adminPost Correspondent
THE Rotary International District 9210 comprising Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Northern Mozambique is initiating on the idea of the establishment of a Centre for Peace for Africa in Zimbabwe at Africa University.
The Rotary International 2014/15 District 9210 Governor from Zambia, Mr Kenneth Chibesakunda, revealed this on Monday on his country’s visit to Zimbabwe, where he met with the Minister of State for Manicaland Affairs, Cde Chris Mushohwe and toured Africa University.
Minister Mushohwe said the idea of a Centre for Peace for Africa was very crucial as it would serve as a centre for research and debate on Peace in Africa by Africans.
He said the problems in Africa with regard to lack of peace were devastating compared to any other continent.
“There is no centre in Africa where people can talk about peace and extinguish the senseless issues of civil wars in our continent which have become the biggest driver of poverty and under-development in Africa.
“It is a shame to see the African Union not tackling head-on the peace and security issues in Africa.
“It is a shame to see in the 21st century the carnage of Boko Haram in Nigeria and hear a whole Government say they do not know where the terrorist is.
“What is more shameful is to see African Heads of State being summoned by a French President to talk about how to rescue its own people,” said Cde Mushohwe.
Cde Mushohwe said the need for such a Centre for Peace, where former Heads-of-States or scholars can meet and discuss past experiences on peace to advise the third generation leaders, was fundamental for Africa.
Governor Chibesakunda said the lobby was already in motion for the Centre for Peace in Africa to be in District 9210.
“As Rotarians our way of life is ‘service above self’ which is shown in our various missions worldwide to develop the world and promote peace.
“Peace is not only the absence of war, but availability of food, love, you name it.
“We are aware of the fact that Governments are overloaded with demands which is where we come in to assist Government humanitarian and community developmental projects where we can.
“We have done the fight to end polio and malaria campaigns worldwide. As District 9210 we are therefore saying now is the time to look at Africa and foster development and peace and as Rotarians we want to assist in that regard,” said Governor Chebesakunda.
The vice-chancellor of Africa University, Professor Munashe Furusa, said the fact that AU was a pan-African institution with 28 African nations represented, made it an ideal site for the Centre for Peace in Africa.
“If Africa University managed to achieve the vision of a pan-African institution we can definitely work together to achieve this vision of the establishment of a Centre for Peace here, which our various nations can learn from.
“On issues of peace and conflict resolution we can act a reasonable conduit, given that we already have programmes at our Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance, which are already educating various students from across the continent,” said Prof Furusa.
The past president of Rotary International Mutare and Chipinge District Mr Job Torindoh, and the president of Rotary International Mutare and Chipinge District, Mr Godfrey Bejana, said they were excited about the project and would continue to push for its establishment in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter