Pretoria – Governors representing the Southern African Development Community at the African Development Bank have endorsed the candidacy of Zondo Thomas Sakala to stand for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
This was announced by the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, ahead of the Board of Governors of AfDB electing a new president in May.
“The SADC region is fully united in supporting Mr Sakala. We are of the view that the turn is now for SADC to lead the African Development Bank and we have a candidate who ‘is made to fit’ the bank’s agenda in support of the transformation of African economies,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry said Sakala has 31 years of experience at the AfDB and good knowledge of Africa’s development issues. He has held various positions at the bank, including Vice President for Country and Regional Programmes.
“Sakala’s mission is to sustain and enhance the transformation of the African Development Bank and Africa. The closure of the infrastructure gap in the continent will be his priority, with special attention to the challenges of rapid urbanisation, promoting intra-Africa trade and the transformation of the rural economies.
“He wants to deepen dialogue and trust while strengthening regional institutions to promote regional integration,” said the Ministry.
Sakala will work closely with the African Union and regional organisations and identify key drivers to address fragility and conflicts.
He also plans to enhance the development of a credible, resilient African private sector through promoting an enabling environment, effective institutions and mechanisms to finance small, medium enterprises and provide robust support for public private partnerships. – SAnews.gov.za
