BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – All eyes are on Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, who is expected to make an impactful intervention during the ongoing Extraordinary Summit of AU Heads State and Government on the Post Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) in Kampala, Uganda.
Dlamini is part of the meeting, where he is representing His Majesty King Mswati III and the entire Eswatini nation. Today (Saturday, January 11, 2024), the premier has joined the African leaders for the opening ceremony of the event, according to information from Eswatini Government.
Held under the theme: “Sustainable and resilient agrifood systems for a healthy and prosperous Africa,” the Summit is expected to endorse the draft Kampala Declaration that will provide a vision for transforming Africa’s Agrifood Systems for the period 2026-2035.
It is also expected to endorse a 10-year Strategy and Action Plan, which will provide details on how to achieve the goals and targets in the Kampala Declaration.
Also present at the Summit are Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu, Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka, Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi and Eswatini’s High Commissioner to Uganda His Excellency (HE) Mahlaba Mamba.
During the event, dignitaries are expected to deliver statements on the consideration of the Kampala Declaration, the CAADP Ten-Year Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035); the draft Statute of Africa Food Safety Agency; and the report on selection of African Union Centres of Excellence for Research and Training in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystems Management.
CAADP has been crucial in driving agricultural transformation across Africa since its inception in 2003. The program is aimed at increasing food security and nutrition, reducing rural poverty, creating employment, and contributing to economic development while safeguarding the environment. CAADP aims for a 6 percent annual growth rate in the agricultural sector, with African Union member states allocating at least 10 percent of their budgets to agriculture.
Building on the Maputo Declaration (2003-2013), the 2014 Malabo CAADP Declaration renewed commitment to CAADP and established ambitious goals for 2025, including eradicating hunger, reducing malnutrition, tripling intra-African trade, and building resilience of livelihoods and production systems. The Malabo Declaration underscored the importance of mutual accountability through agricultural biennial reviews and recognised the essential role of related sectors like infrastructure and rural development.
