Heads of States Push For Digital Economy In Africa

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – It was a historic moment for the resort city of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe when five heads of state gathered for the official opening of the 6th Transform Africa Summit on Wednesday.

This is the first time the summit has been held outside Rwanda which is home to Smart Africa Alliance that organises the event.

Rwanda, whose President Paul Kagame is Smart Africa Alliance board chair, hosted the previous five editions.

Smart Africa Alliance was established in 2013 by seven heads of state who felt it prudent to establish a body that brings together African states to address challenges that pin down the continent and now the membership has grown to 36, touching lives of more than 1 billion people, in the 10 year history of the grouping.

So, Zimbabwe won the bid to host the first ever edition outside Rwanda and five heads of state comprising the host Emerson Mnangagwa President of Zimbabwe, Kagame, Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi, Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of ESwatini officiated at the opening ceremony on Wednesday.

The heads of state concurred on the need to leverage on technology and science to leapfrog the continent and catch up with the western countries.

They said the continent is suffering colonial legacy imbalances that need each member state to embrace digitalisation to be able to foster unity, boost economy and ultimately lead to the Africa we want.

President Mnangagwa said modernization of the continent urgently requires adoption of science, technology and innovation.

“The modernization of our great continent urgently requires the adoption of science, technology and innovation, with partnerships and collaboration essential for the continent to leap forward and build capacities,” he said.

President Kagame said artificial intelligence can equally drive the continent forward in critical sectors such as agriculture, health and others.

President Hichilema said technology can create jobs and improve economies, while his neighbour Chakwera reiterated the need to overturn colonial imbalances.

King Mswati III said investing in technology would help create seamless borders for Africa to promote trade among member states.