Dlamini Zuma, at the Parliamentary debate on the Unification of Africa, Cape
Town
14 June 2007
"Debate on the Continental Government"
Madame Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Ministers and Deputy Ministers
Honourable Members of Parliament
Representatives of political parties
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the
Honourable Members for taking this time to engage in this important debate of
the Union Government.
The question of unity and solidarity is itself more than a century old. In
the spirit of Pan-Africanism there were earlier initiatives by Sylvester
Williams, Web du Bois, Marcus Garvey and many others.
A few weeks ago, during our Budget Vote, we expressed hope that parliament
would initiate a debate on economic and political integration of Africa,
appropriately dubbed the Grand Debate.
Let me hasten to add that this debate is not new, but what is new is the
level of participation by civil society, parliamentarians, and different
socioâpolitical formations.
At Ghana's independence fifty years ago, the first President of Ghana, Kwame
Nkrumah said: "Our independence is meaningless if it is not linked to the total
independence of the African continent."
Madam Speaker, there were various events held from 1958 to generate
discussions on forging African Unity. These events, together with other
important meetings in Brazzaville, Casablanca, Monrovia and Lagos, would
culminate in the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in
1963.
Why was the integration so necessary? Why was the OAU established, besides
the decolonisation?
In 1963, in his speech entitled "Africa Unite", Nkrumah pointed out the
following, which is still true even today:
He further argued that: "The forces that unite us are far greater than the
difficulties that divide us at present, and our goal must be the establishment
of Africa's dignity, progress and Africa. It is for us to grasp what is a
golden opportunity to prove that the genius of nationhood by coming together
speedily, for the sake of Africa's greater glory and infinite well-being, into
a Union of African States."
The "golden opportunity" of which Nkrumah spoke with urgency was not fully
realised during his lifetime. "We must act now," he said "Tomorrow may be too
late."
It is therefore, obvious that while the collective political will was
strong, conditions had not yet been attained for such a Union of African
States.
The integration process started in earnest with the formation of the OAU
even though it was not through the "Union of African States" that Kwame
Nkrumah, Sekou Toure and others had pressed for.
Madam Speaker, speaking at the OAU Summit in Tunis, in June 1994, the then
President Nelson Mandela expressed this position very passionately and stated
that: "Finally, at this meeting in Tunis, we shall remove from our agenda the
consideration of the question of apartheid in South Africa.
"Where South Africa appears on the agenda again, let it be because we want
to discuss what its contribution shall be to the making of the new African
Renaissance. Let it be because we want to discuss what materials it will supply
for the rebuilding of the African city of Carthage.
"One epoch with its historic tasks has come to an end. Surely, another must
commence with its own challenges. Africa cries out for a new birth, Carthage
awaits the restoration of its glory.
"If freedom was the crown, which the fighters of liberation sought to place
on the head of Mother Africa, let the upliftment, the happiness, prosperity and
comfort of her children be the jewel of the crown."
That Africa should unite has never been in question. The question is the
model of integration that would help accelerate Africa's economic development
and strengthen democratic governance on the continent.
The current leadership of the continent, realising that the OAU belonged to
the epoch with its historic tasks that had come to an end and that another had
to come with its own challenges, launched the African Union (AU) with clear
objectives including:
* acceleration of the political and socio-economic integration of the
continent
* promotion of peace, security and stability on the continent
* promotion of sustainable development at the economic and cultural
levels
* the integration of Africa's economies
* embracing gender equality.
The question therefore is what model of integrating is best suited for the
realisation of these objectives.
As I mentioned earlier, integration has been a continuous process which has
been taken to a higher level through the AU and its institutions,
including:
1. The Peace and Security Council, together with a common defence policy and
the establishment of a standby force to deal directly with questions of
security, peace and stability, including peacekeeping missions.
2. The Pan-African Parliament, the Human Rights Court and a host of other
common policies that have been agreed upon are further evidence to this ongoing
integration, which is to accelerate Africa's social and economic transformation
has and has in turn, identified the following priorities:
* eradication of poverty
* placing African countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of
sustainable growth and development
* halting the marginalisation of Africa in the globalisation process and
enhancing its full integration into the global economy
* accelerating the empowerment of women.
It is premised on the following priorities
* infrastructure development
* enhanced food security
* health
* education
* energy, security
* gender parity
* information and communication technology
* proper management of migration
* human resource development
The question to answer is whether the time has come for a Union Government
in order to implement the above, even if it targets a few areas.
Should we do more in rationalising and strengthening the regional economic
communities as building blocks?
Should we strengthen the AU Commission's capacity by providing it with both
human and financial resources and giving it a stronger mandate?
Should we do more to mobilise financial resources for the implementation of
infrastructure, human resource development, agriculture, and so on?
If we agree to form the Union Government, which areas will fall under
it?
There are suggestions that we may start with defence, foreign affairs,
trade, infrastructure, finance and agriculture, amongst others.
Others say we should go for a fully-fledged Union Government. If we do,
there would have to be harmonisation of policies in these areas. There would
also have to be proper funding of this government. Are the conditions now ripe
for the Union of African States? These are some of the questions you have to
answer.
Madam Speaker, it would not be desirable for me to pre-empt this important
debate, so I have just posed questions and given options to allow the house to
have proper deliberations.
The forthcoming Ghana Summit will consider nothing but this question of the
Union Government.
Should it be established now? And if yes, then all the attendant questions
will need to be considered. And if not, what then needs to be done to
accelerate integration?
Other governments across the continent are consulting their respective
citizenry on this matter because there is no consensus yet on how to accelerate
the integration; hence the Grand Debate.
As we ponder these critical questions, it would be important to reflect on
the words of our President, then Deputy President, Thabo Mbeki, at the adoption
of the present Constitution of South Africa.
"I am an African, I am born of the peoples of the continent of Africa. The
pain of the violent conflict that the peoples of Liberia, Somalia, the Sudan,
Burundi and Algeria is a pain I also bear. The dismal shame of poverty,
suffering and human degradation of my continent is a blight that we share.
"The blight on our happiness that derives from this and from our drift to
the periphery of the ordering of human affairs, leaves us in a persistent
shadow of despair.
"This is a savage road to which nobody should be condemned.
"This thing that we have done today, in this small corner of a great
continent that has contributed so decisively to the evolution of humanity says
that Africa reaffirms that she is continuing her rise from the ashes.
"Whatever the setbacks of the moment, nothing can stop us now! Whatever the
difficulties, Africa shall be at peace! However improbable it may sound to the
sceptics, Africa will prosper!
"Whoever we may be, whatever our immediate interest, however much we carry
baggage from our past, however much we have been caught by the fashion of
cynicism and loss of faith in the capacity of the people, let us err today and
say-nothing can stop us now!"
How best can we achieve this peaceful and prosperous Africa?
Thank you for your attention.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
14 June 2007
