Pan-African Leaders’ Descendants Hail GERD as Proof Africa Can Build Without External Funding

Addis Ababa, December 6, 2025 (FMC) — Descendants of Africa’s legendary liberation leaders have praised the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as a historic example of African self-reliance and continental cooperation, calling it proof that Africa can design, finance, and build major infrastructure projects without relying on foreign funding.

The delegation — representing the legacies of Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah, Kenneth Kaunda, Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere, and Muammar Gaddafi — shared their reflections in an exclusive interview with Fana Media Corporation following their visit to the dam.

Nomatemba Tambo, daughter of South African struggle icon Oliver Tambo, described GERD as “a powerful demonstration of science, engineering, creativity and collective sacrifice,” emphasizing that the project was funded entirely by ordinary Ethiopians.

She added that seeing the dam in person conveys its true scale and reinforces the message that Africa possesses the knowledge, resources, and determination to build on its own.

Kaweche Kaunda, son of Zambia’s first president Kenneth Kaunda, echoed the sentiment, noting that the project illustrates that African nations do not need to rely on foreign engineers or investors.

“Instead of going abroad, African countries should look within, learn from Ethiopia, and build their own capacity,” he said, highlighting the dam’s role in promoting African unity through shared development.

For his part, Godfrey Madaraka Nyerere, son of Tanzania’s founding father Julius Nyerere, praised GERD as a milestone benefiting not only Ethiopia but the broader continent.

He said that Ethiopia’s continued development initiatives — including fertilizer, gas, and regional corridor projects — demonstrate long-term planning that other African countries can emulate.

Samia Nkrumah, daughter of Pan-African visionary Kwame Nkrumah, called GERD “magnificent, historic and inspirational,” emphasizing that continental planning and cooperation are crucial for Africa’s peace, economic independence, and long-term prosperity.

She noted that projects of such scale reflect the ideals of Pan-Africanism: unity, inclusion, and shared ownership.

Moussa Ibrahim Gaddafi, nephew of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, described GERD as a sovereign African development project, free from IMF and World Bank loans, which strengthens national and continental security.

He stressed that Africa must prioritize regional collaboration to industrialize, share knowledge, and connect markets, warning that isolated development risks failure.

The delegation’s visit also included stops at the Adwa Victory Memorial and the Science Museum’s permanent exhibition, highlighting Ethiopia’s broader development achievements.

Prior to their travel to GERD on Saturday, the delegation’s visit in Ethiopia also included stops at the Adwa Victory Memorial, National Palace, the Science Museum, corridor development projects, and riverside development projects in the capital on Friday.

During their tour of GERD, the delegates shared their observations on the project’s construction, scale, and significance, emphasizing Ethiopia’s role in building major infrastructure through local resources and expertise.