Women Africa’s unsung heroines — African Union chairperson
mugabe

President Mugabe

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Reporter
THE African Union (AU) has since its formation taken a great leap in gender equality, specifically on women empowerment and development, out of the realisation that, women, the world over, are the cornerstone of stability and social progress, President Mugabe said yesterday.

President Mugabe, who is also the AU chairperson, in a statement on the occasion of the commemoration of the 52nd Anniversary said while women had made tremendous achievements, sadly they remained unsung heroines.

He called on African leaders to set benchmarks and put measures to ensure an irreversible roadmap towards the full empowerment of women.

“The African Union has taken a great leap in gender equality, specifically on women empowerment and development, out of the realisation that, women, the world over, are the cornerstone of stability and social progress. While women have made tremendous achievements, they sadly often remain unsung heroines. Women have left indelible marks in the history of the struggle against slavery, in the struggle for civil rights and in our wars of liberation,” said President Mugabe.

The President said in recognition of the role of women as a driving force for change and development, most AU member states have moved mainstream gender issues into their national laws and development programmes.

He said the women of Africa were a formidable asset in achieving sustainable, social and economic development, as well as the eradication of poverty, hunger and disease.

“The instruments and frameworks that have been put in place for the empowerment and elevation of women cover various spheres of social interaction and development, ranging from governance, politics, and access to justice, education, health and ownership of the means of production,” he said.

This year’s commemorations were held under the theme: “Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063” in recognition of the role of women as a driving force for change and development.

“As we mark this important Day, it’s necessary to reflect on this year’s African Union theme, aptly coined as “Year of Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063”. It’s for this reason that African leaders chose this theme in order to acknowledge the central role of women in implementing Agenda 2063 as well as to reinforce gains already made, and chart new frontiers for women, with the African Union playing an enabling role,” President Mugabe said.

“The efforts we’ve exerted are bearing fruit as we’ve recently seen women occupying important leadership positions. We’ve had women elected Presidents. Our continental body is being led by a woman, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma,” the President said.

He, however, said there was need to do much more in the area of women empowerment and development.

President Mugabe also paid tribute to the founding fathers of the AU formerly Organisation of African Unity (OAU), for their sacrifices in liberating the continent from the yoke of colonialism.

“This Day wouldn’t have been possible without the sacrifices of the founding fathers and those of the African heroes and heroines who fought to liberate our continent from the vestiges of colonialism, racism and apartheid. Today, we’re free because of the sacrifices they made.”

President Mugabe said the continental body has made great strides both politically and economically to create an environment that safeguards the future of Africa.

“Through the African Peace and Security architecture, the Union continues to work tirelessly, in collaboration with our partners, to foster peace and security across the continent. The establishment of the African Standby Force, intended to guarantee peace and security on the continent, becomes more urgent and imperative. It’s heartening and encouraging that some of our regional standby forces have now reached full operational capability. We urge those who haven’t yet done so, to redouble their efforts so that the African-Stand-By Force is operationalised without further delay,” President Mugabe said.

In the economic sphere, the President said, the AU remains focused on attaining economic integration of the continent, as defined in the Abuja Treaty of 1991. The Treaty remains relevant, as it recognises the efficacy of economic integration as a necessary strategy for sustainable socio-economic development in Africa.

He urged Africa to leverage its abundant and diverse resources for the benefit of its people. “Time has come for us to industrialise our economies and move away from the continued exportation of our raw materials at very low prices for beneficiation and value addition in other continents, only to return to Africa as finished goods at very high prices,” said President Mugabe.

Early this year, Africa adopted its Economic Blueprint, Agenda 2063, which will be implemented in Five Ten-Year Plans. Africa will, next month, adopt the first Ten-Year-Plan under Agenda 2063. The AU Summit to be held in South Africa is a watershed Summit in the sense that Africa will henceforth proceed in an integrated and planned manner. The regional groups have already started to draw their development plans aligned to Agenda 2063.

“As a Union, we must build an Africa that’s prosperous, an Africa that’s economically integrated, and politically guided by the ideals of Pan Africanism, an Africa that subscribes to democracy, respects human rights, and respects the rule of law. We must have a peaceful and secure Africa, an Africa with its own cultural identity, common heritage and shared values, an Africa whose development is based on the creativity of its people, particularly its youth and women,” said President Mugabe.

He said there was a need to devise collective strategies and measures to overcome conflict, insecurity and terrorism.

“We must work tirelessly to end conflict and insecurity. We therefore welcome the recent peace agreement in Mali and urge other conflict areas to lay down their arms and settle their differences through dialogue and negotiation. This is the only way to make lasting peace which is the essential ingredient to development and prosperity,” President Mugabe said.

Early this year, Africa also addressed the issues of the AU’s over-dependence on its international cooperating partners. The AU Summit decided that this was neither desirable nor sustainable. It was therefore decided that new and innovative ways of generating revenue be found so that within five years, the African Union should be able to fund 100 percent of its operational budget, 75 percent of programme budget and at least, 25 percent for its peace keeping operations.

The continental body, AU, formerly the OAU, was formed in 1963.

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