By
Gael Masengi
 |
| Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma |
Newly elected African Union (AU) Commission
chairwoman Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says a lack of infrastructure development
is the biggest challenge facing Africa, addressing a gathering of
representatives of the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa this past
Sunday in Pretoria, Dlamini-Zuma believed that the African Union’s vision of
more integration could only be reached if infrastructure on the continent was
significantly improved.
She made clear her vision and priorities
for the continental organisation as she pointed out that transport and
communication links were not doing enough to connect countries with each other,
she said there could be no integration as imagined by the African Union without
a proper infrastructure liking the African countries. Dr Dlamini-Zuma –who
earlier this month called for a united African Union after her election was
criticised by other country members and left the continental governing body
divide between French and English speaking states –also believed that the dream
for an integrated Africa would further be achieved by the Pan African Parliament
becoming a legislative body which would “harmonise legislation” across the
continent.
“How do you build a railway in the middle
of war?” she asked as she admits that integration could also not be
successfully achieved if peace was not achieved on the continent. She said that
while the continent had many challenges it also had many opportunities of which
it needed to take advantage, and enormous agriculture, energy and human
resource potential.
Regarding her mandate at the helm of the
AU, Dlamini-Zuma said: “When I got there, I will be working as a servant of
Africa and not South Africa.” Assuring Africans people that more will be made
while she’s in charge.
She concluded that the direction which the
African Union took would need to be determined with the involvement of its
citizens and not its government alone, “If it’s left to government, it’s not
going to go anywhere fast” she said.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma doctor in training has brought noticeable changes to the South African
department of Home Affairs, previously viewed as a centre of corruption and
incompetence.
Additional words Sapa
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