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'Friends yes, imperialists no more,' says Mugabe
30 Jan 2015 at 14:35hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe, who is the current SADC chairperson, has been confirmed as the new AU chairperson at the 24th ordinary session of the AU heads of state summit in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
In his address, President Mugabe expressed gratitude and honour for the mandate he has been given to chair the AU for the next 12 months.
He said Africa has to determine its destiny to unite and fight colonialism and the poverty scourge.
President Mugabe called on African nations to invest in infrastructure development to promote economic growth.
The AU Chairperson said lack of proper infrastructure has hampered development as roads and the rail system support economic growth.
He said Africa is rich in natural resources which should contribute to its development, adding the continent should employ value addition and beneficiation as ignoring these factors will see it languishing in poverty.
Cde Mugabe also spoke on the need to achieve agricultural success, saying Zimbabwe embarked on the land reform programme which has since been demonised by some western countries.
On climate change, President Mugabe called on farmers to heed advice from agricultural experts.
President Mugabe officially declared the summit theme: "2015 The Year of Women Empowerment and Development".
President Mugabe called on the UN to ensure the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic assumes their right to self-determination. The country is under Morocco occupation.
He also called on Africa to unite in solidarity with the people of Palestine who are under siege from Israeli attacks which have killed thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza strip.
The AU chairperson commended the SADC region for successfully dealing with the crisis that had befallen Madagascar which has now been resolved.
Turning to the Ebola crisis, President Mugabe commended stakeholders who have come together on the continent to fight the deadly disease.
On a lighter note, President Mugabe congratulated Equatorial Guinea for accepting to and successfully hosting the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, adding that Equatorial Guinea discovered oil which the "blind eyes" of the colonialists failed to see.
"As Africa, friends we shall have, yes, but imperialists no more," said the AU Chairperson.
President Mugabe said Africa should guard against the use of mineral resources by people who are bent on re-colonising the continent.
In his address, President Mugabe expressed gratitude and honour for the mandate he has been given to chair the AU for the next 12 months.
He said Africa has to determine its destiny to unite and fight colonialism and the poverty scourge.
President Mugabe called on African nations to invest in infrastructure development to promote economic growth.
The AU Chairperson said lack of proper infrastructure has hampered development as roads and the rail system support economic growth.
He said Africa is rich in natural resources which should contribute to its development, adding the continent should employ value addition and beneficiation as ignoring these factors will see it languishing in poverty.
Cde Mugabe also spoke on the need to achieve agricultural success, saying Zimbabwe embarked on the land reform programme which has since been demonised by some western countries.
On climate change, President Mugabe called on farmers to heed advice from agricultural experts.
President Mugabe officially declared the summit theme: "2015 The Year of Women Empowerment and Development".
President Mugabe called on the UN to ensure the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic assumes their right to self-determination. The country is under Morocco occupation.
He also called on Africa to unite in solidarity with the people of Palestine who are under siege from Israeli attacks which have killed thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza strip.
The AU chairperson commended the SADC region for successfully dealing with the crisis that had befallen Madagascar which has now been resolved.
Turning to the Ebola crisis, President Mugabe commended stakeholders who have come together on the continent to fight the deadly disease.
On a lighter note, President Mugabe congratulated Equatorial Guinea for accepting to and successfully hosting the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, adding that Equatorial Guinea discovered oil which the "blind eyes" of the colonialists failed to see.
"As Africa, friends we shall have, yes, but imperialists no more," said the AU Chairperson.
President Mugabe said Africa should guard against the use of mineral resources by people who are bent on re-colonising the continent.
Source - zbc
