Former African Union chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has emphasised that mayors are granted a unique opportunity to drive change in communities.
Dlamini-Zuma was speaking on the relevance of African Renaissance in urban settings at the African Mayors Assembly at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria on Thursday.
She emphasised that Africa must tell its own stories because others may tell African stories from their own perspective, further urging Africans to decolonise their minds.
African Renaissance
“The African Renaissance is not merely a cultural or intellectual movement. It is a comprehensive awakening and reckoning that speaks to our collective potential as a continent rich in history, in diversity and resources.
“It is a call to reclaim our narrative, redefine our identities, and harness our strengths in a way that propels us towards sustainable development. But it is also a call to take charge of our destiny and our resources in the urban settings,” said Dlamini-Zuma.
She said the African Renaissance should be about investing in the people, especially their education, skills, and health.
For the people to maintain good health, she said, they should have decent housing, work, and electricity.
She said this is because all dreams are impossible without the people. People are needed in infrastructure, business, and any other sector.
Social cohesion and inclusivity
“So, the African Renaissance is also about social cohesion and inclusivity. Cities must be integrated in such a way that the people who work in the city must live in the city.
“Unlike what we see here as an apartheid legacy, where people who work in the city live outside the city. They are not part of the city. So, in the cities we build, everyone who works in the city must be in the city,” said Dlamini-Zuma.
She emphasised that a city should be safe for women and children, as this make it safe for everyone. It must also be a city that does not sleep. “When one sleeps, that is when the underworld takes over”.
Her warning came at a time when hundreds of dilapidated residential buildings in the City of Johannesburg have fallen into the hands of organised hijacking syndicates who charge tenants rent but do not pay for municipal services like water, electricity and sewer as well as rates and taxes.
She urged the mayors to also consider integrated infrastructure. This is where it would be possible to take a drive to any place on the continent.
Urbanisation
African Mayors Assembly co-host and Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya spoke on urbanisation. She emphasised that the future of Africa hinges on how cities respond to growing urbanisation.
“By 2050, six in 10 Africans will live in cities. This urban transition brings with it great potential. Our cities are becoming centres of innovation, climate action, and economic activity. They are where the future of Africa is being shaped,” said Moya.
However, she warned that the future is far from secure.
She said Africa is urbanising faster than any other region in the world. But infrastructure, services, and governance frameworks lag behind.
Moya highlighted that local challenges faced are not unique but reflect what most of Africa’s cities are going through.
These included a growing youth population, overstretched infrastructure, worsening inequality, and intensifying climate shocks.
She said Africa’s urban transformation cannot be left to chance or to central governments alone.
Mayors’ role crucial
“As mayors, we are not distant politicians. We are the first point of contact. We are the face of government for millions of people across our cities. And we carry the weight of expectation. We manage the strain of limited budgets and face the daily reality of difficult decisions.
“But we also know the quiet victories. The clinic that opens its doors. The potholes that are finally repaired. The young entrepreneur who finds a way forward because local government made space,” said Moya.
Moya outlined four core priorities for African cities. These include social inclusion and equity, inclusive economic growth and the AfCFTA. Also innovation for service delivery, and financing the urban future.
These, she said, must underpin Africa’s contributions to the U20 and ultimately the G20.
