FIVE EX-AFRICAN LEADERS TO ATTEND FORUM IN DAR

Former Mozambican president, Joaquim Chissano.

Five former African presidents are set to attend a high-level meeting scheduled for today in Dar es Salaam to deliberate on the obstacles preventing the continent’s business from flourishing and recommend the way forward.

They are former Mozambican presidents Joaquim Chissano and Armando Guebuza, Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia and Bakili Muluzi of Malawi.

According to a statement released by UONGOZI Institute in Dar es Salaam, the two-day African Leadership Forum will also bring together more than 100 key influential leaders and thinkers across the continent and leaders from business, government, civil society and academia.

Themed ‘Enabling African Businesses to Transform the Continent,’ the forum is the third in a series of annual high level meetings convened by former President Benjamin Mkapa and UONGOZI Institute.

The statement detailed that although recent growth rates in Africa are celebrated in policy and development circles, significant challenges remain with regard to realising the potential of the private sector in Africa.

It said enabling businesses to enhance the competitiveness of the continent create employment opportunities and enhance Africa’s economic growth and sustainable development will be the focus of the African Leadership Forum this year.

“The forum builds on the success of the inaugural dialogue in 2014 on Meeting the challenges of Africa’s transformation and the dialogue in 2015 on Moving towards an integrated Africa,” the statement said.

According to the statement, this year’s event will provide a platform to deliberate on the obstacles preventing African business from flourishing, and what needs to be done about them.

Daily News