Mugabe back from Ethiopia

President Robert Mugabe has returned home from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia disappointed after the 28th Africa Union (AU) Summit re-admitted Morocco as a member, 32 years after quitting the continental body.

On arrival today at the Harare International Airport where he was met by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, and other senior government officials, Mugabe bemoaned lack of clarity and ideology guiding the founding principles of the AU among some African leaders.

39 nations voted in favour of Morocco's readmission and President Mugabe questioned African leaders' disregard of the founding principles of the continental body on the decision.

"It is a matter of ideology, maybe they have not had the same revolutionary experience as all of us. Most of our countries in Africa are still too reliant on erstwhile colonisers for funding and they can't stand against such motions. We will however continue to fight from within AU and the UN to the effect that it is not right to readmit Morocco before it concedes and recognise Western Sahara as an independent state," said Mugabe.


Morocco walked out of the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 after it recognised Western Sahara as an independent state, which Morocco regards as part of its territory.

President Mugabe also expressed disappointment that the AU Commission chair candidate from Botswana lost because that country's president, did not give her full support and rarely attends AU summits.

The post was eventually won by Chad's Foreign Minister, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, who also beat a candidate from Kenya.

Mr Faki replaces Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma of South Africa who decided not to contest for a second term.