Mbabane—Philani Maswati Charity Organisation chairman, Lutfo E. Dlamini, urges Africa to take control of their economies while calling for diverting from foreign-designed indices.
Dlamini, who was invited as an independent African citizen and former foreign minister who made an impact on the Morocco government, called for the measurement of resilience and global competitiveness, assessed by African-built analytical tools.
He was speaking at the MEDays 2025 Forum, in the Kingdom of Morocco, delivering remarks under the theme, “Redefining Global Balance in an Era of Fractures and Polarization.” Dlamini told Independent News that he was invited as a former diplomat to share his ideas after working as a speaker annually at MEDays conference for the past three years.
He argued, “For too long, institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and global rating agencies have dominated the narrative of Africa’s competitiveness, using models that tell us what we lack but seldom acknowledge what we possess.”
He said these tools overlook Africa’s demographic strength, innovation ecosystems, community cohesion, and rapidly expanding digital economies.
“The time when Africa relied solely on IMF-style indices is ending, not out of defiance, but out of maturity,” he said.
“We can evaluate ourselves, we can diagnose ourselves, and we can propose solutions rooted in our context,” he added.
Dlamini said Africa must stop allowing its destiny to be shaped by imported ideologies and external indicators that often misunderstand Africa’s rhythms. He praised Morocco and the Amadeus Institute for developing the Attractiveness and Stability Indexes, a framework he described as an idea whose time had come, born from Africa’s own realities and shaped by African thinkers. He commended the Amadeus Index for integrating political resilience, social cohesion, and community-level stability alongside traditional investment metrics.
“It sees strength where others often see fragility,” Dlamini noted.
Dlamini devoted part of his address to honouring Morocco’s leadership, crediting His Majesty King Mohammed VI for fostering platforms that strengthen Africa’s global influence.
“Your leadership has shown that when vision meets courage, a nation not only rises, but it lifts others with it,” he said.
He described Morocco as a factory of ideas, innovation, and resilience, pointing to its achievements in renewable energy, industrialisation and diplomacy. He added that through the Amadeus Institute, Morocco has given Africa an intellectual compass, a framework rooted in continental pride and scientific rigour.
Dlamini warned that in a world defined by geopolitical tensions, energy shocks, and the retreat of multilateralism, Africa must seize the moment to reshape its narrative. The continent, he emphasised, is not a peripheral player but a global force with unmatched demographic potential, critical mineral reserves, and growing innovation capacity.
He highlighted that the Amadeus Index highlights emerging African champions, guides investor understanding, and identifies where reforms are taking root or where potential remains untapped.
Dlamini extended an invitation to Moroccan and African investors to explore opportunities in Eswatini, particularly in energy generation, agribusiness, and mineral beneficiation.
“Our king and country are ready to give you the warmest African welcome,” he said.
Dlamini closed with a call for continued African leadership in shaping its economic future.
“Africa’s competitiveness cannot be defined for us. It must be defined by us,” he said.
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