Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka: 'If Africa isn’t thriving, it’s because of poor leadership'

Former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka believes that Africa’s struggles are rooted in poor leadership.

Addressing the G20 Social Summit opening ceremony on Tuesday, Mlambo-Ngcuka said given the continent’s vast tracts of arable land and mineral deposits, its people should not be poverty-stricken and hungry.

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As the summit enters its second day in Boksburg on Wednesday, Mlambo-Ngcuka, who has been serving as its co-convenor, said delegates from all over the continent have to make their voices count.

This is only the second time a social summit is convened as part of a G20 programme after being initiated by Brazil in 2024.

Mlambo-Ngcuka has encouraged delegates to think about how they want this summit to grow in future, hinting that it will probably not feature on the United States (US)’s agenda when it takes over the presidency in 2026.

“How will we ensure that what we’ve decided here is not lost along the way, just in case next year is not so cool?”

Mlambo-Ngcuka said people must take responsibility for their own futures and if the continent is struggling, it’s of its own making.

“If Africa is not doing well, it is because we are not providing leadership.”

Mlambo-Ngcuka said South Africa’s G20 programme would have had little value without including the lived experiences of ordinary people.

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