Maravi

Rupiah leaves for AU summit

Rupiah leaves for AU summit
Written by Mwala Kalaluka
Sunday, February 01, 2009 3:46:58 PM

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday said Southern African leaders are still cautious at the tactic and speed with which the proposed United States of Africa (USA) government is to be implemented.

Addressing journalists at the Lusaka International Airport shortly before departure for the African Union (AU) heads of states summit in Addis Ababa, President Banda said Southern African leaders normally held one position on issues pertaining to the continent.

“We belong to SADC region and usually on issues pertaining to the whole of Africa, we the people belonging to SADC normally consult and when we

take a position, that is the position… and you know our position has been that we support very much the idea of a union government,” President Banda said. “The difference maybe is the tactic, the speed at which it must be implemented. But the consultation will be completed when I go there obviously, because everybody will be there.”

He was responding to a question on how far he had consulted over the proposed formation of a united African government following his recent trip to Libya, whose leader Colonel Muammar Gadaffi is a strong proponent.

In February last year, late president Levy Mwanawasa fired then Zambia's ambassador to Libya, Mbita Chitala, for advocating policies contrary to those of the Zambian government and attacks on other African leaders for not adopting such policies and establishing a Union Government. Mwanawasa fired Chitala after he authored an article that described as lame excuses or arguments by some African leaders that they had to consult their people over the Union Government of Africa.

According to the then State House chief analyst for press and public relations, David Kombe, Chitala's article, entitled: “The Federal Union of African States Must be Established Now”, had caused untold embarrassment to Mwanawasa, especially among his peers on the continent.

In his letter to Chitala, Mwanawasa stated that he was extremely upset with his article, in which he described the type of African leaders on the Africa Union government as disappointing. Mwanawasa said countries in the SADC region were not against the idea but that there was still need to strengthen the regional blocs.

And President Banda told journalists that the AU Summit was going to be a long one just as the previous ones and that all the issues that were afflicting the continent would be discussed. “Of course the issue of the union government of Africa and any other issues that the heads of states would like to raise will be discussed,” he said.

On the issue of Zimbabwe, President Banda said it was a good thing that the two factions of opposition MDC had indicated interests in taking part in the proposed inclusive government and that this was what the SADC leaders had been looking for. “That is why we spent the 14 hours deliberating to try and persuade the opposition parties and the ZANU-PF to accommodate each other. The problems of any country can best be resolved by the citizens of that country,” President Banda said. “My comment is that this is a good thing that the two MDCs and the ZANU-PF have agreed to heed to the agreement that was decided in South Africa…I think they need all our support, the support of all Africa, so that at least Zimbabwe can return to normalcy.”

And President Banda's flight was briefly delayed as a result of a document that was supposed to be given to Vice-President Kunda.

After President Banda had waved at the people that went to see him off, the crew of the Presidential Challenger closed the door in readiness for taxing and take-off.

But the door to the plane was re-opened after a few minutes and President Banda's aide-de-camp Mr. Kaonga hastily came out clutching a white paper.

Kaonga headed for the apron where he met President Banda's principal private secretary Austin Sichinga. After a short discussion, he headed in the direction of Vice-President Kunda where he handed him the letter whilst exchanging a few words. Following the short discussion, Kaonga went back to the plane, which later took off. There was speculation that the document was a letter mandating Vice-President Kunda to act as president in President Banda's absence.

Labels: AU, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:47 PM