Date: 25/05/2004
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: Z Skweyiya: Africa Day celebration
SPEECH DELIVERED BY ACTING FOREIGN MINISTER, DR ZOLA SKWEYIYA, ON THE OCCASION OF AFRICA DAY, PRETORIA, 25 May 2004
Honourable Colleagues
The Lord Mayor, Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa
Dean of the Diplomatic corps, Ambassador Alzubeidi
Your Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioners
Members of religious fraternity
Members of the judiciary
Captains of Industry
Leaders of Political Parties
Members of the National Youth Commission, Council and AGE Foundation
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
Today, marks the 41st anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)- that African solidarity continental organisation that united and led the African peoples in the bitter struggles against colonialism and apartheid- correctly characterised as a crime against humanity.
Today, as South Africa celebrates its tenth anniversary of the dawn of peace, freedom and democracy, it is only proper and fitting that we express our humble gratitude, on behalf of the millions of our people for the moral, political and material support that the peoples of Africa through the OAU afforded us in our hour of need.
Indeed, the victory over apartheid was not only an outcome of the sacrifices of the masses of the South African people but also a result of the unflinching support of all African peoples. For indeed apartheid was an affront against all Africans which sought to cast all of us as sub-human.
As President Thabo Mbeki stated in the "ANC Today of 21 May 2004 "the anti-apartheid struggle constituted an historic step away from centuries of a past during which many in the world had accepted the assertion of the sub-humanity of Africans as a self-evident truth"
Yet we cannot but also recognise the international solidarity action by ordinary people the world over in helping to restore dignity to our people. "The fact that the peoples of the world joined us in the struggle to defeat the apartheid crime against humanity meant that at last, and in action, all humanity had come together to assert the shared humanity of all human beings, regardless of race or colour" continued President Thabo Mbeki.
Accordingly, as we celebrate the 41st Anniversary of the OAU, we are happy to report to the founding leaders of this historic movement that they like all Africans must rejoice in the full knowledge that, save for Western Sahara, all of Africa is indeed free at last!
Yet our continent continues to be plagued by the twin challenges of poverty and under-development, spurned by years of slavery, imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism, which continue to condemn millions of African peoples to unbearable conditions.
The transformation of the OAU to the African Union could not have therefore come at a better time to tackle these challenges that threaten to reduce our peoples to the levels of pauperism. Indeed Africa's time has come to shake off its image as a continent of wars, coups, instability, poverty and under-development.
It is our assertion that no other formation except the AU is best placed to undertake a programme of such a magnitude. The historical mission for all Africans, in government, business and civil society, therefore remains the need to strengthen and jealously guard our new continental organisation and all its structures like the apple of our eye!
We are happy to report that today, Tuesday 25 May 2004 on Africa Day, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, leaders of our continent are gathered for the official launch of the African Peace and Security Council. This new organ must surely signify to all and sundry the determination and an unwavering commitment of all African peoples to rid the continent of any form of instability and to ensure peace reigns on all corners of our continent.
We therefore, join all African peoples in celebrating this achievement as a necessary condition for the creation of a climate conducive for sustainable development. We are conscious of the fact, that the renewal of the continent towards its economic prosperity is dependent upon the success of the Peace and Security Council.
Accordingly, and as a member of the Peace and Security Council, we will do all we can, sparing neither strength nor effort, to discharge our responsibility and mandate to ensure the success of the Peace and Security Council.
We remain conscious that peace and sustainable development are the necessary conditions that will give meaning and content to our desire to proclaim to the world, all and sundry, a better life for all Africans.
Just two days ago on Sunday 23 May 2004 in Maputo, Mozambique, leaders of our continent met as the NEPAD Heads of State Implementation Committee to review the progress made in respect of Africa's Economic Development Plan, NEPAD.
Among others, they agreed on accelerating the priorities of NEPAD in general and the building of infrastructure and provision of food security in particular. We make bold to say that NEPAD remains the blueprint for Africa's regeneration and renewal, whose success is dependent upon the collective ownership by all Africans on the continent and in the Diaspora.
It is on the basis of this economic revival plan that Africa will continue to interact and partner with the rest of the developed world with a view to pushing back the frontiers of poverty and under-development. Accordingly, we welcome the invitation by President George Bush, for the leaders of the African continent to attend the next G8 meeting scheduled for June in the USA in keeping with recent practice of the G8 leaders to engage with African leaders.
In pursuit of a better life for all peoples in the developing world, which contains the majority of the world's population, we will continue to strengthen links with all countries of the South, sustained by the knowledge that the south itself has the capacity, resources and will to roll-back the frontiers of poverty and under-development. As Africans, we will work tirelessly with all those who seek to create a better world for all.
As Africans we have overcome many obstacles in our long walk to a life of dignity. We shall continue to do so as we build an Africa that belongs to all Africans through partnerships between governments and civil society, in particular women and youth in strengthening solidarity among Africans. It is in this assertion that we find the significance for this year's Africa Day's theme Youth in Sport.
The youth of our continent have played indeed a significant role in the liberation of the continent and in promoting a socio- cultural identity that is unique to the rest of the world. We therefore join the youth of our continent in celebrating the momentous and historic decision of the world football federation, FIFA, that privileges Africa to host the world cup for the first time in history, thus reinforcing our assertion that Africa, indeed time has come!
