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President and CEO of MTN Group, Ralph Mupita, has called on African countries to dismantle xenophobic barriers and deepen regional integration, saying the continent’s future depends on greater collaboration rather than division.
Speaking at the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation Winter Seminar held recently, Mupita said migration has always been part of Africa’s identity and should be viewed as an opportunity to drive economic growth instead of a threat.
According to him, Africa’s rapidly expanding digital economy transcends geographical boundaries, making regional cooperation essential for sustainable development.
“The digital economy we are fast moving to knows no borders,” Mupita said, adding that exclusionary attitudes and xenophobia remain obstacles to Africa’s ability to compete effectively in the global economy.
He stressed that the full benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) would only be realised if African nations removed not only trade barriers but also social and psychological barriers that discourage the free movement of people, talent and ideas.
Drawing from MTN’s operations across the continent, Mupita said the company’s performance reflects the importance of Pan-African integration.
“We earn about 80 to 82 per cent of our earnings from outside South Africa,” he said, noting that the growth of South African businesses is increasingly tied to opportunities across other African markets.
He urged governments to create stable policy and regulatory environments that would encourage investment and cross-border business expansion.
“The future of Africa will not be determined by the borders that separate us, but by the economic opportunities that connect us.
Governments must set predictable policy and regulations. Businesses will follow and allocate resources and capital. Together, we can build a continent where opportunity is more evenly shared and prosperity is more widely created,” Mupita said.
He also described migration as a natural feature of African societies, arguing that the movement of people supports the flow of investment, innovation and skills needed for the continent’s development.
His remarks come amid renewed conversations across parts of Africa on migration, regional integration and the implementation of the AfCFTA, which aims to boost intra-African trade and strengthen economic cooperation among member states.
