Interview with SADC candidate for AU Commission chair
Tefo Pheage | Friday May 6, 2016 11:25
Mmegi: Tell us about your candidature for the AU Commission (AUC) Chairmanship?
Venson-Moitoi: I am a firm believer in an Africa where we can all work together to find solutions to problems that we face. My vision for the African Union (AU) is an organisation that drives for results, pursues common objectives and envisions an integrated, people-centred and prosperous Africa, which is at peace with itself.
The soon-to-be-vacant position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission offers that vantage point where I do offer myself as an agent of the sustainable transformation agenda that is ongoing at the level of the AU.
I am, therefore, that viable candidate who can capably steer the ship towards the direction of ‘The Africa We Want!’
Mmegi: Cooperation has been a keyword in all development endeavours undertaken by the AU. Would you say there has been a real change of mentality with regard to cooperation in political, social or economic spheres among member states?
VM: We live in a world with daunting challenges, which respect no borders – that no country, big or small, rich or poor can solve on its own. More than ever, we live in an era of collective action.
In this regard, the vision for achieving an integrated, peaceful, developed, united and prosperous Africa is, in my view, shared across the continent. This is the dividend of cooperation that transcends the development aspirations of the continental membership, and a clear testimony to our changed mindset in political, social and economic spheres.
Mmegi: Where do you see yourself in the AU’s 2063 vision?
VM: I believe that now is a good opportunity to build on what has been achieved by the AU through the development of its Agenda 2063.
As Chairperson of the AUC, I consider myself well-placed in the lead role to drive our continent towards ‘The Africa We Want!’ That is, ensuring that the AU’s Agenda 2063 and its First 10-year Implementation Plan delivers on its ultimate objective - to change the lives of all African people for the better and improve livelihoods.
Mmegi: African has a problem of leaders who hold on to power for too long and sometimes to the anger and disappointment of their counterparts. What is your opinion on this and what do you think needs to be done?
VM: I admit that there is a worrying trend in presidential term extensions around the continent. This is an issue that remains a policy challenge that requires concerted efforts by top political and civic leadership in Africa to nip it in the bud.
Whilst we can all admit that there is the African Union’s Charter on Democracy, Governance and Elections, which in its preamble expresses concern about unconstitutional changes of governments as ‘one of the essential causes of insecurity, instability and violent conflict in Africa’, we also need to admit that perhaps it falls short of addressing the current phenomenon of presidential term limit extensions.
I therefore would motivate for an urgent and necessary re-look at this instrument.
It is my firm belief that the AU, through Agenda 2063, must continue to pride itself as a body whose mandate is driven by the aspirations of African citizens.
Clearly, citizens in the tested cases of presidential term limit extensions have demonstrated a particular dislike for their leaders’ propositions.
This, therefore, must compel the AU leadership to place the matter as an urgent priority in conversations during high-level meetings.
Mmegi: The third-term bids by Africa’s presidents – one of the major threats to stability on the continent – remain a contentious issue in Africa. What really is the problem in your view?
VM: The AU leadership - and that would be my role as Chairperson of the commission - should advocate against these practices that only seek to undermine Africa’s quest for democratic development.
There is no option for failure in this regard, and I will galvanise the support of all member states of the AU to ensure that, together, we all respond adequately to this challenge to democratic governance by promoting the strengthening of democratic institutions, safe-guarding human rights and guaranteeing the rule of law.
Anything else risks reversing the democratic gains and accentuating conflict.
Mmegi: There are far-reaching plans to set up a human rights court, a central bank and monetary fund, and by 2023 an African Economic Community with a single currency. Do you support these ideas and do you see them going through?
VM: I consider myself transformationist, rather than a conformist. It, therefore, follows that I fully support the transformation agenda at the AU. Thankfully, I will be joining the AUC as Chairperson at a time when the development trajectory of the continent is perhaps irreversible. The momentum to achieve these stated projects and programmes, as well as the other aspirations, as espoused in the AU’s Agenda 2063 can only be sustained, through my leadership.
