Africa needs strong leadership to end poverty-WEF

from Reuters

By Phumza Macanda

CAPE TOWN - Africa needs strong leaders who will connect with the global community and follow up on the many promises made to help pull the continent out of poverty, officials said at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Wednesday.

The 18th WEF on Africa began in South Africa's second biggest city and would discuss how the continent could sustain recent strong economic growth and tackle challenges including soaring food and fuel prices -- which have prompted violent protests in a number of countries.

Senior delegates said as Africa's development continually topped the world agenda, leaders on the continent should follow up on pledges to help the continent out of its poverty trap.

"If Africans themselves do not engage with promises they will remain promises. We have some responsibility to actively look at how those promises get translated into action on the ground," said Wendy Luhabe, chairperson of South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation.

"I don't think Africans themselves have really bothered to follow up on these promises and provide the leadership that is necessary for these promises to be delivered," she said.

Recent violence against immigrants in South Africa and the economic crisis in Zimbabwe would also come under the spotlight.

An estimated 30,000 Zimbabweans, Mozambicans and other African migrants have been living in refugee camps and shelters in South Africa since mobs went on the rampage, killing dozens of Africans in impoverished shantytowns around Johannesburg and other cities.

Millions of Africans remain trapped in poverty despite the continent experiencing five years of strong economic growth averaging 5 percent.

At a meeting with African states last week, Japan pledged to help speed up infrastructure investments into roads and rail that would help the continent sustain its robust economic expansion.

Sadako Ogata, President of Japan International Cooperation Agency said the Group of Eight meeting in July would also focus on the continent.

Due to widespread poverty, Africa is most vulnerable to food shortages and the crisis will be discussed at several sessions of the WEF's three-day conference.

The IMF has also warned that high food prices could lead to social instability across Africa.

The WEF said Zimbabwe would be discussed on Friday, with Simba Makoni, who ran as a Presidential candidate in the March 29 election, and Collen Gwiyo, vice-chairman of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions taking part.