Thursday, November 22, 2018

SADC Chairperson Calls for Learner, Efficient and Financially Self-sufficient African Union
Southern Times
November 19, 2018
By Annines Angula

Windhoek- President of the Republic of Namibia and chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Hage Geingob has called for learner, efficient and financially self-sufficient African Union (AU) able to deliver on the vision of prosperity and sustainable development for all its citizens and condemns killing of peacekeepers in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Geingob, ended participation in the extraordinary session of the -African Union Assembly that started on Saturday and ended on Sunday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  The session reflected on various proposals of the African Union in the following areas:

Reform of the leadership structure of the African Union commission which includes members of states funding activities of the African Union, The division labour, between member states, the African Union commission, organs and offices, regional economic communities(RECs) , regional mechanisms and other continental organizations. The mandate of the EU Development Agency, Strengthening of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the AU peace fund.

In a statement released on Sunday, Geingob arranged a working dinner of the SADC heads of state and Government on the margins of the extraordinary session in which he led discussions on common positions on the AU reforms and other matters affecting   the region, including the forthcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Thanking president Paul Kagame of the Republic Rwanda and his team for the manner in which he led the AU institutional reforms. Geingob said that the AU institutional reforms were an ambitious undertaking, requiring political will and commitment in driving the continent to an intergraded people centered and a prosperous Africa that is at peace with itself. In line with the importance of the institutional reforms, Geingob also called on collective participation as critical for the transformation of the continent.

Supporting a learner AU commission from the current to 10 to 8 senior leadership team, Geingob also advised that in considering the structure, portfolios, selection, termination of senior leadership, respect for the AU constitutive Act and the laid down rules of procedures would ensure effective implementation.

“With progress being made on the issue of division of labour between members of states, the regional economic communities, the AU commission and organs, this is an opportune time for us to drive the process to bring about greater synergy of the national, regional and continental programs. This division of labor should lead us to greater integrations and effectiveness in delivering on our development agendas towards meeting the economic, political and social needs of the continent,”  said  Geingob.

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