Africa has awakened – President Mnangagwa

Harare, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Tuesday Africa must continue to work in unison towards attainment of the vision of development and prosperity set by its founding fathers.

In an Africa Day message, the Zimbabwean leader said it was important to “honour our founding fathers and the many sons and daughters of Africa who pioneered liberation, emancipation, development and prosperity of our mother continent, Africa.”

“It is indeed a time to also galvanise collective action towards the achievement of the vision and aspirations outline in the African Union’s constitutive act and Agenda 2063.The pledges made by Africa’s founding fathers in 1963 must consistently inspire towards a shared prosperity and well being where the potential of our people is realised,” he said.

“It is also important that we work hard for peace and a continent free of neo-colonisalism. We are a proud African people, a continent that has awakened and rising towards a brighter and prosperous future.”

Speaking about the day, AU Commission chairperson, Moussa Fakki Mahamat said the continent must keep pushing in unity, to attain its development ojcetives.

“Today more than ever before, out continued determination for a better tomorrow of peace, unity and shared prosperity must not wave. It remains our greatest strength,” he said.

This year’s Africa Day commemorations are running under the theme, “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa we want”.

The continent marked the day with the launch of the entry into force of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance.

The charter was adopted by the 6th AU Assembly held in Khartoum in 2006.

The main focus areas of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance include promotion of African identity, shared values, the spirit of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance; development of the creative economy of the continent; protection and conservation of African World Heritage Sites and increasing of African sites in the World Heritage List; development and continued dissemination of regional and continental programs for the promotion of African identity, shared values, cultural and creative industries and heritage.
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