President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a tet-a-tet with his counterparts on the sidelines of the Korea Africa Summit
By George Swarei
The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa, has called for solidarity and shared growth when he delivered a keynote address at the inaugural Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on June 4, 2024. Under the theme “The Future We make Together: Shared Growth, Sustainability, and Solidarity,” President Mnangagwa underscored the urgent need for collaborative efforts between Korea and Africa to tackle common challenges and achieve sustainable development objectives.
President Mnangagwa commenced his speech by extending warm congratulations to President Yoon Suk-Yeol and the people of Korea for hosting the summit and expressing gratitude for the hospitality extended to his delegation. He emphasized that the summit’s theme resonates deeply with Zimbabwe’s national development agenda, emphasizing inclusivity and a higher quality of life for all citizens.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by unilateral sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by certain Western countries for over two decades, President Mnangagwa highlighted the need for mutually beneficial partnerships to foster shared growth and prosperity. Despite these challenges, Zimbabwe remains committed to leveraging its abundant natural resources, high literacy rate, and strategic geographic location to modernize and industrialize its economy.
The president praised Korea’s development journey as a beacon of inspiration and emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from Korea’s successful policies and strategies. He emphasized the need for increased investments in Africa, particularly in localized manufacturing processes, to drive economic diversification, create quality jobs, and empower women and youth.
The President outlined Zimbabwe’s readiness to welcome partnerships and investments from Korea, particularly in agriculture, mineral value addition, tourism, and infrastructure development. He underscored the importance of addressing climate change through investments in green energy and power generation, highlighting the potential of initiatives like the Korea-Rice Belt Initiative to boost food production and security in Africa.
President Mnangagwa Furthermore, stressed the importance of deepening cooperation in science, technology, and innovation between Korea and Africa. He emphasized the significance of skills and technology transfer, digitalization, and the growth of knowledge-based economies to drive sustainable development across the continent.
The President reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to the summit agenda and expressed optimism about the outcomes and implementation of collaborative initiatives. His address underscored the importance of solidarity, shared growth, and sustainable development in shaping the future of Africa-Korea relations.
