Online Reporter
Herald Reporters
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has commended the African Union for its efforts to achieve financial autonomy and reduce dependence on external funding, saying this would enable the bloc to assert its sovereignty in advancing its development agenda.
The Head of State made the remarks on Monday at a meeting with AU High Representative for Financing the union and the Peace Fund, Dr Donald Kaberuka, at State House.
Mr Kaberuka is conducting stakeholder consultations across the continent on progress in strengthening the AU’s financial sustainability.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira confirmed the meeting, saying Dr Kaberuka had requested the President’s leadership in championing continental integration for financial self-sufficiency.
“He paid a visit to His Excellency, President Mnangagwa to request his leadership and recognising that he is a progressive leader and influential on the continent. He wanted President Mnangagwa to help in continental integration, so he wanted him to be Champion of Continental integration, where he will lead in ensuring that there is financial autonomy for the AU,” said Prof Murwira.
In a statement on its X handle, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said the President commended Kaberuka’s efforts.
“During the discussions, His Excellency President Mnangagwa commended Dr Kaberuka for his tireless efforts to advance initiatives to restore the African Union’s financial autonomy and reduce dependence on external funding,” said the Ministry.
“The President reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s support for ongoing institutional reforms designed to strengthen the AU’s capacity to sustainably finance its programmes, peace and security operations, and development agenda, and emphasised that a financially self-reliant African Union is critical to advancing the continent’s aspirations for greater unity, resilience, and ownership of its development priorities.”
President Mnangagwa also underscored the importance of unity among member states in achieving financial sustainability.
“The meeting also underscored the importance of collective commitment by Member States in ensuring the successful implementation of mechanisms that promote long-term financial sustainability for the Union,” reads the statement.
President Mnangagwa has previously pledged Zimbabwe’s continued commitment to meeting its financial obligations to the AU and has urged member states to pay their dues on time to eliminate donor dependency.
Dr Kaberuka is on a continent-wide tour consulting key stakeholders on the implementation of the AU’s financing and peace fund reforms.
Earlier this month, he met the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Professor Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, with discussions centring on advancing the AU reform agenda.
The discussions formed part of the Chairperson’s ongoing consultations, in line with the guidance of the AU Assembly at its 39th Ordinary Session, to strengthen institutional reforms and ensure the effective implementation of the Union’s mandate.
During that meeting, Dr Kaberuka commended the AU Commission for advancing reform initiatives, including the operationalisation of the Skills Audit and Competency Assessment.
He, however, cautioned that the evolving geopolitical environment and shifts in international development financing present growing challenges for multilateral institutions.
In this regard, he underscored the importance of sustainable and predictable contributions from Member States to safeguard the Union’s financial sovereignty and enable it to deliver on the aspirations of the African people.
The chairperson reaffirmed that financial sovereignty remains a central priority of the new leadership of the Commission in advancing the objectives of Agenda 2063.
He welcomed the decision of the Assembly to convene a joint session of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Finance to consult on and develop a sustainable financing model for the Union.
