Africa to have unified government by 2015

THE National Assembly has started a debate on a common, unified African government to be established barely eight years from now after former Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob tabled the relevant motion in Parliament yesterday.

Parliaments on the continent are to debate this issue in preparation for a summit meeting of African heads of state in Accra, Ghana, next month. “Africa is at a turning point.The fact that African states are entertaining the idea of an African Union to become the United States of Africa shows that they are comfortable with their independence to the extent that they are willing to consider surrendering some of their sovereignty to a supernational body,” Geingob said when he introduced the motion.”The debate about this political African union by 2015 ought to be discussed at two levels, first the conceptual aspect and through this we are likely to understand the institutional aspects that should drive the process to achieve the goal.We will then be better placed to see challenges like finance and organisation,” Geingob told the House.He referred to history when the organisation of African Union (OAU) was founded on May 25, 1963 in the spirit of Pan-Africanism, towards a free Africa, without oppression, exploitation and subjugation.It was later changed to the African Union.By 1990, the whole Africa was liberated from colonialism.”Now our dreams are bigger – a united Africa where Africans can live with dignity, without want, in peace and harmony.”The Pan-African Parliament, which was established just few years ago and on which four Namibian MPs served, would play a leading role once the United States of Africa were established, Geingob said.He added that as the economies of African countries became more and more integrated, their collective political destinies became linked, which would also serve to reduce conflicts.DTA President Katuutire Kaura became quite nostalgic in his short contribution when he reminded the House that in 1958 he, Geingob and Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab, Speaker of the National Assembly, were attending school at the Augustineum in Okahandja, dreaming of a free Africa.”Today we are Members of Parliament in a free Namibia, discussing the formation of a united African government,” Kaura said.He supported the motion because such a continental body would prevent Africa from being “colonised economically in the time of globalisation.The debate continues today.”Africa is at a turning point.The fact that African states are entertaining the idea of an African Union to become the United States of Africa shows that they are comfortable with their independence to the extent that they are willing to consider surrendering some of their sovereignty to a supernational body,” Geingob said when he introduced the motion.”The debate about this political African union by 2015 ought to be discussed at two levels, first the conceptual aspect and through this we are likely to understand the institutional aspects that should drive the process to achieve the goal.We will then be better placed to see challenges like finance and organisation,” Geingob told the House.He referred to history when the organisation of African Union (OAU) was founded on May 25, 1963 in the spirit of Pan-Africanism, towards a free Africa, without oppression, exploitation and subjugation.It was later changed to the African Union.By 1990, the whole Africa was liberated from colonialism.”Now our dreams are bigger – a united Africa where Africans can live with dignity, without want, in peace and harmony.”The Pan-African Parliament, which was established just few years ago and on which four Namibian MPs served, would play a leading role once the United States of Africa were established, Geingob said. He added that as the economies of African countries became more and more integrated, their collective political destinies became linked, which would also serve to reduce conflicts.DTA President Katuutire Kaura became quite nostalgic in his short contribution when he reminded the House that in 1958 he, Geingob and Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab, Speaker of the National Assembly, were attending school at the Augustineum in Okahandja, dreaming of a free Africa.”Today we are Members of Parliament in a free Namibia, discussing the formation of a united African government,” Kaura said.He supported the motion because such a continental body would prevent Africa from being “colonised economically in the time of globalisation.The debate continues today.