Africa's development has been delayed and derailed throughout history. At one time, it was delayed by the continent's detachment from the rest of the world, which deprived it of new ideas and innovations for economic progress.
At other times, it has been delayed by superstitions that resist new inventions and solutions that threaten old ideas.
This is according to Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera. He made the remarks while addressing the Transform Africa Summit in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
"For the longest time, it was also delayed by decades of colonial occupation, as foreign nations from the West scrambled for Africa's resources and used them to develop their own industries while leaving Africa underdeveloped, the effects of which are still being felt today."
More recently, President Chakwera said, we are seeing Africa's progress delayed by a new scramble for Africa between the West and the East as they each seek to dominate the industries of tomorrow using Africa's rich minerals and metals, all in collaboration with corrupt governments that are willing to sell their nation's birthright to development and economic sovereignty for a song.
"The result of all these delays is that Africa has been left behind. We have been left behind in agricultural production, in standards of education, in tourism, in mining, in health, in security, in infrastructure development, in trade, and many other sectors."
Technology is the only shortcut
When it comes to the socio-economic development of Africa, President Chakwera said, the only way to catch up is to take a shortcut, and the only shortcut available to us now is technologies that allow us to go digital in every sector of our economy.
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"Now, as to the question of how we take such a leap frogging shortcut, the only way is for us to work hard on lifting the obstacles to digitization and to work together on connecting the whole continent digitally so that Africa becomes a single digital market. That is why I am excited to be here to represent Malawi as the newest member of the Smart Africa Alliance."
Host President Emmerson Mnangagwa echoed similar sentiments, citing that the modernisation and industrialisation of Africa urgently require the adoption of science, technology and innovation.
Mnangagwa reiterated that the summit is being held at a time when lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic give impetus for Africa to develop its own capabilities, across the social, economic and industrial spectrum.
"To realize our vision of Transforming Africa through ICT, the young African innovators are challenged to deploy our Continent's abundant raw materials for the production of ICT-related hardware and gadgets."
"Our institutions of higher education and technopreneurs should also be supported to design relevant software solutions that speak to the intricacies of African economies and communities."
Several Heads of State including His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini, and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, among other high-ranked officials attended this year's Transform Africa Summit, which is running for its sixth edition.
King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini issued a rallying call to participants, urging that it is time to focus on technology, share and not compete, this way we stand to achieve more.
