment of the AU ushered a renewed commitment to enhancing unity and work towards a full integration of the continent to achieve sustainable development. There was a realisation that in the face of globalisation, African countries needed to pool their resources to enhance Africa's growth prospects, and strengthen international competitiveness.

On this day, we must pay tribute to all the African leaders, freedom fighters, heroes and heroines whose visionary leadership, courage and sacrifices contributed to freedom and the improvement of the lives of African people. In doing this, we must seize the opportunity to reflect on achievements and prospects for a better Africa. We must harness the collective will and commitment of the African people in building a strong continent to ensure that this century becomes a 'truly African century.'

The theme underpinning our commemoration of Africa Day today is 'strengthening Africa's place in the world through strategic, balanced and responsible partnerships.' To strengthen Africa's role in global affairs, it remains critical that Africa speaks with a united voice so that Africa's development priorities are placed on the global agenda. Africa's partnerships with the rest of the world can never be sustainable if it is based on exploitative relationships that promote self-interest at the expense of Africa's growth and development. We need equal partnerships that advance socio-economic development needs of the African people, and recognise Africa's contribution to development of the world.

We should strengthen Africa's position in the world by engaging the international community to complement the efforts made by Africans themselves, through fairer trade, greater financial assistance and debt relief. We need partnerships that open up global markets to Africa so that we eliminate imbalances and distortions in global trade markets. In this regard, Africa's unity will help to strengthen its position in world trade negotiations and matters of global governance, peace and stability.

Despite challenges, we must work tirelessly to build partnerships that assist Africa towards creating political conditions conducive to sustainable development on the continent. We must promote peace, security, democracy and good governance, a culture of human rights and sound economic management practices as necessary and imperative conditions of sustainable development.

As Africans, we should be encouraged by the work of the African Union in strengthening institutions for conflict prevention, resolution and management. There is growing impetus towards democratisation of African governments which is evident with many countries achieving successful transfers of power through open electoral processes. It is of utmost importance to all African governments to support multilateral institutions that are working towards building lasting peace and security in conflict-riddled parts of our continent.

Our celebration of Africa day will be meaningless if we continue to have some of our brothers and sisters on the continent subjected to violent attacks, displacements and murder. These conflicts continue to hold back development by destroying social and economic infrastructures as well as diverting much-needed resources for development. There should be a shared understanding that solutions to Africa's problems will come from Africa. Africans themselves must forge closer partnerships and develop trust among them to resolve their own problems.

As we continue to implement the vision of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), we should be cognisant of the need to strengthen public participation and civic engagement so that African people at all levels have their voices heard in shaping the nature of development on the continent. We are positive that the Pan-African Parliament will continue to grow and serve as a platform for the articulation of the aspirations of the peoples of Africa. It is imperative that we build strong partnerships with communities, the business sector and civil society organisations in addressing challenges facing the continent.

Programme Director, we welcome progress on the implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). This is one of Nepad's innovative programmes aiming at fostering the adoption of policies and practices leading to political stability, economic growth, accountability, good governance and democracy on the continent. It is an important platform that allows engagement across all the sectors of society on evaluating the performance of a country on agreed indicators of performance. Citizen participation and input are critical in enabling African governments to design appropriate interventions to improve development and service delivery.

Fellow Africans, our commemoration of Africa Day should strengthen our resolve to renew our commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Our collective efforts and partnerships should tackle challenges of underdevelopment, poverty and the burden of disease, especially the ravaging impact on HIV and AIDS on the continent.

The achievement of Millennium Development Goals will mean that Africa has succeeded in advancing human rights that the people of Africa are entitled to. partnerships and co-operation between African countries should focus not only on civil and political rights, but must also advance socio-economic rights. Our development agenda should accelerate access to education and health services so that we meet the targets of enrolling all children of school age in primary schools by 2015 as well as reduce infant, child and maternal mortality ratios by three-quarters by 2015.

As a province, we have designated some of the schools as 'no fee schools' to ensure that children are not denied access to education because their parents cannot afford to pay school fees. Education is a basic human right. Our hospital revitalisation programme and improvements in primary healthcare services are some the interventions aimed at improving the quality of healthcare provision to our citizens. It is necessary that African countries co-operate and pool their resources to fight the burden of disease and poverty.

