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President Mugabe

Munyaradzi Huni recently in Antalya, Turkey
President Mugabe has said Africa needs another revolution as it lacks complete independence due to the continued exploitation of it’s natural resources by the erstwhile masters.

The President, who was invited to the G20 summit in his capacity as the AU chair, told world leaders attending the meeting on Sunday that the continent remained at the level of subsistence, but with support, could register growth and development.

“We don’t control our economy. Our natural resources are exploited by our erstwhile masters. It is that area which we must address with you. That requires another revolution.

“Even in politics we have others who want to overlook us. We need technology, funding, loans, not just grants to get us to move beyond primary to secondary levels. Adding value to our resource. That will give us greater capacity. Greater value,” said the President.

President Mugabe said he was glad that countries like China, India, Japan and Turkey have invested in “those areas of our infrastructure and have helped us build institutions for skills upgrading.”

President Mugabe added: “The educational levels of our people must be raised so they are able to match those of the advanced industries.”

He said the AU had adopted sustainable development goals leading to 2063 that would see the continent’s economies moving from primary to secondary production.

“You look at us as a lower class now because we don’t qualify to be in your G-20 for now. But with support we should achieve inclusive growth and development. Our people have natural resources. But we want them to enjoy natural resources that are in their hands, that are in their hands. We want them in their hands,” said President Mugabe.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with many other leaders around the world listened attentively as President Mugabe spoke.

The summit, which was held at the Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort and Convention Centre, was supposed to focus on migration and climate change, but this has changed following the deadly attacks in Paris, France which left more than 130 people dead.

Talks on ISIS have now taken centre stage with Turkish President Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his US counterpart Mr Obama, holding a press conference to denounce the attacks in Paris.

After the press conference, the summit started with the leaders from the various nations walking into the summit venue after posing for handshakes with Mr Erdogan.

President Mugabe chatted briefly with Mr Erdogan before walking into the venue of the summit. Soon after walking into the venue, the leaders posed for a group photo.

Mr Erdogan then called for a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of the Paris attacks and thereafter presented his speech. The leaders then went into a closed session.

The G20 comprises 19 individual countries — Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States along with the European Union. The EU is represented by the European Commission and by the European Central Bank.

Estimates show that the G20 countries account for 85 percent of the world economy, 75 percent of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population.

Turkey officially took over the presidency of the G20 from Australia on December 1, 2014. China will preside over the organisation in 2016. Other non-G20 countries that attended the summit include Spain, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Singapore and Senegal.

Meanwhile, President Mugabe and First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe, returned home last night.

He was received by his two Vice Presidents Emerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, service chiefs and senior Government officials.