Charity Munganga
23 May 2001
Windhoek — The act establishing an African Union (AU), to replace the existing Organisation of African Unity (OAU), enters into force on Saturday heralding a new beginning for the continental organisation.
During the 38th Africa Day commemoration held at the Parliament Gardens yesterday, Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation Minister Nahas Angula said the transition of the OAU into the AU was the most outstanding landmark on the road to continental unity.
The AU aims to achieve greater unity and solidarity between African countries and its people in order to create greater capacity to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of member states.
"If Africa seizes the opportunity, the African Renaissance would be a reality, not a myth created for mere political political expediency," Angula said.
Angula said Africa was still beset by many problems, among them the scourges of malaria and HIV-AIDS.
However, he said economic recovery and the process of political transition were on course while democracy was being consolidated.
"Efforts are also being made to find solutions for very complex conflicts such as DRC, Angola...," he said.
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Zimbabwe High Commissioner to Namibia Mary Mubi, said the OAU had played a crucial role in the de- colonisation process, promotion of economic growth and conflict resolution on the entire continent.
Mubi said the OAU heads of state and government had clearly defined the establishment of the African Economic Community as a top priority and the transformation of the OAU into an African Union as a step further in attaining the goal.
"The Africa Group of Ambassadors are worried with the continents debt burden. They argued the OAU to continue lobbying for the cancellation of these debts which are absorbing about 90 per cent of some countries' resources," she said.
In addition, Mubi urged the OAU to continue seeking ways of putting into place programmes of information dissemination and resource mobilisation towards the fight against HIV-AIDS.
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