Category - Southern African News Features

How will the Beijing Action Plan set off wave of modernisation in Africa?

by Munetsi Madakufamba From the just concluded 2024 Summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, I share my insights, from a southern African perspective, on issues of possible relevance to the policymaker in preparation for the implementation of the FOCAC-Beijing Action Plan (2025-27). This is the third in a series of articles on FOCAC 2024. ———————————— The highly anticipated Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) ended with a declaration and a three-year action plan for “jointly building an all-weather community with a shared future” backed by substantial financial support, underscoring Beijing’s overarching vision for the continent.

FOCAC 2024 presents opportunities for expanding China-Africa cooperation

by Munetsi Madakufamba As Beijing prepares to host the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), I reflect on issues of possible interest to the Chinese investor with focus on Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular. I discuss how Zimbabwe and the continent of Africa can leverage on opportunities presented by the dual planks of FOCAC and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Zimbabwe is a country with enormous potential that has been suppressed by over 20 years of Western sanctions but is now rising as a strategic player in the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC). Zimbabwe has just become the chair of SADC for the next year. President E.D. Mnangagwa is on a state visit to China and will attend the FOCAC Summit in early September with other African leaders.

FOCAC 2024 more than just diplomacy: Africa’s modernisation top on the agenda

by Munetsi Madakufamba As Beijing hosts the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), I continue to share my insights, from a southern African perspective, on the great diplomacy and intellectual project of our time. In this second in a series of articles on FOCAC 2024, I look at the significance of the China Africa cooperation framework, what it has achieved, and how Africa can leverage synergies for its development agenda.

Africa, China aim for deeper cooperation

The announcement that Africa and China will work together to align their development plans presents another key milestone in relations between the People’s Republic of China and the emerging continental giant, Africa.

Industrialisation to headline BRICS summit

The forthcoming 10th BRICS Summit in South Africa provides an opportunity for southern Africa and the rest of the continent to strengthen ties with some of the emerging economies of the world.

BRICS to broaden cooperation with non-members

by Tanaka Chitsa – SANF 17 no 46 The announcement by the BRICS countries that their summit, which opened 3 September in Xiamen City, China will consider the need to broaden cooperation with non-members is a welcome development for Africa to strengthen partnership with developed and emerging economies.

BRICS bank to unlock Africa’s economic potential

by Nyarai Kampilipili in Pretoria, South Africa The launch of a regional development bank by the BRICS countries to service the African continent is a positive development that is expected to unlock the continent’s socio-economic potential.