Sub-Saharan Africa: region of renewal
The new leaders of three sub-Saharan countries presented positive messages at last month’s Africa CEO Forum, and there is widespread expectation that their policy changes will bear good fruit
The political winds have turned in sub-Saharan Africa. A year ago, you could hardly imagine an SA without Jacob Zuma at its helm, a Zimbabwe without Robert Mugabe or an Angola without José Eduardo dos Santos. But as political transitions have taken hold within the ruling parties of the region, there’s been a renewal of the "Africa rising" scenario. A palpable sense of optimism, driven by events of recent months, was evident at the Africa CEO Forum, held in March in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where business leaders and politicians came together over fried plantain, dark chocolate and Ivorian coffee. As stories of political change and the economic promises they bring were presented, it was almost as if the new presidents of SA, Angola and Zimbabwe had been given the same brief and the same speech to deliver, with the instruction to "change it a little so it sounds like it’s your own", and the same motto: "We are open for business." Over the past eight months, the leaders of the three lib...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.