Mbeki: Africans Should Be Masters Of Their Destiny

Mbeki: Africans Should Be Masters Of Their Destiny
Funke Atohengbe, Pretoria

The former South African President, Thabo Mbeki has called on Africans to redefine their identity and become masters of their own destiny.

Speaking in Sandton , north of Johannesburg   at an international conference organised by the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute, the former South African leader said it was by so doing that the continent could fully develop.

The theme of the conference is: Investing in Thought Leaders for Africa's Renewal. It is discussing the continent's advancement and development.

Mr. Mbeki said African scholars must be in the forefront of the continent's renaissance. He said Africa needed its human capital to achieve its renewal.

Former Ghanaian President, John Kuffour called on the African Union to rally all Africans to achieve the continent's laudable dreams.

He said the AU was in a better position to propagate the goals.

Former Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi on his part, said the problem of bad leadership was not peculiar to Africa but a universal problem which most countries were still battling.

Also in attendance at the conference are former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae and Joachim Chissano of Mozambique, African scholars and professionals.

The Institute is a partnership between the University of South Africa and the Thabo Mbeki Foundation.

Yinka