July 2001 Africa News Headlines

Tuesday, July 10, 2001 - Web posted at 12:59:20 PM GMT

AU must advance democracy

If the newly-formed African Union (AU) stood up to advance and defend the principles of good governance, democracy, and free trade it would achieve much on Africa's behalf, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday.

But if it simply descended into becoming an "Old Boys Club for tyrants, dictators" and chose the politics of solidarity over those of principle, it would condemn Africa and its member states into an unending cycle of poverty and despair, DA leader Tony Leon said.

"Hard choices have to be made, but the outgoing OAU has ended on a dismaying note.

"Its uncritical support of the land grabbings of (Zimbabwe President) Robert Mugabe and his flouting of the rule of the law is the worst possible signal to indicate that Africa means business," he said.

It re-enforced the stereotyping and prejudice of old Africa against new African values that underpinned President Thabo Mbeki's Millennium Africa Recovery Plan (MAP) and Senagalese President Abdoulaye Wade's Omega Plan.

The AU's formation was recognition that the politics of unity and solidarity that were applicable to the colonial and apartheid eras had little relevance in the globalised world which was driven by commerce, trade and regional power blocks.

"We hope the African Union will be a decisive break from the past," Leon said.

AFP reported earlier on Tuesday that African leaders in Lusaka, Zambia had gone into closed door talks to hammer out the details of the ambitious plan to transform the 38-year-old Organisation of African Unity (OAU) into a modern pan-African body modelled on the European Union.

The leaders were concentrating on operational details for forming an African parliament, central bank, a monetary fund and court of justice.

The OAU is to gradually dissolve itself within a year to become the African Union.

About 40 heads of state and government are attending the OAU summit, which ends on Wednesday.

Nampa-Sapa

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