Wallace Ruzvidzo-Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE and Gabon have elevated engagements over their competing bids to host the 2027 African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit to the Heads of State level, as efforts to reach a consensus gather momentum.
Gabonese Vice President Alexandre Barro Chambrier yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare as a special envoy of Gabonese President Brice Nguema to discuss the way forward. Liberia is also bidding to host the continental gathering, with the three countries seeking a mutually acceptable solution. Speaking to the media after a closed-door meeting with President Mnangagwa, Vice President Chambrier said the cordial relations between Zimbabwe and Gabon will help the two countries resolve their competing bids.
“I had the honour and privilege to be received by the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe in the context of a message that we were the bearers of, of his young brother, President Nguema, to his brother, President Mnangagwa,” he said.
“This message was about the excellent relations that characterise our two countries, and I had, indeed, the privilege…you know that our two countries are candidates to (host) the organisation of the 9th African Union Coordination meeting, and it was about, indeed, finding a solution.
“And President Nguema’s approach has been very appreciated by his elder brother, President Mnangagwa, and I can say that things are evolving in the right direction, and I would really like to thank the President for the welcome he has reserved for us, and for the excellent climate that has prevailed during the discussions.”
Vice President Chambrier also thanked President Mnangagwa for the warm welcome, leadership, and guidance during the engagements, expressing confidence that the two nations will find common ground.
“You know that we have excellent relations between Libreville and Harare. We were very honoured that the President could really find a solution, which is mutually acceptable for the two parties,” he said.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira said discussions on the competing bids began at the ministerial level on the sidelines of the African Union Ordinary Summit in February. He said the matter is now being elevated to the Heads of State level as the countries seek consensus on which nation should host the 2027 gathering.
“The subject of the matter is that next year, there is a mid-year summit of the African Union and Zimbabwe placed its bid to host that summit. At the same time, Gabon also placed its bid; at the same time, Liberia also placed its bid. On the sidelines of the African Union Ordinary Summit in February, we had the privilege of meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Gabon to talk about the issue. We then said we will escalate this issue to the Heads of State and Government, with His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa and President Nguema,” he said.
Prof Murwira said the visit by the Gabonese Vice President was part of efforts to build consensus among the countries competing to host the summit. He explained that the AU follows a rotational system for hosting its events, allowing different regions to host continental gatherings.
“This (rotation) enables every region to have a chance to host. In 2022, Southern Africa hosted in Lusaka; in 2023, it was another region; in 2024, it was another region. In 2025, it was another region; in 2026, it is Egypt. So, using the principle of rotation of the African Union, 2027 is Southern Africa’s chance,” he said.
The minister noted that Southern African countries rallied behind Zimbabwe’s bid, in keeping with the region’s practice of supporting one candidate to host continental events rather than competing among themselves.
“We put forward one candidate and they host, so Southern Africa had selected Zimbabwe. So, it is important that all the countries that are competing to host the 2027 Summit find each other and have consensus,” he said.
Prof Murwira said President Mnangagwa received the message delivered by the Gabonese special envoy and was considering it.
“So, the Special Envoy had come to His Excellency the President, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Dr ED Mnangagwa, to pass a message about this consensus-building process. That is what the meeting was about. It was a very cordial meeting. Our President is a bridge-builder. He always accepts different views and today (yesterday) was no exception. He was getting the message; he received the message and the message is under consideration,” he said.
