News / National
Zimbabwe to chair AU next month
06 Jun 2011 at 08:44hrs | Views
In June, Zimbabwe will assume chairmanship of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. There are high expectations that resolutions passed by the extraordinary summit on the state of peace and security in African will be implemented fully.
The post of chairman of the Peace and Security Council which is on a rotational basis will from next month be taken by Zimbabwe as South Africa completes its term at the end of this month.
Foreign Affairs Minster, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi confirmed this saying the country has a mammoth task of ensuring that peace and security issues that are outstanding in Africa will be solved as the continental body moves ahead to reaffirm its position in solving continental challenges.
"We are assuming the chairmanship of the powerful post and we certainly hope that we will make inroads in ensuring that the crises are solved amicably using the political solution," said Mumbengegwi.
Turning to the recent declaration by Europeans that the Libyan crisis is not an entirely African problem as the country belongs to three groupings, the AU, the League of Arab States and the Mediterranean, Mumbengegwi said the North African State is a legitimate member of the continental body and the West is merely interested in looting the oil in that country.
"Libya is a legitimate member of the African Union and all this noise by the West are aimed at ensuring that they have total control of our resources. African is rich and they want to reverse the freedoms gained from various struggles," he added.
The Peace and Security Council is the most powerful organ of the African Union which coordinates conflict management strategies, decides when to establish peacekeeping operations, and when to impose sanctions.
It consists of 15 members drawn from the various geographical regions of African and its chairmanship rotates amongst member states.
The post of chairman of the Peace and Security Council which is on a rotational basis will from next month be taken by Zimbabwe as South Africa completes its term at the end of this month.
Foreign Affairs Minster, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi confirmed this saying the country has a mammoth task of ensuring that peace and security issues that are outstanding in Africa will be solved as the continental body moves ahead to reaffirm its position in solving continental challenges.
"We are assuming the chairmanship of the powerful post and we certainly hope that we will make inroads in ensuring that the crises are solved amicably using the political solution," said Mumbengegwi.
"Libya is a legitimate member of the African Union and all this noise by the West are aimed at ensuring that they have total control of our resources. African is rich and they want to reverse the freedoms gained from various struggles," he added.
The Peace and Security Council is the most powerful organ of the African Union which coordinates conflict management strategies, decides when to establish peacekeeping operations, and when to impose sanctions.
It consists of 15 members drawn from the various geographical regions of African and its chairmanship rotates amongst member states.
Source - Byo24News
