One African voice for 2010: Stofile
Themba Gadebe
16 August 2007
African communicators have to unite and market the continent with one voice ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, the National Communication Partnership Conference in Johannesburg has heard.
"The next four years will be the time to test our resolve in practical terms," Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile said at the event, which took place on Wednesday.
"Informed by our common goal of building a better Africa, communicators from all corners of Africa should strive to speak in one integrated and coherent voice."
The conference brought together communicators, marketers and other relevant stakeholders from across the continent to discuss how best to take advantage of opportunities arising from hosting the World Cup.
Stofile said this was very important and in line with the theme of this year's conference, "Africa's time has come".
He told conference delegates that the world should hear about Africa's plans, vision,
progress and challenges from Africans themselves, while preparations for the World Cup should be linked to the milestones of political leadership and democracy from around the continent.
"For this reason, the forging of communication partnerships is very critical. Communicators must be acquainted with the decisions of Africa’s leadership."
In this way, he said, the communicators will have enough tools to engage the various sectors in preparation for 2010, thus fostering a climate that contributes to African growth and development.
"The 2010 [World Cup] is Africa's time. The entire continent must work together to consolidate the African solidarity around this project - the African showpiece," he said.
Source: BuaNews
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