KEY POINTS
- Mnangagwa praised AfDB President Adesina for a decade of leadership.
- Adesina played a crucial role in Zimbabwe’s debt resolution process.
- AfDB’s agriculture initiative aims to boost Africa’s food production.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has praised African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina for his exceptional leadership over the past 10 years.
Speaking on Friday, Mnangagwa highlighted Adesina’s impact on inclusive green growth, food security, climate-smart infrastructure, and energy access across Africa.
“In his 10 years of astute and steadfast service to our continent, Dr. Adesina has made us shift our perspectives on development finance,” Mnangagwa said. “He reignited a sense of hope and confidence in Africa’s potential by leveraging our resources.”
Under Adesina’s leadership, AfDB has become a global award-winning institution, attracting recognition for its efforts in sustainable development and financial innovation.
Mnangagwa described Adesina as one of Africa’s most influential leaders, committed to advancing the continent’s interests.
Adesina’s role in Zimbabwe’s debt resolution
Beyond his broader contributions to Africa, Adesina has played a key role in Zimbabwe’s debt resolution efforts. In 2022, Mnangagwa appointed him as the official champion of the country’s arrears clearance and debt restructuring process.
“He has undertaken this task on behalf of my administration with impeccable zeal and commitment,” Mnangagwa said. “His efforts have deepened Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement with the international community.”
According to ZBC News, Mnangagwa also acknowledged Adesina’s expertise in agriculture, stating that his policies have helped transform rural farmlands into hubs of prosperity.
As Zimbabwe continues to work on economic recovery, Mnangagwa believes Adesina’s legacy will serve as an inspiration for future financial and agricultural reforms.
AfDB’s impact on African agriculture
Under Adesina’s leadership, AfDB launched the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program, which has already delivered climate-smart and weather-resilient seeds to more than 40 million smallholder farmers across 30 African nations.
“This initiative is set to increase Africa’s food production by an additional 120 million tonnes by the end of 2025,” Mnangagwa said. “His vision for a food-secure Africa has been truly transformative.”
As Adesina prepares to step down in May after serving two terms, Mnangagwa urged young African leaders and entrepreneurs to embrace his legacy and continue working toward a modern, industrialized, and self-sufficient Africa.
Meanwhile, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has thrown its support behind Dr. Samuel Maimbo of Zambia as a potential successor to lead the AfDB after Adesina’s departure.
