During the first full plenary of the U20 African Mayors’ Assembly and Sherpa Meeting held on Thursday in Tshwane, former Chairperson of the African Union, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said we must build cities where young people wish to stay and fix our continent, rather than wanting to leave.

“Together we can build a bright future to reflect the true spirit of the African Renaissance…As African mayors you have the responsibility of creating cities that are economically vibrant, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable,” Dlamini-Zuma told the various delegates during her keynote address.

She addressed the gathering on the relevance of African Renaissance in an urban setting and said cities are critical in creating the Africa we want. “The Africa we have now, is not the one we want,” she said.

She urged the various mayors to commit to building a brighter future for our people and one which reflects the true spirit of the African Renaissance. “As African mayors you have the unique opportunity to transform our African cities into vibrant hubs,” she said.

Dlamini-Zuma stressed that people working in cities must live in the cities. This will mean that they will have access to proper, safe and affordable public transport, as well as to adequate healthcare and good education.

She further stressed that cities must be safe, especially for women and children. “I believe in cities that don’t sleep. Cities which don’t sleep are safer.”

Dlamini-Zuma pointed out that cities must also have proper infrastructure, which includes  proper roads and airports.

The infrastructure must be able to connect cities throughout the continent. She said people should be able to drive or take a train to another African country if they so wished.“ We need to decolonise minds. If we do not, we remain colonised,” she said.

Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya meanwhile during her opening address told the delegation that they meet not as individuals, but as a collective. “We are connected by geography, guided by duty, and united in our determination to realise the full potential of our cities.”

She said this is a time when the world is looking to cities for solutions. “Tshwane, like many African cities, is growing rapidly. We are urbanising at speed, but often without the infrastructure or resources to match. Our challenges are not unique. They reflect a wider African reality,” Moya said.

She pointed out that cities are becoming centres of innovation, climate action, and economic activity.

“They are where the future of Africa is being shaped,” she said, but added that there are still serious challenges ahead.

“Urban 20 gives us a vital megaphone within the G20. It is our opportunity to inject African priorities into global policy, and to ensure that local voices shape global decisions,” Moya said.

She stressed that this Assembly and Sherpa Meeting must not end in dialogue alone. It must set in motion decisions that can be measured, actions that can be tracked, and outcomes that can be felt by our communities.

“In the short term, let us shape strategic policy proposals for the G20 and our own governments that will strengthen the U20 communiqué and ensure African priorities are clearly reflected when the G20 meets later this year.”

Moya said in the long term, we must build stronger networks between African cities and create position papers that lay the foundation for the creation of an African-led urban think tank, as African challenges deserve African solutions.

“This Assembly and Sherpa Meeting cannot be a talk shop. Let us commit to clear plans. These must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. The world is watching. Our citizens are waiting. The G20 is listening,” she said.

About 96 U20 Sherpas from G20 member cities will meanwhile be leading discussions on Friday to craft policy recommendations.

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