Continental stability vital for SA

Political parties celebrate Africa Day

THE founding of the Organisation of African Unity, now called the African Union (AU) 53 years ago on May 25 was meant to make significant contributions to the development of international law – especially in the fields of refugee law and human rights law, Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) executive mayor Mxolisi Koyo said.

Koyo, speaking during an ordinary council meeting on Africa Day, said the organisation’s charter stated its purpose as promotion of unity of African states, defence of sovereignty, territorial integrity and indepen- dence and the eradication of all forms of colonialism from Africa, with SA being the last to date.

“Our continent still faces famine, conflict, ignorance, inequality, inadequate education, over-dependency on foreign aid, lack of true leadership and media injustice.”

The people of Africa needed to embrace each other and eradicate things like xenophobia and hunger, embrace each other’s cultures and languages and improve governance.

“We need to resolve conflict, invest in people, increase competitiveness and diversify our economies. We must reduce aid dependence and strengthen partnerships from Cape to Cairo.”

As May was Africa month, the country had programmes with a message that SA’s national interests are intrinsically linked to the entire continent’s stability, unity and prosperity.

SA was implementing Agenda 2063, a 50 year long term road map for Africa’s renewal to ensure pos- itive socio-economic transformation.

“The equality that we fought hard for must translate to land and mineral wealth for our people and we must stop the illicit flow of capital from our beloved continent.”

Chief Nkosinathi Bhekizulu Xhegwana said leaders were more interested in self enrichment and did not care if the continent fell apart.

Cope councillor Mzwandile Bula said Cope commended the name of the merged Lukhanji, Tsolwana and Inkwanca as Enoch Mgijima.

“Africa is at the centre of the axis that holds the world together. We must not forget to be Afrocentric in our policy making. We must put forward ‘indigenisation’ over globalisation and we need transformation rather than reformation,” he said.

DA councillor Zuko Mandile commended the intelligence of Africans who ruled the continent even without education.

Councillor Zanemvula Deliwe of the UDM said leaders needed to live Africanism and not be Africans by day and capitalists by night.

Emalahleni mayor and representative at CHDM Nomveliso Nyukwana said SA needed to be the powerhouse of the continent to achieve liberation from colonial rule.