Lovemore Mataire Harare Bureau
The African Union must mobilise local resources to fund its operations instead of depending on Western donor funds, President Mugabe has said.
Addressing thousands of people at the Kutama College Centenary Celebrations in Zvimba on Sunday, President Mugabe said the continental body should return to its original principles as enunciated by African Union founding fathers.
“We’re leaders of AU . . . (but) we’re receding from our principles. We’ve lost the path and direction laid down by the founding fathers like Nkrumah, Nyerere, Sekou Toure and others. People are all considering just themselves and their own people and the ideas we had of a free Africa, independent, hardworking, that provide most of its needs for itself- no, but we’ve become beggars again. Beggars even to sustain our AU and that must go,” said President Mugabe.
Cde Mugabe said Sadc would hold two meetings this year where issues affecting the region and continent would be deliberated on. He said he would recommend to AU any good decisions. “Sadc is going well, better than others-because it’s been more peaceful except for the DRC, the eastern part that still worries us but we will work together and we’re well united,” Cde Mugabe said.
He hailed Kutama College for producing exemplary cadres who have excelled in various walks of life.
“To all former students, I say let’s continue to demonstrate that we’re of Kutama. Let’s be true and not pretend to be what we’re not. I know there’s a lot of honesty, a lot of good virtue in us,” said President Mugabe.