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Wallace Ruzvidzo and Gari Fadzi, Harare Bureau

African leaders have agreed that dialogue is the best way forward to the security crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, hence efforts will be made to persuade both parties to “come to the table and cease the hostilities,” President Mnangagwa has said.

Speaking to journalists upon his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday, where he attended the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the President, who is also the SADC Chairperson, said the DRC’s security situation had been extensively discussed at the well attended summit.

President Mnangagwa was welcomed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport State Pavillion by Vice-Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya, Cabinet Ministers, Service Chiefs, Permanent Secretaries and other senior Government officials.

VP Chiwenga

“Well, I can say it was well attended by all the regions of Africa. And, of course, the main issue which we discussed, which I think was more critical, was the DRC.

“The eastern DRC issue took centre stage and all Heads of State discussed about the promotion of dialogue in that area and that both sides should be persuaded to come to the table and cease the hostilities and the dislocation of communities, especially in the eastern DRC.

“I can say those are the major highlights, but the rest of Africa is okay,” he said.

Prior to the AU Ordinary Session, SADC and the East African Community (EAC) recently convened a joint summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which President Mnangagwa said was testament to the two regional blocs’ commitment to the values of the AU.

On reparations for historical injustices suffered by Africans at the hands of imperial powers, the President said African leaders had agreed to join forces and form a platform, although the modalities would be region specific.

“Yes, we discussed about that one, but it is a long, long, long journey. We agreed that we should form a platform where Africa must seek reparations from imperial powers, but that is a long journey.

“That may be championed by the regions . . . region by region, and then we coordinate because the impact of imperialism was different in different parts of the continent,” he said.

The AU summit was held under the theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations” and the theme dovetails with the AU’s efforts to institutionalise reparatory justice and racial healing.

It paves the way for the development of a common African position on reparations and establishment of an African Reparatory Programme of Action, as well as strengthen collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the global African diaspora through a joint mechanism on reparations.

Zimbabwe has already taken steps towards demanding reparations from Britain.

In 2024, President Mnangagwa launched an academic study into the impact of colonialism on Zimbabwe.

The study, led by Dr Felix Mukonowengwe of the Zimbabwe National Elders Forum, will serve as the basis for a formal reparation claim.

Zimbabwe was a British colony from 1890 to 1980 and authorities argue that colonial rule left lasting socio-economic scars that require redress.

Meanwhile, in a speech read on his behalf by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira, at the AU Peace and Security Council Session yesterday, President Mnangagwa called for African solutions to challenges facing the continent. Prof Murwira delivered the speech after the President had left for Harare.

“Zimbabwe reiterates that the principle of African solutions to African problems should continue to serve as the beacon for conflict resolution and peace-building mechanisms on our continent.

“We must redouble our efforts for a secure and prosperous Africa,” he said.

The President reaffirmed an immediate end to hostilities in South Sudan and DRC.We therefore echo calls for the urgent cessation of hostilities and unhindered access of the affected population to humanitarian assistance in the eastern DRC and an end to the protracted conflict in Sudan.

“We emphasise the need to achieve an enduring and mutually acceptable political solution in Western Sahara.”

The South Sudan situation remains one of Africa’s most significant refugee crises, with 2,3 million refugees and asylum-seekers in neighbouring countries and a further 2 million South Sudanese internally displaced.

Before the President left Ethiopia, he met his Mozambican counterpart President Daniel Chapo.

Emerging from the closed door meeting, President Chapo called for increased economic co-operation between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

“Our two countries are facing economic challenges which l believe we need to fight side by side. Even in our fight for political freedom, Zimbabwe and Mozambique were together.

“Now it is very important to talk about our economic freedom. Our political, diplomatic and economic relations are equally important,” he said.