Wednesday, May 25, was celebrated in Uganda and across the continent as “Africa Day” to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU) in 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The theme for this year’s celebrations is, “African Year of Human Rights with particular focus on the rights of women.”
Africa Day affords a golden opportunity for wananchi to take stock of the progress Africans have made in various sectors since independence, while reflecting on numerous political, economic and social challenges and problems which not only face Africa, but also require urgent solutions.
The next big event on the calendar of the AU is the 27th ordinary session of the AU Assembly due in Kigali, Rwanda from July 10–18 under the chairmanship of Chad president Idriss Deby.
The Assembly will, inter alia, elect a new chairperson and deputy chairperson of the AU Commission. The current chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has announced she will not seek a second term. Her decision to quit the AU comes amid persistent rumours that the African National Congress (ANC) may nominate her as its presidential candidate for South Africa’s next elections.
If chosen, she will succeed her former husband and current South African President Jacob Zuma, a rather familiar story in contemporary Africa’s increasingly dynastic politics where one mediocre leader attempts to perpetuate his misrule by imposing a relative on the country after he leaves office. It is shameful, disgraceful and unacceptable!
The deputy chairperson, Mr Erastus Mwencha of Kenya, has already served two terms and is, therefore, not eligible to contest for that position. The AU needs an effective secretariat to robustly implement Agenda 2063 and thus propel African countries to achieve the lofty goal of a peaceful, prosperous, politically united and economically integrated Africa by 2063.
The election of a competent, qualified and credible chairperson to head the AU secretariat is, therefore, necessary to realise AU’s goal of a people-driven development, which will unleash the full potential of Africa’s industrious women and youth.
There are so far three candidates for the position of chairperson, namely, SADC-sponsored Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi (65) of Botswana, Mr Agapito Mba Mokuy (51) of Equatorial Guinea, who is sponsored by the Central African region and Dr Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe (60) of Uganda for Eastern Africa. The candidates of Botswana and Equatorial Guinea are Foreign ministers of their respective countries, which gives them an advantage in the usual scheme of things. Two other regions, West and North Africa, are yet to announce their candidates.
Prospects for Uganda’s candidature
Uganda’s candidature was submitted to the AU secretariat on March 31. According to a headline story published by the New Vision of April 19 tilted, “Govt backs Kazibwe for top Africa job”, Uganda’s minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sam Kutesa, confirmed Dr Kazibwe’s nomination and said, “Uganda fronted Kazibwe because of her competence, given her previous record as vice president.”
In the same paper, the outgoing Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Henry Okello Oryem, is quoted saying, “We believe she is able, competent and the right person for this job, having been vice president of Uganda. It is our hope that other African countries support her candidature.”
After reading the story, I was frankly stunned and wondered whether government is serious about its candidate. With all due respect, I beg to disagree with the two ministers and would like to offer an unsolicited, but considered advice to the effect that Uganda should search for another candidate, who is eminently qualified, untainted and suitable for this demanding, important and prestigious position, which will expose the occupant to the glare of international limelight, for better or for worse.
Dr Kazibwe’s record as minister of Agriculture and as vice president of Uganda from 1994 – 2003 is available in the public domain for all to scrutinise and leaves a lot to be desired; it is not something one would write home about. Who will ever forget the “valley dams” scandal which happened under her watch as minister of Agriculture!
I was in the public gallery of Parliament on a hot afternoon when she was grilled, booed, heckled and embarrassed by MPs on the “valley dams” saga and she miserably failed to explain what happened to $3.4million (Shs11.2b) allocated for the construction of valley dams in Karamoja region. It was a sorry spectacle to witness. She should have apologised and taken full political responsibility for that scandal instead of attempting to defend the indefensible!
As if that was not bad enough, in 2004, she was given a grant of $1m (about Shs3.3b) from public funds to allegedly undertake a PhD programme at Harvard University.
It must be the most expensive PhD degree in Uganda’s history. The degree she got should be displayed at the Uganda Museum so that Uganda’s taxpayers can have a look at what their hard-earned dollars imported from Harvard.
In 2011, when she was board chairperson of the Microfinance Support Centre, Shs60billion was misappropriated or embezzled under her watch! After a public outcry, she was only suspended for abuse of office and gross mismanagement. No further action was taken, to the best of my knowledge.
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