Online Reporter
Isdore Guvamombe
Zimbabwe is leading the campaign to have African countries fully fund the African Union, a critical trajectory in the total liberation of the continent.
To that effect, Zimbabwe is calling on AU member States to finance the continental body, arguing that financial independence is key to safeguarding Africa’s sovereignty and advancing the aspirations of Agenda 2063.
This is very critical given donor fatigue, donor manipulation, donor agenda setting and all other ills that have come to the continent much to the detriment of its total liberation agenda.
Well, it is critical to understand that is not about independence only it is about liberation, for, independence comes once while liberation is a continuous process.
To show its seriousness, Zimbabwe is among the 22 countries that paid their full 2026 financial dues to AU, having done so in February, an indication of its seriousness and commitment in sending a message that continental projects should not stalled by lack of funding or by strings attached to outside funding.
Since the attainment of political independence in Africa, the continent’s total liberation has been stalled by funding issues, which have seen financially powerful Western countries- especially- gang up to influence the course the continent is taking.
At the last Monday’s virtual joint sitting of the ministerial committee on the scale of assessment and contributions and the Committee of 15 Ministers of Finance convened by the AU to deliberate on the long-term financial sustainability of the continental body, Zimbabwe was outstanding in calling for total self-funding.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira, reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to a financially independent AU, stressing that Africa must take full responsibility for funding its own programmes rather than rely on external partners.
“As we deliberate on the decisions before us, member States must fully fund the budget of the African Union. I think this was envisaged in 1963.
“We should never delegate the funding of our payment, especially of the programme budget, to anybody but ourselves,” said Minister Murwira
Currently, the peace support operations budget is funded to the tune of 80 percent, with up to 95 percent provided by partners.
In this regard, it is important to note that Zimbabwe urges all member States to pay their contributions in full and on time.
So far, the collective effort has secured over US$106 million towards the 2026 regular budget, representing 53 percent of the total assessed contributions.
It is critical to note that financial sustainability is the ultimate foundation of the continent’s sovereignty. Operational independence and liberation enabling the continent to deal with donor apathy and foreign sponsored geopolitical conflicts.
Imagine a union that depends on charity from others and still desires to chat its own development, liberation and political trajectory?
For AU to remain firmly committed to advancing flagship initiatives and continental frameworks within its mandate, while promoting youth and women’s economic empowerment, financial inclusion, education, innovation, and entrepreneurship, member states should fully fund it.
Without self-funding AU will be susceptible to manipulation at a time when some Western countries like France have already started trying parallel organisations like Africa Forward to disturb AU initiatives.
For example, the Africa Forward summit organised by France in Kenya in May, demonstrates the French commitment to funding an alternative to establish new positions in the continent. This is very dangerous and destabilising.
Informed by the crumbling of their confidence deck in West Africa the French are clutching at all straws to save themselves in the Sahara-Sahel region.
France, like many other African countries, want to continue with their neo-colonial practices, bereft of fairness and win-win projects. France wants to continue manipulating Africa and gaining access to resources, cheaply.
So, an AU that is strong and self-funded is difficult to break and hard to divert from the major narrative an ethos of liberation.
It is a fact that the Africa is regarded by Western countries as a raw material and human resources pool.
So, Westerners will take advantage of lack of self-funding and pretend to help AU while manipulating situations to their advantage. They then set the agenda and pull the strings.
Africa will then be manipulated and left in abject poverty, while Europeans enjoy its riches almost for free.
Therefore, it is critical for Zimbabwe’s trajectory under President Mnangagwa to urge all African countries to pay their dues and make AU a self-funded organisation.
With self-funding comes the freedom to chart any agreed course and the power to determine the future of the continent and it population.
With self-funding comes the ability to determine narratives of the continent and the pride of being owners of the projects that transform the continent.
The achievement of full sovereignty in Africa is only possible if the continent gains full control of its natural resources and economies.
