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Ndumiso Mlilo
JOHANNESBURG: The Minister of Foreign Affairs Cde Simbabrashe Mumbengegwi has called for the speedy implementation of the African Union’s ambitious Agenda 2063 for Africa to realise its dream of economic growth. The minister, who is the chairperson of the Executive Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, was addressing the media in Johannesburg on Thursday where he is attending the African Union Summit. He said: “We held the 2nd Ministerial Retreat and we successfully deliberated on the First Ten Year Implementation Plan of the African Union Agenda 2063 and its Financing Mechanism and Streamlining and Improving Methods and Rules of Procedure of the African Union. One cannot over-emphasise the importance of according ample and unbridled time to our Heads of State and Government to attend to issues that are strategic to the continent.”
He maintained that it was important to review the Working Methods and Rules of Procedure of other Organs of the African Union so as to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in discharging their mandate. The 24th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in February 2015 resolved to at the end of five years starting in 2016, Member States to fund 100 percent of their operations budget, 75 percent of their programmes budget and 25 percent of their peace keeping operations budget. Cde Mumbengegwi praised the move saying that would ensure that Member States take ownership and control of the continental body. He said: “The old adage, ‘he who pays the piper calls the tune’ becomes relevant in our situation. It is therefore imperative that as we seek the alternative sources of financing the Union, our organisation should take measures to ensure that we operate within the confines of our budget. This would make the Union to avoid overdependence on our co-operating partners.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister stated that problems bedevilling Africa would be conquered if the governments and the private sector work together like they did in the fight against Ebola. The minister added: “Africa through the AU Commission took the lead to fight Ebola together with the support of the African private sector. This was no mean achievement as it showed what we can achieve with unity of purpose. It was clear demonstration of the desire and readiness of the African private sector to participate in the development of Africa.”
He emphasised that Africans make a strong follow up to the mechanisms in the implementation of the First Ten Year Plan Agenda. He said while the framework had been laid as a foundation there was an urgent need for the implementation ensuring that reviews are made along the 50-year journey. Cde Mumbengegwi said: “The journey over 50 years will be long and may even be riddled with many hurdles which we must overcome together as we move towards our desired destination. With our collective knowledge, wisdom and political will, we should be able to achieve what is envisaged in the Agenda 2063 blueprint.”
Agenda 2063 is the vision and action plan of the African Union to build a united and prosperous continent. This calls for co-operation from the continental regional bodies for the economic growth characterised by growth of intra-Africa regional trade.
Cde Mumbengegwi noted that the youth and women should be accommodated to ensure that there is an inclusive and accommodative continent. The African Union theme for 2015 is “Year of Women empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063. “It is worth noting that more than half of the population on the continent is women. It is therefore logical to conclude that no sustainable development can take place without the input and involvement of African women.”
He stated that women should be given their rightful place not as an act of charity but as recognition of their vital role in the Agenda 2063. More than 50 percent of Africa are women while about 75 percent are youth.
President Robert Mugabe was expected to address the Nepad Heads of State and Government Summit as the AU chairperson. He is also expected to address on Monday after deliberations by the Heads of State.
Bongani Ndlovu