News / Africa
Mugabe set to assume AU chairmanship
29 Jan 2015 at 10:33hrs | Views
Members of the Zimbabwean delegation attending the 24th ordinary session of the African Union heads of state say they are hopeful and confident that President Robert Mugabe will assume the chairmanship of the continental body without any impediments.
President Mugabe was appointed 1st vice chair of the organisation last year, making him eligible for the candidature of the top post.
According to procedures of the elections of the chairs of the union, the chairmanship of the AU rotates among the 5 economic regions of Africa namely SADC, East Africa Community, Maghreb, ECOWAS and central Africa.
The chance for Zimbabwe comes at an opportune time when the country is just emerging from challenges that it had been facing in the last decade because of its determination to reclaim its land and her principled position against western interference.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba says Zimbabwe is coming out of its shells to reassume its natural leadership role that it has attained because of its long historical experience and its links with the politics of liberation in Africa.
Charamba said President Mugabe seeks to assume the position of chair by building on consensus and not to lead by minority.
He said Mugabe, who for a long time has been urging Africa to move away from forming policies that are pushed by the west, will now move the continent towards home grown solutions to African challenges.
Charamba said while the west has sought to push the issue of their illegal sanctions to de-campaign him for the continental position, their attempts have fallen flat in their face.
"The west has no moral standing to stand in Zimbabwe's way in her bid for the top post in the AU," said Charamba.
Meanwhile, while President Mugabe, who is the current SADC chair, is standing for the leadership of Africa, Zimbabwe has also produced a candidate for the SADC region in the bid for the African Development Bank presidency elections set for May this year.
The candidate Mr Thomas Zondo Sakala is in President Mugabe's delegation in Addis Ababa to canvas for support from the leaders who are attending the AU summit.
Mr Sakala, who has 36 years experience in the banking sector, is accompanied by Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr Kupukile Mlambo.
President Mugabe was appointed 1st vice chair of the organisation last year, making him eligible for the candidature of the top post.
According to procedures of the elections of the chairs of the union, the chairmanship of the AU rotates among the 5 economic regions of Africa namely SADC, East Africa Community, Maghreb, ECOWAS and central Africa.
The chance for Zimbabwe comes at an opportune time when the country is just emerging from challenges that it had been facing in the last decade because of its determination to reclaim its land and her principled position against western interference.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba says Zimbabwe is coming out of its shells to reassume its natural leadership role that it has attained because of its long historical experience and its links with the politics of liberation in Africa.
Charamba said President Mugabe seeks to assume the position of chair by building on consensus and not to lead by minority.
He said Mugabe, who for a long time has been urging Africa to move away from forming policies that are pushed by the west, will now move the continent towards home grown solutions to African challenges.
Charamba said while the west has sought to push the issue of their illegal sanctions to de-campaign him for the continental position, their attempts have fallen flat in their face.
"The west has no moral standing to stand in Zimbabwe's way in her bid for the top post in the AU," said Charamba.
Meanwhile, while President Mugabe, who is the current SADC chair, is standing for the leadership of Africa, Zimbabwe has also produced a candidate for the SADC region in the bid for the African Development Bank presidency elections set for May this year.
The candidate Mr Thomas Zondo Sakala is in President Mugabe's delegation in Addis Ababa to canvas for support from the leaders who are attending the AU summit.
Mr Sakala, who has 36 years experience in the banking sector, is accompanied by Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr Kupukile Mlambo.
Source - zbc
