Mozambican President eyes Maputo as key hub for East, Southern Africa – SABC News

Mozambican President, Daniel Chapo, says Maputo wants to be a key hub connecting East and Southern Africa. President Chapo officially opened the Africa50 General Shareholders Meeting in Maputo.

Africa50 Annual General meeting in Maputo, Mozambique. #SABCnews #Africa50 pic.twitter.com/8xeuVpCIF7

— Ditaba Tsotetsi (@tsotetsiditaba) August 13, 2025

The gathering hosted by Africa50 is pushing for infrastructure roll-outs in key sectors on the continent. As the world grapples with geopolitical issues, Africa is on a drive to mobilise its resources to cushion against the repercussions of the global uncertainty.

It’s a crucial moment as the Africa50 is hosting its general shareholders meeting in the Mozambican capital Maputo. The entity says more countries are coming on board.

Africa50 CEO, Alain Ebobisse says the continent is capable of mobilising its resources and engage in intra-trade to mitigate the global economic hurdles.

“In the past five months, we have witnessed growing geopolitical uncertainties, an economic nationalism, retreat of financial development,” says Ebobisse.

The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretary General, Wamkele Mene, says member states should look within in to tackle persistent challenges.

“Many countries in Africa closed to 30 countries are beneficiaries of African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) and with these tariffs, we have seen nullification of Agoa. Markets access to the United States is now gone. For example, Lesotho has lost about $780b worth of the exports to the US because of the tariffs,” says Mene.

Outgoing African Development Bank President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina says the meeting discussed an important component of running the continental economy.

African Development Bank President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina addressing the Africa50 annual meeting in Maputo, Mozambique. #sabcnews #africa50 pic.twitter.com/bFULfWfAnL

— Ditaba Tsotetsi (@tsotetsiditaba) August 13, 2025

[WATCH] Outgoing President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, says Africa must mobilize its own resources to fund infrastructure development. Adesina is taking part in the Africa50 General Shareholders Meeting in Maputo, Mozambique. pic.twitter.com/lmsBqRVtE0

— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 13, 2025

“Infrastructure is a major thing for Africa. Infrastructure if you don’t have it, your economy cannot run. And Africa has an infrastructure financing gap,” he adds.

This, while delegates are cautiously optimistic that Africa will overcome its challenges and boost infrastructure in a very harsh geopolitical environment.

VIDEO | ‘Africa must mobilise its own resources to fund infrastructure development’

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}