President Mnangagwa in Addis Ababa for AU summit

Michael Mashiri

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the 37th Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

The Summit, which is being held under the theme, “Boosting Africa’s Transformation through Education, Science, Technology and Innovation,” will commences today and ends tomorrow.

In a press statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said the theme speaks to the strengthening of strategic partnerships between AU Member States to promote strong educational systems and comprehensive schooling for the continent.

The meeting will have a positive impact for Zimbabwe as it helps the country in conversing with other nations regarding various aspects of expansion.

“The objective of this Theme is to strengthen strategic partnerships between AU Member States in order to build resilient education systems and inclusive learning for Africa.

“The AU believes that advancing education on the continent, particularly in the Science and Technology sector, will help to expedite AU’s efforts towards the realisation of Agenda 2063.

“The AU Heads of State and Government will also interrogate the progress made in addressing the worrying security situation and conflict in isolated pockets on the continent, including in West Africa which has been rocked by unconstitutional changes of Governments.

“The AU Summit affords Zimbabwe with the opportunity to engage with other AU nations to address continental development, peace and security, as well as continental integration. Zimbabwe will also exchange notes on bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest and concern with other AU Member States. Zimbabwe looks forward to positive and beneficial win-win outcomes for all the participating Member States,” they said.

The Session will also look at what the African region has done towards the status quo in Israel.

“The Summit is also expected to deliberate on Africa’s contribution towards achieving world peace in view of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict,” they added.

The Organisation of African Unity was formed as an inter-governmental organisation in the Ethiopian capital on May 25, 1963 and metamorphosed into the African Union in 2002.

At its formation, the major objectives of the OAU, as set out in the OAU Charter, were to promote the unity and solidarity of African states; coordinate and intensify their cooperation and efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa as well as to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States among others.

The AU has continued to target inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive that the founding fathers of the continental body had at its inception.