(NYASATIMES) Africa to develop Africa says President Mutharika

Africa to develop Africa says President Mutharika
By Nyasa Times
Published: January 31, 2010

African Union (AU) newly elected chairman, Malawi President, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika said in his speech, accepting the one-year term at the AU summit in Addis Ababa that time had come for “Africa to develop Africa”.

Mutharika who has taken over from Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi urged the continent to make more of its resources. He said:”Africa is not a poor continent, but the African populations are poor when we have actually a lot of natural resources.

“We have many scientists, engineers, artists, sports champions who are now in western countries contributing to the development of these countries.”

This is not the first time for Mutharika to head an international body. He once served as secretary general of the regional COMESA trade bloc.

But he has become the first Malawian leader to lead Africa Union.

Under Mutharika, 76, Malawi has been transformed from a country in which intermittent famines left 40 percent of the population dependent on international aid into a food exporter. A government program of subsidizing fertilizers helped corn production rise 36 percent to 3.7 million metric tons last year, leaving the nation with a 1.3 million-ton surplus.

Mutharika wants to share his vision with the continent during his tenure.

“Five years from now, no African child should die of hunger. Africa must feed Africa,” he said.

Mutharika will have to address several other ongoing crises, including restoring democracy in Madagascar, persuading Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to uphold a power sharing accord and ending a protracted conflict in Sudan’s western region of Darfur.