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Commitment, diligence, the way forward for AU`s success
2005-06-10 08:25:27
By Lucky Mkandawire
Since the dawn of the 21st century, many African leaders have exhibited a significant courage and resilience in the face of global economic and political upheavals.
The most enduring dream that has lingered on in their minds is the desire to move the continent from its impoverished status and allow its citizens to enjoy the fruits of independence, which they have been denied for a very long time.
Amongst the high profiled actions that the continent`s leadership has made is the formation of an organisation, modelled on the European Union, called the African Union (AU), which has superseded the 38-year-old Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
The purposes and principles of OAU as set out in its charter clearly show that the Organisation’s objectives were bent on the liberation of the African states.
Though the Organisation managed to free most nations from the colonialists, it still did not achieve all its objectives at the expiry of its 38-year-old reign.
One purpose of the organisation, Article II (1) (b); - to co-ordinate and intensify co-operation and efforts to achieve a better life for all the people of Africa- failed to materialise.
Today, the standard of living for the majority of Africans has not changed as they still live below the poverty line, one dollar a day.
But a question follows.
Why has the situation remained static decades after independence?
The setback, according to analysts, is that when the OAU was established, its leaders showed much interest in political powers unlike economic empowerment of their nations.
Probably, the leaders wrongly thought that political independence was an automatic launching pad to economic empowerment.
For any business or country to prosper, it has to set out both short and long term plans and objectives.
And the formation of AU is perhaps seen as a vehicle that will capitalise on former leaders` political liberty by focusing on problems of socio-economic development.
Principally, AU strives to achieve sustainable pro-poor growth, promote human capital development, improve quality of life of the poor and ensure good governance.
But this is no mean task. If the Union is to draw nearer to or stand at par with their role model, European Union, it has to make the most of OAU mistakes.
As stipulated in its charter, AU objectives are worth commending. They are much broader and more specific than those of the former.
The OAU had only five purposes and seven principles whereas the AU has 14 objectives and 15 principles. But the question that should be asked is: ``Will the AU be able to achieve all these?``
Former Mozambican Joaquim Chissano speaking during the Union’s Assembly, which his country hosted in 2003 told a news conference that he was convinced the AU would move beyond rhetoric and achieve its goals.
Said he: ``Now that the world is heading towards globalisation, no nation can afford to work in isolation. Therefore, I am confident that the establishment of the African Union would strengthen economic and political solidarity of the continent.``
Looking at the structures of the two organisations, the OAU had only four but the AU has added five more and renamed the key organs:- the Assembly (previously the Assembly of Heads of State and Government), the Executive Council (Council of Ministers). Others are, the Permanent Representatives Committee and the Commission.
Many people feel the new AU organs like the Court of Justice, Economic Council, Pan-African Parliament, Financial institutions are likely to help the AU achieve its objectives once put into operation.
They say if the OAU had such operational institutions in place, the continent could have now been better off economically and could not have incurred the huge debts.
At the moment, one of the AU’s biggest challenges is the restoration of peace and harmony to the nations that have been engulfed in civil wars.
This is so because the OAU failed to achieve its objectives of promoting unity and solidarity amongst the African States.
These wars have been waged for decades in a number of African states such as, Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia, Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo and others.
They have claimed millions of lives and brought untold human suffering and economic problems to the nations.
The other problem that the AU is facing is the inheritance of debts amounting to about US$ 40 million from the OAU, not mentioning the fight against the HIV/Aids pandemic.
However, with the establishment of a number of appropriate financial institutions, the AU should not find itself in a quagmire as happened to the OAU.
A political analyst and Malawian media consultant, Poulton Mtenje says it would be ridiculous for the AU to talk of the continent’s revolution without talking about the debt cancellation.
``Most Third World countries are failing to develop because of the high interest rates imposed on them by Brentwood institutions; IMF and the World Bank.
Unless Africa`s debts are totally cancelled we still have a long way to go,`` he prophecies.
He observes that it is good that in its transition, the AU has addressed some key issues like democracy, human rights, security and peace.
``I would, therefore, urge our leaders to commit themselves in strengthening good governance, build sound government institutions, fight corruption and throw their weight behind peace for the AU to revive the continent`s economic stance,``he says.
He adds that the continent’s most powerful men also have to work resolutely to harness the continent’s potential for the Union’s future.
``This way, the AU will be able to come up with some landmark decisions pertaining to its development stagnation,``he concludes.
Much as everybody appreciates the initiative, the homework rests on the African leaders to co-operate with the international community for technical assistance if they are to fulfil the organisation’s objectives.
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