MID this year, the African Union (AU) held its 25th summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, during which the fourth phase government President Jakaya Kikwete bade farewell to the African leaders, challenging them to intensify the fight against poverty, corruption and conflicts.
Mr Kikwete said during the 25th AU summit at the Sandton International Convention Centre that he was proud to be part of the achievement that Africa has recorded for the past decade, saying Africa unity was getting stronger by the day.
“Africa of today is not Africa of the past ten years ... the security situation is improving, democracy is thriving and the African economy is growing,” said the former head of state in his moving Kiswahili speech. Mr Kikwete described the recognition of the critical role of women in Africa as the evident accomplishment that Africa should be proud of.
“African women have proved that not only they can compete but they sometimes outsmart men,” he said amid standing ovation.
The former president however cautioned against likely complacency, saying the achievements never mean that the work is over.”... the work has just started ... the fight against poverty, diseases and provision of basic services to our people is pertinent issues that we must confront face-on.”
Mr Kikwete pushed for good governance and rule of law as one of the strategy to end conflicts that consume most of the valuable time to deal with constructive issues that could benefit the majority people in the continent.
He was optimistic that “the African dream of the united and prosperous continent is possible. You are capable of taking us through to the land of promise,” he assured his counterparts. Mr Kikwete asked the remaining colleagues to accord his successor the same support and cooperation he had enjoyed.
“I am retiring to join my fellow Tanzanians to build our nation ... I am leaving as a person but Tanzania, which you are used to is here to stay,” he said. Mr Kikwete reiterated the importance of the regional blocks during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and he urged the UN to seek partnerships with regional blocks in Africa as an easier way to manage and resolve the conflicts.
He said this in New York when addressing the General debate of the seventieth session of the United Nations General Assembly whose theme was “The United Nations at 70: The road ahead for peace, security and human rights.” Mr Kikwete observed that by taking advantage of the knowledge regional organisations have of the history and nature of the crises, the key players and culture of the people, it would be easier to manage and resolve the conflicts.
“Where and when appropriate, the United Nations should invest in strengthening the capacity of these organisations and their member states, in anticipating, detecting, preventing, managing and resolving conflicts.
I am of the view that this capacity is urgently needed in Africa,” he said. The regional blocks include Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), East African Community (EAC), Common Market for the Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Mr Kikwete hailed the UN, noting that unlike 70 years ago, there is today a better understanding, cooperation and partnership between countries and organisations in preserving peace and security. “It is easier today for the world to come together for a course of peace than it was before,’’ he noted.
Mr Kikwete said that peacekeeping operations remain one of the most dependable instruments of promoting world peace and security, pledging Tanzania’s readiness to contribute more peacekeepers when called upon to do so.
“I am told there are about 125,000 men and women deployed in 16 peacekeeping missions across the world. Tanzania is proud to have contributed 1,322 of these gallant people who often times serve under challenging conditions. Sometimes they are compelled to serve in places where there is little or no peace to keep.
Tanzania stands ready to contribute more whenever requested to do so,” the president remarked. He urged the UN and the entire international community to remain vigilant on terrorism. On US-Cuba relations, he praised the historic and momentous decision taken by the United States of America and the Republic of Cuba to restore diplomatic relations and reopen embassies of the two countries in Washington DC and Havana.
He said another outstanding matter, which the UN has to ensure that it does not continue to be left unresolved is the issue of Western Sahara. “The lack of movement on the side of the United Nations to implement its decisions on the matter is both regrettable and incomprehensible. The people of Sahara have waited for far too long to get the opportunity to determine their fate and future,” Mr Kikwete observed.
In a moving farewell statement to the UN, the former President recalled that it was on the same podium that he stood on – for the first time on September 20, 2006. “I stood on this very podium for the first time and addressed this august Assembly as the newly-elected fourth President of my dear country: the United Republic of Tanzania.
Today, I am standing here to bid farewell to you all as I am about to leave office at the completion of my two-term mandate, as provided for in the Tanzania Constitution.” He said. Mr Kikwete thanked members for the invaluable support and cooperation extended to him, his administration and country in the past ten years that they have worked together.
He also asked members to support his successor expressing confidence that they would find him a likeable and dependable friend and ally. The former president told the assembly that the road ahead for peace, security and development remained challenging but worth the journey.
“It requires our renewed resolve and reaffirmation of our commitment to the ideals, values and principles laid down by the founding fathers of the United Nations seven decades ago in San Francisco,” he appealed.
During his term in office, Mr Kikwete, had played a key role in conflicts resolution to AU member states, including Kenya, Madagascar, Comoro and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to which Tanzania sent its troops to restore peace.
/Daily News.
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