Dr. Dlamini-Zuma calls for a mindset shift, self-reliance to build a borderless Africa

The Chairperson of the Advisory Council of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) and former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has urged Africans to decolonize their thinking, embrace self-reliance, and become active citizens to achieve the vision of a truly borderless continent.

Delivering a speech on the Call to Action and presenting the Draft Compact at the 2026 Africa Prosperity Dialogues, H.E. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the APN Advisory Council and former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma stressed that Africa’s integration agenda cannot succeed unless Africans first begin to see themselves as one people, rather than as separate national identities.

“For a borderless Africa to work, we must decolonize our minds,” she said. “I’m not a South African. I’m an African who lives in South Africa. We must begin to think of ourselves as Africans, not as Ghanaians, Ethiopians, or South Africans.”

She argued that unity and free movement across the continent require a fundamental shift in mindset, one that places African identity above colonial-era borders.

Beyond integration, Dlamini-Zuma raised concerns about Africa’s continued dependence on food imports despite possessing vast natural resources. Questioning why the continent spends billions importing food, she insisted Africa has the land, water, sunshine, and human capacity to feed itself—and even the world.

“Who will respect us if we can’t feed ourselves?” she asked. “Who feeds you controls you. We must feed ourselves as Africa.”

The former AU Commission Chair also criticized the export of raw materials, saying Africa continues to lose jobs and revenue by failing to add value to its minerals and natural resources.

“Why aren’t we beneficiating our own minerals?” she demanded. “When you export raw materials, you export jobs and revenue. By the time you buy back finished products, they cost ten times more.”

She noted that countries that rely on exporting raw commodities remain price takers rather than price setters, limiting their economic leverage and development potential.

Dr. Dlamini-Zuma further called for a “skills revolution” to empower young Africans to drive industrialization, innovation, and value addition on the continent.

Importantly, she emphasized that the responsibility for Africa’s transformation does not lie with governments alone, but also with citizens.

“If we are not active citizens, nothing will happen,” she said, urging Africans to demand accountability from their leaders, including the ratification of key protocols such as the AU Free Movement Protocol.

As the Dialogue concluded, she announced that outcomes from the meetings and panel discussions would be compiled into a “Compact” to be shared publicly and circulated to participants.

“We’ve had a very good three days,” she said, lauding participants for their engagement and thanking the APN leadership and organizing team for convening the forum.

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