AU envoy hails $1m Zim donation

THE African Union Foundation (AUF) yesterday expressed gratitude to the Zimbabwean Government for the $1 million it donated to the continental body in 2017, saying this was a major step in weaning the continent from over-reliance on donor funding.

AUF head of delegation Ambassador Carlton Masters said Africa should not rely on foreign aid in advancing and implementing its economic programmes as this was unsustainable.

“The African Union Foundation wants to extend its sincere gratitude to the Government and the people of Zimbabwe on contributions that were made to the AU of $1 million,” he said. “Please note that we will always remember this.

“Your contribution uniquely gives us independence from foreign governments. The example that was shown by Zimbabwe is unique. The donation was important, so we are using Zimbabwe as an example to say look at what Zimbabwe did in the period that was most challenging.”

Ambassador Carlton Masters was speaking after paying a courtesy call on Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo.

Ambassador Masters called on AU member states to move towards issuing African passports as that could potentially boost inter-African trade.

The AUF chief operations officer, Mr Dumisani Mndagi, who is also part of the visiting delegation, called on member states to ratify the protocol on freedom of movement of persons in Africa.

“Africans have already embraced this concept of African passports by signing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement,” he said. “The member states should ratify and create the laws that will simplify the issuance of African passports, which are accepted in all member countries without any visa requirements.”

Ambassador Khaya Moyo said Government’s $1 million contribution to the AU was a sign of Harare’s commitment to the organisation, as it cherished its values, goals and ethos.

He said he would duly convey the AUF’s compliments to President Mnangagwa.

“We believe strongly and support the African Union Foundation,” he said. “We also believe strongly that we must be self-reliant in that our goals and vision has to succeed. Depending on aid with strings from other countries cannot take us far as a continent.

“We are not rejecting any assistance from anyone, but naturally assistance with strings attached can be very harmful to our efforts to be economically independent as a continent.”