By Brendan Boyle
GRACA Machel expects President Jacob Zuma to make South Africa a better spokesman for Africa.
Machel, Nelson Mandela’s wife, is a member of several international panels trying to help Africa, its women and its children.
Yesterday she called for stronger and more consistent leadership from Africans.
Speaking to The Times on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, in Cape Town, she said Africa should claim the right to speak for itself on the world stage.
She said South Africa, because of the size of its economy, was an obvious candidate to be the voice of Africa.
“We have to claim that space. The leadership in this continent needs to have a strong, co-ordinated message.”
Machel said “somebody, somewhere” was drafting regulations for the global economy that will emerge from the crash, but without a strong African voice.
“We have South Africa as the only country that is there, but is South Africa talking to the 52 countries of the continent to make sure that its voice is the African voice?
“The G8 has no right to discuss whatever it is without our voice because it affects us.
“That is what we want to change,” she said.
Machel said she hoped Zuma would ensure that South Africa spoke to the G20 nations for the whole continent.
The G20 is a group of economically powerful Western, Asian and developing countries that looks likely to trump the decision- making authority of the G8 group of highly industrialised countries.
“[Zuma] has only been there two weeks — he hasn’t even warmed the seat — but, having in mind the consultative process to put together his Cabinet, he showed that he consulted thoroughly and that is why he came with the kind of Cabinet he did. I’m hoping that is going to happen in Africa, too,” she said.
Machel was in Cape Town representing the Africa Progress Panel, a group of eminent Africans and international leaders who monitor the implementation of First World aid commitments to Africa.
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