BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MORROCCO – Ndzingeni Member of Parliament Lutfo Dlamini, has today told world leaders here that African regional integration must accelerate so that the continent can respond even more effectively to a globalizing world.
Addressing over 2 000 attendees of the MEdays International Forum’s 14th Edition held in the Moroccan City of Tangier, the MP said Continental Economic Integration cannot be achieved by relying strictly on political initiatives or focusing narrowly on economic dynamics, as had been the case with previous undertakings.
The politician was speaking under a theme: “How to shape and Simplify the Continental Integration Architecture”
He started his speech by conveying greetings to HM King Mohammed VI to whom he also passed greetings on behalf of the people of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The Ndzingeni legislator is among 200 renowned speakers at this year’s Forum dubbed “the DAVOS of Africa” held from November 2-5 under the theme, “From Crises to Crisis: Towards a New World Order?”
“Continental Economic Integration cannot be achieved by relying strictly on political initiatives or focusing narrowly on economic dynamics, as had been the case with previous undertakings. We can never hope to separate political and economic imperatives,” he said.
The legislator stated that there is now a renewed impetus to establish closer economic and political ties among the continent’s numerous countries, based on a heightened appreciation of the need for regional integration and a clearer understanding of the reasons for past failures.
“African regional integration must accelerate so that the continent can respond even more effectively to a globalizing world. Building more links among African countries is essential for the continent’s economic progress. Wider regional markets can open up more opportunities for African producers and consumers, beyond the sometimes small markets within their own borders,” he said.
The MP mentioned that Continental Economic integration can reduce the costs of developing essential infrastructure, including transport, communications, energy, water systems, and scientific and technological research, which often lie beyond the means of individual countries.
“At the same time, integration facilitates large-scale investment by reinforcing the attractiveness of our economies and reducing the risks,” he said before disclosing steps that he said were being taken in reshaping continental integration infrastructure.
He said these included:
• Involving civil associations, the youth, business groups, professionals, and other sectors of society more actively in all integration endeavors
• Achieving an appropriate balance between public and private economic initiatives
• Reconciling the sometimes-conflicting interests of countries with diverse sizes, natural resources, and economic performance
• Pursuing a pace of integration that is simultaneously ambitious and realistic
• Rationalizing Africa’s many different regional institutions, to reduce overlap and inefficiency.
In addition, the MP stated that for continental integration to succeed in the face of past failures and present challenges; there is a strong need for “balanced, equitable development,” so that all countries feel they are ultimately gaining something.
He said how quickly — and how well — Africa moves toward integration will depend to a great extent on reforming its existing regional institutions such as SADC, EAC, ECOWAS, MRU, etc. “This includes not only opening them up to greater participation by civil society groups and local business interests but also streamlining the continent’s confusing multiplicity of organizations,” the politician said.
