18 Jan 2017

As the momentum for the race of African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson intensifies, the chairperson of the campaign for Botswana’s Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele has said the campaign is steadfast.

Speaking in an interview in Gaborone upon arrival from Swaziland on Tuesday where he went to lobby support from SADC chairperson, King Mswati III of Swaziland, he said a lot has been done to cover up for the needed votes required to cover up for the threshold that was a requisite during the last summit that was held in Kigali, Rwanda last July 2016.

Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi was the only contender who was left in the race and led the votes in the initial elections that were held at the 27th AU Summit in Kigali, Rwanda during the Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, while other candidates Dr Specioza Kazibwe of Uganda and Mr Agapito Mokuy of Equatorial Guinea abandoned their aspirations.

The continental bloc will be repeating elections this January, now fielding five candidates after the initial elections failed to garner sufficient votes needed for the position.

Mr Makgalemele said President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has assigned a special envoy for the campaign, third president, Dr Festus Mogae and that their committee has so far traversed 80 per cent of the 54 countries within the continent that make up AU assembly.

He said so far it has been easy to sell Dr Venson-Moitoi as she has so far impressed Africa after participating at the historical debate that was live broadcast in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last December.

The debate was a precursor to African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson elections scheduled for 28th AU Summit to be held on January 22-31 in Addis Ababa.

Mr Makgalemele said he was optimistic that SADC was rallying behind the candidature of Dr Venson-Moitoi and that they only traversed the SADC regional bloc and other countries within the continent to revive the campaign.

He said SADC countries’ permanent secretaries will this week convene in Gaborone on one notion to hype Dr Venson-Moitoi’s campaign and sell her to their member states.

Mr Makgalemele said Dr Venson-Moitoi was the best candidate among the rest with qualities that may fulfill Africa’s aspirations.

“She has a traceable track record because she has served under four presidents in Botswana and two in South Africa being former presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. At the time she helped to set up a new government in that country and most local governments in the SADC region. She has generally served Africa so well,” he said.

Mr Makgalemele further noted that Dr Venson-Moitoi was the relevant candidate to deliver and implement Africa’s dream such as the AU Blueprint Agenda 2063 – a framework towards a continent that is integrated, peaceful and prosperous and driven by its citizens.

 He further noted that Dr Venson-Moitoi was endowed with knowledge of administration and that having grown up in a peaceful country, she was best suited to inspire Africa with hope and possibilities with regards to peace and security issues as some parts of the continent were still yearning for peace.

Mr Makgalemele also said as SADC, they believed that the regional bloc deserves a second chance because Dr Nkosazana Zuma only served for one term.

On the other hand, he thanked President Khama for allowing Dr Venson-Moitoi to participate in the race for the post and his continued support in availing resources to ministers and government officials who also hype the campaign during their official visits to other countries. He said President Khama was also lobbying support from his counterparts to support Dr Venson-Moitoi.
 

He further thanked the private sector, international and regional bodies in assisting with campaign resources.

Other candidates for the position of AUC chairperson include Chad’s foreign minister Moussa Faki Mahamat, Equatorial Guinea’s foreign minister Agapito Mokuy, Kenya’s foreign minister Amina Mohamed and Senegal’s Bathily Abdoulaye who is the special UN envoy for Central Africa. ENDS