Pretoria - As a continent, Africa needs to pause and reflect on the history of the past 50 years and begin to develop lessons for the next 50 years, says Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel.
“We need to ask what we learnt from the various strategies we used to regain our independence. What progress have we made? What are our successes and where have we failed?,” challenged Manuel.
Speaking at the African Renaissance Conference, the minister responsible the National Planning Commission, said the key lessons that Africa must take is responsibility, adding that Africans cannot allow their agenda to be set by anyone else.
“We cannot expect things to be done for us. If we want to advance, we need to catalyse the change we want to see through better planning and more effective implementation. We need to use the resources at our disposal to drive the agenda of raising the standards of living of our people.”
According to Manuel, Africans also need regional integration that draws on the respective strengths of the different countries that make up the continent to overcome the shortcomings.
He said the countries must draw on each other’s strength to build 'the desirable' for all countries - not for one country to develop on the back of the suffering of another.
“To progress as a continent and take advantage of the favourable position we find ourselves in, we must move from the premise that we can only benefit from each other's strength.”
However for this to work the continent would need careful planning, a ruthless focus on implementation and political stamina.
The scale of the challenges that faces Africa needs to be discussed in the context of the African Renaissance.
National Development Plan (NDP)
Manuel used his speech to highlight the over view of the National Development Plan (NDP) which aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030.
According to the plan, South Africa can realise these goals by drawing on the energies of its people, growing an inclusive economy, building capabilities, enhancing the capacity of the state, and promoting leadership and partnerships throughout society.
The NDP is clear about the importance of education and training as a key foundation for social development and progress.
In this light, Manuel reiterated that in order to improve the continent’s skills base, a concerted effort is required which starts with correcting the basics.
“We must raise the bar for all concerned to ensure that the education that all our children, regardless of where the school is located or whether it was a former Model C school, provides the highest quality possible,” he said, adding that it goes beyond, simply improving the living conditions of all citizens.
Reacting to critics of the NDP, Manuel warned against a tendency to oppose without providing solution.
“We respect their right to hold a different view; but we must warn against a tendency to oppose without providing solutions. The criticism may be couched in language that purports to represent our common interest but to the extent that they offer no workable solutions based on a thorough understanding of our economic challenges, we would call for caution.”- SAnews.gov.za
