By CHARITY MOONGA in South Africa –
MAURITIUS President Ameenah Gurib Fakim has called for increased and robust economic change to reverse poverty in Africa.
Ms Fakim said that Africa was making headway in education and life expectancy had increased by 10 per cent.
It was sad that slumping commodity prices, population growth and climate change had continued to frustrate development efforts in the continent.
She said very soon the world demand for food will increase and yet the agriculture sector in Africa is hard hit by climate change.
Ms Fakim said despite hardships, Africa was ready for business and growth hence the need to reform the continent.
“For us to reform the economy we need robust economic change. Already sub Sahara Africa is grew at the rate of 4.1 per cent and growth will remain strong so we need to renew our fight against poverty, malnutrition and hunger,” she said.
She said African growth was being experienced at a time when almost 80 percent of Africans had cell phones.
Ms Fakim was speaking when she officially opened the Africa Media Initiative sponsored Africa Media Leaders Forum (AMLF) in Johannesburg, South Africa yesterday.
She urged the media to play a pivotal role in achieving the African development agenda.
She said Science and Journalism had the capacity to enhance development.
Africa should also increase the role of women in development to attain economic emancipation.
Africa Special envoy on women, Bineta Diop called for mechanisation of the agriculture sector for women.