President returns

Source: President returns | The Herald July 19, 2016

Lloyd Gumbo recently in KIGALI, Rwanda
President Mugabe returned home last night from Rwanda where he attended the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

He was welcomed at the Harare International Airport by Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, senior Government officials and service chiefs.

Early yesterday, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi paid a courtesy call on President Mugabe on the sidelines of the Summit.

They talked about the bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual interest in both countries.

In a brief to the media after the closed-door meeting, President Mugabe said: “We were just talking cooperation between ourselves and the situation in Mozambique and the situation in Zimbabwe. It was just sharing, sharing and sharing information.”

There have been claims that Renamo rebels were advancing into Zimbabwe and recruiting locals to join their forces.

But President Nyusi said: “We do not have enough information regarding that. President (Mugabe) made very well the summary of our talks.”

The Summit was expected to elect the new African Union commission chairperson, deputy chairperson and other commissioners but the process was postponed to the January (2017) Summit after none of the candidates garnered the required two-thirds majority.

Minister Mumbengegwi said the commission chaired by Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma would hold the fort until elections.

“In terms of our rules and regulations, when no candidate has been able to achieve two-thirds majority, the elections are then suspended until the next Summit in January,” said Minister Mumbengegwi.

“What this means is that invitations will be sent out for anyone who wants to offer themselves for the position to do so between now and the next elections.

“This was a bit of a setback, but however, our rules and regulations make provisions for such eventuality. So, tssshe commission led by Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is going to continue until January when fresh elections will be held.”

Minister Mumbengegwi said while this was a setback, the Summit was generally a success following a decision by the Heads of State and Government to oblige every Member State to collect 0,2 percent of eligible imports that will be used to fund the African Union.

They also agreed that each of the five regional blocs must contribute $65 million annually towards the AU’s peacekeeping operations.

Minister Mumbengegwi said the decision vindicated President Mugabe’s call that Africa must own its programmes through funding its operations.