The former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has lauded Ethiopia as a model of self-reliance for the African continent, citing the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as the ultimate proof.

Dr. Dlamini-Zuma, also a former South African Foreign Minister, stated that her most significant takeaway from the Ethiopian people is their "belief that they can do it themselves." She attributes this achievement primarily to their decision to "free their minds from colonial mentality."

She emphasized that in constructing the GERD, the Ethiopians "did not look to foreign aid," urging other African nations to follow suit.

"Citizens, both domestically and abroad, contributed what they could, and without any involvement from foreign entities, they realized this huge project through their own capacity and have started to benefit from it," she said.

Dlamini-Zuma expressed deep frustration with the prevailing mindset elsewhere on the continent: "Most of us are still waiting for a foreign hand; if we stopped waiting for a foreign hand and freed our minds like the Ethiopians, we would achieve the results of our efforts."

Concluding her remarks, she issued a direct message to Africans: "Let us stop waiting for a foreign hand now; we must strive for our own development within the limits of our capacity."