Time to build worthwhile partnerships

“I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world—partners with America on behalf of the future we want for all of our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility and mutual respect,”—President Barack Obama

President Obama is this week hosting all African leaders, especially “in good standing with the United States and the African Union (AU)”, including our own President Peter Mutharika, in the United States of America (USA) for the first-ever US-Africa Leaders Summit.

On paper, this is a welcome initiative. It follows in the footsteps of similar gatherings such as the Tokyo International Conference on Trade and Development (Ticad)—which is co-organised by Japan, the United Nations (UN), the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and African Union Commission—and the European Union (EU)-Africa Summit as well as the India-Africa Forum.

In all these gatherings, Africa is at the centre stage, something that tells us. What this means is that Africa as a continent and, indeed, Africans as a people hold the future.

Being held under the theme Investing in the Next Generation, the inaugural US-Africa Leaders Summit is focusing on the next generation as the core of every government responsibility and work.

Through the forum, African leaders and the US were also expected to discuss ways of stimulating growth, unlocking opportunities and creating an enabling environment for the next generations.

Brilliant theme and agenda for the US-Africa Leaders Summit, I must say. However, it is one thing to attend and organise such meetings and yet a different ball game altogether to benefit from the same.

Experience closer home has taught us that our leaders have attended tens of such events, but very little has been implemented from initiatives purportedly derived from the conferences. For example, former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika, on return from a similar forum in India, told the nation government had struck a deal with a pharmaceutical company to manufacture antiretroviral therapy (ART) drugs on Malawi soil. That was good news, but sadly, nothing has been heard regarding the investment today.

Perhaps the low or general lack of representation by the private sector at such events in the past could explain the snail’s pace or indeed failure to follow up on investment pledges. In the Malawi delegation to the US-Africa Leaders Summit, I have “seen” some private sector players as well as officials from the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (Mitc). I hope this will work out this time around.

In terms of promoting international trade, it is important that government puts the private sector at the forefront.

For instance, discussions at the current summit were expected to also centre on encouraging progress in key areas that define Africa as critical for the future such as expanding trade and investment deals, engaging young African leaders as well as promoting sustainable development.

Talking about promoting trade, there is need for African economies to trade more among themselves as they say charity begins at home.

Time has come for Africa, and in particular Malawi, to build worthwhile partnerships that make a difference. This can be achieved by reflecting on previous initiatives and assessing where we got it wrong and how we can seize new opportunities presenting themselves now.

To make the US-Africa Leaders Summit resolutions a success, I would suggest that an action plan be worked out highlighting available opportunities and how we can move forward.

Unless we develop a check-list of follow-ups, the US-Africa Leaders Summit and several similar initiatives will remain talking shops merely offering delegation members opportunities to shop around or have photo shooting sessions in foreign capital cities.

We also need a general, professional presentation to the various sectors of our economy that did not attend the American gathering so that we domesticate the exercise and make mileage out of it to add value to our endeavours.