adminON Monday, Zimbabwe will join the rest of Africa to celebrate Africa Day which falls annually of May 25.
On this day in 1963, African states leaders signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia which culminated in the formation of the Organisation of African Unity.
In 1991, the OAU established the African Economic Community, and in 2002 the OAU established its own successor, the African Union of which President Mugabe is the current chair.
As we celebrate this day, it is important that we remind each other of the very founding principles that led to the formation of the Africa Union.
A brief history will help refresh the minds of many.
On April 15, 1958 in Ghana, African leaders and nationalists met at the first Conference of Independent African States which called for the founding of African Freedom Day, a day to “mark each year the onward progress of the liberation movement, and to symbolise the determination of the People of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.”
Five years on, another historic meeting occurred in the Ethiopian, Addis Ababa on May 25, 1963 where leaders of thirty-two independent African states met to form the OAU. At this meeting, the date of Africa Freedom Day was changed from 15 April to 25 May.
When he assumed the AU chair in February this year President Mugabe emphasised the need by the AU Commission to champion development in Africa as well as spearhead the integration of thae continent.
His sentiments are in line with the founding principles of the continental bloc.
“Let us see programs and projects emanating from the Commission be fully implemented thanks to your commitment and fighting spirit with the view to ensure that mother Africa is developed . . . AU must demonstrate that it is more united than before, a self-sufficient continent where illiteracy, ignorance, poverty, hunger are alleviated.
“Basically, Africa is for Africans. Governments should make sure that African resources benefit the African people in the first place . . . To make this happen, Africa should have technicians and scientists who can add value to the rich African natural resources,” he said.
It is in this light that as we celebrate Africa Day, Africans must be united and speak with one voice.
Cases of xenophobia that rocked South Africa recently, in which foreign nationals were killed and chased out of the country do not champion the African cause.
They are a step back in the process of building a united continent.
When we come together and work as a unit, Africans will stand above the rest for the continent has all the natural resources to make the continental economy tick.
New age facets of neo-colonialism that are principally premised on divide and rule tactics must not be allowed to affect the running of the continental body.
There is also need to ensure women empowerment as well as incorporating the youths in development projects by member states.
As we celebrate this day we must be guided by the need to achieve greater unity and solidarity between African countries and the peoples of Africa; defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of AU member states; accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent as well as promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples.
Online Reporter