The newly elected Chairperson of the African Union (AU), South African President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, said it is encouraging that 40 countries are now acceding to the African Peer Review Mechanism.
President Ramaphosa was speaking at the opening of the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Sunday, under 2020 theme of the year, “Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development.”
President Ramaphosa said, “We will support the good governance and democracy agenda, leveraging the excellent work of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) that we have been asked to chair.
“We will engage those Member States that have not ratified to do so, with a view to achieving universal accession by 2030, he said.
This comes after Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa reaffirms his country’s voluntary commitment to join the APRM.
The African Peer Review system is voluntary, but its central objective is to engage peers to help the Member States of the AU to achieve defined political and economic benchmarks.
President Ramaphosa said as incoming AU Chair, South Africa have set key priorities to enhance the progress that is already underway during the African Decade of Action.
During his term as AU Chair, efforts will be made to deepen the unity of the continent and advancing inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.
He said in pursuit of this priority, they would host the 13th Extraordinary Summit on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) back-to-back with the Extraordinary Summit on Silencing of the Guns in May 2020.
Working closely with President Mahamadou Issofou of Niger in his capacity as the AU Champion on the AfCFTA, President Ramaphosa said they would work for the finalisation of outstanding issues around the agreement.
“We must all ensure that the AfCFTA does not become a conduit for products with minimal African value addition to enter and penetrate our local markets under the guise of continental integration.
“There must be a reasonable standard set for what constitutes a product that is Proudly Made in Africa.
“We have to level the playing field for African businesses, so they are able to operate in a large-scale market unfettered by regulatory fragmentation. This is an integral part of rebalancing global trade relations.
“The era of economic colonialism and imperialism, under which Africa is a pit stop in the global assembly line, has passed. The success of the AfCTFA depends on Infrastructure development.
“We must all drive the implementation of the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative, so that priority and high-impact projects act as catalysts for the AfCFTA.
“The success of the AfCTFA depends on Infrastructure development.
We must all drive the implementation of the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative, so that priority and high-impact projects act as catalysts for the AfCFTA,” he said.
Agenda 2063 and women empowerment
Agenda 2063 calls for the allocation of at least 25 per cent of public procurement to be for women-owned businesses, yet women owned-businesses are given less than 1% of procurement, something that President Ramaphosa said: “we have to change this.”
“It is not unreasonable to advocate for preferential public procurement legislation to advantage women-owned businesses, and for the establishment of preferential trade and customs regimes for women.
“The empowerment of women on our continent can be done. It must be done!
The representation of women in decision-making structures in governments, parliaments and other sectors is far too low.
“The women of our continent want and demand to occupy their rightful place in all decision-making structures. They deserve 50% representation.
“Those amongst us who have enabled the participation of more women in decision-making structures have benefited immensely from the inherent wisdom, insights and energy; he said adding that women of our continent want to play a meaningful role in developing the continent.
By being elected AU Chairperson, President Ramaphosa automatically becomes Chairperson of the APRM.
Public Service and Administration Minister, Mr Senzo Mchunu, also took over as the Chairperson of the APRM Steering Committee of the Focal Points for acceding countries in the continent.
South Africa first chaired the AU following its historic re-launch in South Africa in 2002 when former President Thabo Mbeki, became Chair of the AU.
