EZULWINI – Member of Parliament (MP) Prince Lindani has raised concern over Africa’s continued export of raw materials, warning that the continent was becoming poorer.
Prince Lindani made the remarks during the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) African regional parliamentary meeting held in Eswatini, at the Ezulwini Palazzo yesterday, where delegates discussed reforms, economic development and regional cooperation.
He opened the session with the speech which also gave a base for delegates to converse on the same issue. The session was on its third day yesterday.
The legislator said African countries needed to find common ground under the Samoa Agreement and focus on addressing the continent’s pressing socio-economic challenges, particularly youth unemployment and the export of unprocessed resources.
“Where are the jobs for our youth?” Prince Lindani asked delegates during the session.
He said regional meetings alone would not solve Africa’s challenges unless countries began implementing practical economic solutions that benefit ordinary citizens.
The issue of value addition and beneficiation of African resources has increasingly become a major topic across the continent, with governments and regional bodies pushing for local industrialisation to create jobs and strengthen economies.
His Majesty the King has also in the past encouraged local production, industrialisation and value addition as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s economy and create employment opportunities.
During various national addresses, the King has urged the country to move beyond exporting primary products and instead focus on processing goods locally to increase economic returns and reduce dependency on imports.
Regional economic experts have long argued that Africa loses billions of dollars annually through the export of raw minerals, agricultural commodities and other natural resources without processing them locally.
Countries that import the raw materials often generate significantly higher profits through manufacturing and value addition before exporting finished products back to African markets.
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Eswatini Member of Parliament Prince Lindani, greeting Yaya Doumba Warius who is the OACPS Chair for Central Africa, during the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) African regional parliamentary meeting held in Eswatini, at the Ezulwini Palazzo yesterday. (Pic: Joseph Zulu)