Winston Mano speaks against extractivism at second Harare Forum on African modernisation.

Prof. Winston Mano was an invited keynote speaker at the 2025 Second Harare Forum for Africa and Global Civilization Exchange, held in Zimbabwe, from August 18–22, 2025. Themed “Rural Development and African Modernization: Understanding the World in Africa,” the forum brought together leading scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to explore the pivotal role of rural development in Africa’s modernization journey.

Professor Mano, a leading voice in African media and communication studies, spoke against extractivism and the importance of inclusive rural development. He drew from Afrokology and indigenous knowledge systems in shaping Africa’s development narratives. His keynote focused on history, culture and communication in fostering inclusive and sustainable modernization pathways rooted in African contexts.

Organized by Professor Zhao Yuezhi of Tsinghua University’s School of Journalism and Communication and the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Centre, the forum included field visits, panel discussions, and youth roundtables. Professor Mano’s participation underscores CAMRI’s commitment to global engagement and thought leadership in decolonizing knowledge and promoting alternative development paradigms.

Photo by Tatenda Mapigoti on Unsplash