Programme Director, one of Nepad's key sectoral priorities focuses on the provision of water and sanitation so that we ensure access to safe and adequate clean water supply and sanitation, especially for the poor. As a province, we have made progress in the provision of sanitation by ensuring that we eradicate the bucket toilet system. Our municipalities continue to address sanitation challenges. To address water access challenges, we have prioritised the 'Water for All' flagship project as one of our Big Five flagship projects. This flagship focuses on accelerating the delivery of water infrastructure and services to ensure that all the citizens of Mpumalanga have access to safe and clean water by 2010.

In addressing poverty and underdevelopment challenges, we need to grow African economies to generate jobs and opportunities for income. It is essential to strengthen efforts towards the integration of African economic communities to facilitate economic co-operation among African States. We should consciously facilitate partnership and co-operation along economic development corridors that are linking regional economies in Africa. As a province, we are grapping with the challenges of poverty and unemployment. Part of our intervention to stimulate economic growth and job creation is our prioritisation of the Moloto and Maputo Development Corridors as part of our 'Big Five' flagship projects.

We believe that the Maputo Development Corridor has a potential to further advance economic co-operation and partnerships between Mozambique and South Africa, Mpumalanga province in particular because of close proximity. It essential that private and public sector partnerships are mobilised to leverage business development and investment opportunities along the Maputo corridor in order to benefit the people of Mpumalanga and Mozambique. We are encouraged by private sector initiatives already underway along the corridor, and we are confident that that these initiatives will contribute to much needed development on the continent.

The hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup games by Mbombela Municipality presents further opportunities for Mpumalanga to engage in partnerships with Mozambique and Swaziland in areas such infrastructure development, tourism and hospitality, health, transport and safety and security. We are optimistic that the World Cup games experience and opportunities for interactions and partnerships at different levels of society will promote unity and cohesion among the peoples of Africa.

Programme Director, our commemoration of Africa Day must celebrate Africa as a continent with a tapestry of many cultures, religions and cultures that define Africa's heritage. Africa is a continent of many wonders. It is the Cradle of Humankind. It holds beautiful Bushman paintings in its rocks. It is a home to rare biodiversity and incredible World Heritage sites such as the majestic Drakensberg Mountains. Africa is the site of incredible feats like the great Pyramids of Egypt, and the Zimbabwe Ruins. In Mpumalanga, the exciting geology of the Makhonjwa Mountains and the Komati Valley presents the experience of fossils representing the very first life forms on planet Earth. We must celebrate Africa as the Cradle of Life.

Africa must be united in sustainable environmental development initiatives that help to define and preserve African heritage and protect sensitive biodiversity and ecosystems. We need to enhance cross-border biodiversity conservation and environmental initiatives to ensure that we prevent environmental degradation in Africa. Africa's pristine environment is the envy of the world and it is our responsibility to preserve our heritage and environment for future generations. The value of heritage and responsible environmental management practices contributes to the development of the tourism industry in Africa, and thereby contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction on the continent.

As a province, our contribution to sustainable environmental management on the continent will be realised through our implementation of our flagship project 'Heritage, Greening Mpumalanga and Tourism.' It is a project that integrates the elements of defining and recording Mpumalanga's heritage, enhancing biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and effective environmental management practices to create a 'green province.' Our focus on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use will enable the province to conserve sensitive ecosystems, including sites of heritage significance.

Heritage and 'greening the province' will generate opportunities for developing and packaging tourism products to increase the province's tourism market share. With increased tourism in the province, more investment and job opportunities will be created to contribute to the reduction of poverty. It is our responsibility as leaders to mobilise our communities to appreciate heritage and the significance of the clean environment to their lives.

Fellow Africans, our ability to achieve the Africa's growth and development targets depends on unity, co-operation, solidarity and partnerships among the African governments and their people. The strength of Africa's unity will enhance Africa's international standing and contribution to the political economy of global development and partnerships. We should work together to make the 21st century a truly African Century.

Thank you.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
25 May 2007