Implementation of these flagship projects will constitute the real vehicle for transforming Africa and achieving its integration, development and prosperity goals. I am confident that this dream that we have and share at the African Union will see the light of day.
Mmegi: How do you think Botswana can make contributions to the AU, particularly in light of rising internal conflicts in member states that result from poor governance?
VM: Botswana is a committed member of the AU. We believe that the prosperity of our continental body depends on the prosperity of the individual member states.
I believe that, based on its positive record of democracy, good governance and rule of law, Botswana can continue to serve as an inspiration in many ways, to the rest of continental Africa, in this regard.
I also view potential of Botswana’s contribution to the AU through the country’s current membership to the AU Peace and Security Council. This is important, especially as you highlight, given the internal conflicts in member states, resulting from poor governance.
Above all, my candidacy and eventual presence at the AU as the Chairperson of the Commission will be one significant contribution, on the leadership front, that Botswana would have pledged to continental Africa.
I must emphasise that no single country can pull the rest of Africa to where it should go. It would take commitment and purposeful action by all the AU member states, including Botswana to achieve the overarching objective of ‘The Africa We Want!’
Mmegi: AU and the struggle for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. Do you think Africa is on the right path to achieve this ambition? Please share your views.
VM: Guided by our shared principles of peace, justice and equality , we believe that we must keep on working for greater democratic governance in international decision-making.
This includes working to ensure that global institutions and bodies, including the United Nations (UN) Security Council, accurately reflect the realities and dynamics of today’s world.
To this end, the need for the reform of the UN Security Council cannot be overemphasised. The time is now, and we are on the right path. We cannot look back, after more than 70 years of the existence of the global body, to place this reform agenda on the priority list.
We have continued, as African leaders, to agitate for extending the number of permanent members to the Security Council, thus making it more representative and better equipped to address the challenges and opportunities that the world faces, particularly in the area of international peace and security.
Mmegi: One of the main promises made by the Union’s past leaders was to make the organisation more self-reliant. To date, almost half of the AU budget is financed by ‘international partners’, mostly in Europe. Do you think AU will ever be self-reliant and how will you achieve this?
VM: There is consensus that the AU must be able to finance its programmes. I trust that this is doable, in the long run.
I am of the view that previous plans did not achieve the intended results partly because of lack of the relevant financing of the framework plans. In June 2015, the Assembly adopted the decision on alternative sources of funding the Union and the new scale of assessment where Member States will progressively take ownership of the budget of the Union to ensure successful implementation of Agenda 2063.
While additional resources are required, it is also important that we rationalise the needs and aspirations of our continent with the minimal resources at our disposal.
As the Accountable Official, it will be my privilege to ensure prudent management and utilisation of the limited resources as contributed by member states and development partners.
Mmegi: Corruption and youth unemployment! Should Africa be concerned?
VM: There is no doubt that both corruption and youth unemployment form an inextricable toxic link. The problem of unemployment of the youth on the continent has been blamed on the scourge of corruption, which combine to create a source of concern for the social and economic challenges most African countries struggle with. Any government on the continent should be concerned.
Mmegi: Lastly everyday we hear of varying criticisms levelled against the AU. What do you think is the problem with the AU?
VM: Convinced that together we can build a stronger, more coherent and more effective and results-oriented AU, the institutional culture of a high performance organisation is what I will strive to cultivate.
To this end, it is imperative to have an efficient and effective AUC human resource with a rich inventory of skills necessary to develop innovative solutions and approaches for the realisation of our common agenda.
It will be prudent to put in place, targeted interventions to address any deficiencies in the efficient delivery of quality service, including capacity building measures to drive Agenda 2063.
Mmegi: Your last word?
VM: I believe that I have the requisite skills, competencies, experience that will catapult Africa’s transformation process, thus unleashing her potential to become an effective and influential player in global affairs.
The support of all member states of the African Union will be most invaluable for my candidacy for the position of AUC Chairperson, as I trust that it will positively re-enforce ownership, commitment, attainment and implementation of the continental agenda and the realisation of the future we want.