Hon Deputy Speaker, the ACDP recognises that Agenda 2063, which has a 50-year span, going back to 2013, is Africa's blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future.
The declaration of Agenda 2063 marked the rededication of Africa towards the attainment of the Pan-African vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena.
The ACDP has always positioned Africa as the continent of hope, of promise, potential and endless possibilities. It is most certainly the continent on which the next global economic growth spurt is going to take place. This is evident when one looks at the GDP growth of some African countries, which outstrips those of developing and developed nations of the so-called First World.
Let me give you some examples: Niger is currently growing at a rate of 5,1% per annum; Benin, 6%; Burkina Faso, 6%; Ghana, 6,3%; Tanzania, 6,4%; Djibouti, 6,7%; Senegal, 7%;
Rwanda, 7,2%; Ivory Coast, 7,4%; and the fastest growing on the continent is Ethiopia at 8,5%.
Ethiopia's economy is booming and its economic growth has been hovering at around 8 to 11% for over 10 years now. The average growth rate in Ethiopia is 5,85% and it is going back to 1981 to 2017.
Looking at the aspect of security in Africa, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who made peace last year with bitter foe, Eritrea. The wisdom of Prime Minister Ahmed must be emulated, because economic development cannot take place in the presence of crime and war.
When one makes a comparison of South Africa to its African counterparts, it is clear that we are falling short. We have high unemployment, high crime, murder and rape rates, high budget deficits, high Gini coefficient, high debt to GDP ratio and increasing trade deficits.
It is time to put the nation first, to lay aside our political ideologies and indifferences, and place the
interests of those whom we are called to serve, first. If we do this, agenda 2063 is possible. Arise Africa, let Africa arise. [Time expired.] Thank you.