It is Strong Leadership That Will Unlock Africa’s Business Potential, Leadership Forum Concludes.

Former Presidents follow the keynote address from the high-table. From left is H.E Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, H.E. Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, H.E Benjamin William Mkapa of Tanzania, H.E Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and H.E. Armando Guebuza of Mozambique.

Former Presidents follow the keynote address from the high-table. From left is H.E Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, H.E. Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, H.E Benjamin William Mkapa of Tanzania, H.E Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and H.E. Armando Guebuza of Mozambique.

 

By TZ Business News Staff.

 

Former heads of State from four Southern African nations of Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania, have called on African leaders to work collectively as a continent “to promote inclusivity, peace and stability, as well as negotiating pragmatic trade agreements.”

They have also identified strong leadership as key to unlocking the potential of African business development.

A statement made available to TZ Business News from  UONGOZI Institute says  the call on African leaders to work collectively was made at the end of a two-day leadership forum called The African Leadership Forum 2016 held in Dar es Salaam.

The Meeting, held from July 28 to July 29, 2016, was organized by UONGOZI Institute and hosted by the former Tanzania President, H. E. Benjamin William Mkapa to reflect on African development.

This year’s event aimed to provide a platform to deliberate on the obstacles preventing African businesses from flourishing, and what needs to be done about them.

Former President Benjamin William Mkapa delivers his opening remarks.

Former President Benjamin William Mkapa delivers his opening remarks.

“Former African Heads of State, government and business leaders of the African Leadership Forum 2016 underscored strong leadership as the key to unlocking the potential of African businesses to drive development,” the statement says.

The view pointed “towards the need for African leaders to work collectively as a continent to promote inclusivity, peace and stability, as well as in negotiating pragmatic trade agreements for the benefit of the majority of the continent’s citizens,” the statement adds.

The Forum, in its third year now, convened a total of 5 former Heads of State, several heads of regional institutions and over 250 leaders from government, business, academia and civil society from all over Africa under the theme of, “Enabling African Businesses to Transform the Continent.”

Former Presidents in attendance were H.E. Joaquim Chissano and H.E. Armando Guebuza of Mozambique, H.E. Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, and H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia. The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Sipho Nkosi, former President of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa.

The African Leadership Forum 2016 builds on the success of the inaugural dialogue in 2014 on Meeting the challenges of Africa’s transformation and the dialogue in 2015 on Moving towards an integrated Africa.

Former President of the Chamber of Mines in South Africa and former CEO of Exxaro Mr. Sipho Nkosi gives the keynote address at the African Leadership Forum 2016.

Former President of the Chamber of Mines in South Africa and former CEO of Exxaro Mr. Sipho Nkosi gives the keynote address at the African Leadership Forum 2016.

 

A public plenary was followed by three closed sessions for a core group of nearly 50 African leaders on “Making African Businesses Inclusive”, “Enhancing Businesses through Regional Integration”, and “The Impact of Trade Agreements on Business and Private Sector Development”.

This year, the Forum also featured a parallel session for youth leaders which took place on 28 July, 2016, where they discussed issues of inclusivity and regional integration and presented the outcomes of the discussion to the Forum on the final day. More Information on the event is available here.