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African leaders at the African Mining Indaba Conference in Cape Town have called for a united front during negotiations with the European Union, EU.
South African Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe and the Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema made this call on the 54 African nations to ‘speak with one voice’ when negotiating with the European Union, noting that continental unity is not merely a slogan but a ‘strategic imperative’.
“Let’s not allow a situation where, when we talk with our colleagues from Europe, we talk to them as the EU while we talk to them as 54 individual countries; we are much weaker that way,” Mantashe stated at the Africa Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town.
He added, “This continent owes it to itself to unite, work together, and talk to the outside world as one. It is a long way to go, but let’s try it; let’s give it a go. It is what we need most as a continent,”.
Mining as a Driver of Economic Growth
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema also highlighted the central role of the mining sector in driving economic growth across Africa, noting that industrialisation and the ‘value addition’ of raw materials within the continent are key components of success.
“We need larger quantities of capital, a fair price of capital. That will allow us to grow in a manner that is sustainable, and it profits everybody when we do it that way,” Hichilema said.
The Mining Indaba conference is taking place on February 9-12 under the theme ‘Stronger Together: Progress Through Partnerships’.
This year’s summit focuses on essential minerals critical for the global green energy transition, such as copper, lithium, and cobalt, as Africa seeks to position itself as a central hub in the global supply chain.
Sources : Viory/ SABC
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