Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reiterated that Africa has to free herself from external debt so as to ensure rapid development of the continent.
Writing on his weekly column in The Sunday Mail, President Mnangagwa said that Africa should not mortgage its future but should find resolutions to its economic woes.
“Africa must free herself from external debt. Foreign debt threatens to mortgage its futures; indeed, Africa's posterity. Last week, I was in Sharmel Sheikh to resolve this very matter which continues to hamstring us and our options. The US$17 billion in debt and bloated arrears must be resolved so our country moves forward unencumbered,” said President Mnangagwa.
The President further said that Africa was determined to pursue a development trajectory which was debt free. He added that Zimbabwe’s economy was poised to become stable due to measures that had been implemented and continue being implemented by the Government.
“We are determined to find resolution to this albatross which has been weighing us down. Above all, determined to pursue, development trajectory which is debt free so we augment our sovereignty and options. We see tangible goodwill among creditors to carry us through. Alongside a raft of initiatives we have taken, and are set to take shortly, I foresee a stable and sustainably growing economy, anchored on her resources and a stable currency of her own,” he said.
Furthermore, President Mnangagwa urged Africa to be completely insulated from undue foreign interference, coercion and influence.
“Africa has no masters. She should reject coercion by whomsoever. Above all, she should be free to decide her own policies: who to relate to; what partnership to build for her futures; what values to espouse and promote and what development trajectory to choose and pursue. The days of coercive diplomacy are over. Africa must stand her ground,” said President Mnangagwa.
The President added that African countries should safeguard their independence and should not allow foreign powers to interfere in African internal affairs.
