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Mnangagwa meets Kenyan opposition leader
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President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday met Kenyan opposition leader Mr. Raila Odinga, who sought Zimbabwe's support for his candidature for the position of African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson.
Mr. Odinga is among three candidates vying to succeed the incumbent AUC chairperson, Mr. Moussa Faki, who has held the position since 2017. The other candidates include Djibouti's Foreign Affairs Minister Tahtoud Ali Youssof and Somalia's Fawzia Yusuf Adam.
Speaking after the meeting at State House in Harare, Mr. Odinga expressed optimism about gaining Zimbabwe's and the Southern African Development Community (SADC)'s support for his bid.
"I have come to announce (my candidature) and to also ask for support from Zimbabwe and SADC by extension. I am happy to have been received very well by the President," he said.
Later, Mr. Odinga shared his sentiments on his X handle: "We landed in Harare, Zimbabwe today to a warm reception courtesy of H.E President Emmerson Mnangagwa @edmnangagwa. It's been a pleasure sharing with the President my vision for Africa and discussing my candidature for the AUC Chairmanship."
President Mnangagwa, currently the SADC Chairperson, received Mr. Odinga as part of the latter's campaign to secure backing from the regional bloc. In March, the African Union (AU) agreed unanimously to allow the Eastern Africa region to nominate the next AUC chairperson, marking a milestone in the AU's institutional reforms initiated in November 2018.
The AU aims to enhance transparency and meritocracy in leadership selection, emphasizing equitable regional representation, gender parity, and recruiting top talent from across the continent. This decision ensures the Eastern Africa region's representation in AU leadership while North Africa will nominate the deputy chairperson.
Mr. Odinga highlighted shared challenges among African nations and the importance of collective solutions. "We have shared experiences with other nations, we know where we are coming from, where we want to go. But Africa will only be developed by Africans themselves. We must have a clear roadmap and blueprint on how to develop Africa," he said.
He emphasized the potential of Africa's youthful population as a transformative force and underscored the need for integration among Africa's 55 states to harness the continent's resources effectively.
Mr. Odinga, who has been touring Africa to garner support, indicated that his next stops would include other Southern African countries. The new AUC chair will be elected via a secret ballot at the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 25.
The upcoming election reflects the AU's commitment to ensuring fair representation and fostering unity across the continent in addressing common challenges and advancing development.
Mr. Odinga is among three candidates vying to succeed the incumbent AUC chairperson, Mr. Moussa Faki, who has held the position since 2017. The other candidates include Djibouti's Foreign Affairs Minister Tahtoud Ali Youssof and Somalia's Fawzia Yusuf Adam.
Speaking after the meeting at State House in Harare, Mr. Odinga expressed optimism about gaining Zimbabwe's and the Southern African Development Community (SADC)'s support for his bid.
"I have come to announce (my candidature) and to also ask for support from Zimbabwe and SADC by extension. I am happy to have been received very well by the President," he said.
Later, Mr. Odinga shared his sentiments on his X handle: "We landed in Harare, Zimbabwe today to a warm reception courtesy of H.E President Emmerson Mnangagwa @edmnangagwa. It's been a pleasure sharing with the President my vision for Africa and discussing my candidature for the AUC Chairmanship."
The AU aims to enhance transparency and meritocracy in leadership selection, emphasizing equitable regional representation, gender parity, and recruiting top talent from across the continent. This decision ensures the Eastern Africa region's representation in AU leadership while North Africa will nominate the deputy chairperson.
Mr. Odinga highlighted shared challenges among African nations and the importance of collective solutions. "We have shared experiences with other nations, we know where we are coming from, where we want to go. But Africa will only be developed by Africans themselves. We must have a clear roadmap and blueprint on how to develop Africa," he said.
He emphasized the potential of Africa's youthful population as a transformative force and underscored the need for integration among Africa's 55 states to harness the continent's resources effectively.
Mr. Odinga, who has been touring Africa to garner support, indicated that his next stops would include other Southern African countries. The new AUC chair will be elected via a secret ballot at the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 25.
The upcoming election reflects the AU's commitment to ensuring fair representation and fostering unity across the continent in addressing common challenges and advancing development.
Source - the herald