On this historic day, we extend our fraternal greetings to all struggling peoples of the world. In this regard, we join the call on the international community to do everything it can to assist the peoples of Palestine and Israel to find a peaceful resolution to their current challenges.
We reiterate our view that the multilateral system of global governance remains our only hope towards addressing all challenges facing humanity. Accordingly, we express our wish that the UN must and should play a central role in restoring peace, security and democracy in Iraq.
On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, we extend our gratitude to you all for taking time off your busy schedules to be with us today in celebrating this historic day, Africa Day!
Africa! Mayibuye! Long Live our future! Long live our Youth!
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
25 May 2004
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: Z Skweyiya: Africa Day celebration
SPEECH DELIVERED BY ACTING FOREIGN MINISTER, DR ZOLA SKWEYIYA, ON THE OCCASION OF AFRICA DAY, PRETORIA, 25 May 2004
Honourable Colleagues
The Lord Mayor, Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa
Dean of the Diplomatic corps, Ambassador Alzubeidi
Your Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioners
Members of religious fraternity
Members of the judiciary
Captains of Industry
Leaders of Political Parties
Members of the National Youth Commission, Council and AGE Foundation
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
Today, marks the 41st anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)- that African solidarity continental organisation that united and led the African peoples in the bitter struggles against colonialism and apartheid- correctly characterised as a crime against humanity.
Today, as South Africa celebrates its tenth anniversary of the dawn of peace, freedom and democracy, it is only proper and fitting that we express our humble gratitude, on behalf of the millions of our people for the moral, political and material support that the peoples of Africa through the OAU afforded us in our hour of need.
Indeed, the victory over apartheid was not only an outcome of the sacrifices of the masses of the South African people but also a result of the unflinching support of all African peoples. For indeed apartheid was an affront against all Africans which sought to cast all of us as sub-human.
As President Thabo Mbeki stated in the "ANC Today of 21 May 2004 "the anti-apartheid struggle constituted an historic step away from centuries of a past during which many in the world had accepted the assertion of the sub-humanity of Africans as a self-evident truth"
Yet we cannot but also recognise the international solidarity action by ordinary people the world over in helping to restore dignity to our people. "The fact that the peoples of the world joined us in the struggle to defeat the apartheid crime against humanity meant that at last, and in action, all humanity had come together to assert the shared humanity of all human beings, regardless of race or colour" continued President Thabo Mbeki.
Accordingly, as we celebrate the 41st Anniversary of the OAU, we are happy to report to the founding leaders of this historic movement that they like all Africans must rejoice in the full knowledge that, save for Western Sahara, all of Africa is indeed free at last!
Yet our continent continues to be plagued by the twin challenges of poverty and under-development, spurned by years of slavery, imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism, which continue to condemn millions of African peoples to unbearable conditions.
The transformation of the OAU to the African Union could not have therefore come at a better time to tackle these challenges that threaten to reduce our peoples to the levels of pauperism. Indeed Africa's time has come to shake off its image as a continent of wars, coups, instability, poverty and under-development.
It is our assertion that no other formation except the AU is best placed to undertake a programme of such a magnitude. The historical mission for all Africans, in government, business and civil society, therefore remains the need to strengthen and jealously guard our new continental organisation and all its structures like the apple of our eye!
We are happy to report that today, Tuesday 25 May 2004 on Africa Day, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, leaders of our continent are gathered for the official launch of the African Peace and Security Council. This new organ must surely signify to all and sundry the determination and an unwavering commitment of all African peoples to rid the continent of any form of instability and to ensure peace reigns on all corners of our continent.
We therefore, join all African peoples in celebrating this achievement as a necessary condition for the creation of a climate conducive for sustainable development. We are conscious of the fact, that the renewal of the continent towards its economic prosperity is dependent upon the success of the Peace and Security Council.
Accordingly, and as a member of the Peace and Security Council, we will do all we can, sparing neither strength nor effort, to discharge our responsibility and mandate to ensure the success of the Peace and Security Council.
We remain conscious that peace and sustainable development are the necessary conditions that will give meaning and content to our desire to proclaim to the world, all and sundry, a better life for all Africans.
Just two days ago on Sunday 23 May 2004 in Maputo, Mozambique, leaders of our continent met as the NEPAD Heads of State Implementation Committee to review the progress made in respect of Africa's Economic Development Plan, NEPAD.
Among others, they agreed on accelerating the priorities of NEPAD in general and the building of infrastructure and provision of food security in particular. We make bold to say that NEPAD remains the blueprint for Africa's regeneration and renewal, whose success is dependent upon the collective ownership by all Africans on the continent and in the Diaspora.
It is on the basis of this economic revival plan that Africa will continue to interact and partner with the rest of the developed world with a view to pushing back the frontiers of poverty and under-development. Accordingly, we welcome the invitation by President George Bush, for the leaders of the African continent to attend the next G8 meeting scheduled for June in the USA in keeping with recent practice of the G8 leaders to engage with African leaders.
In pursuit of a better life for all peoples in the developing world, which contains the majority of the world's population, we will continue to strengthen links with all countries of the South, sustained by the knowledge that the south itself has the capacity, resources and will to roll-back the frontiers of poverty and under-development. As Africans, we will work tirelessly with all those who seek to create a better world for all.
As Africans we have overcome many obstacles in our long walk to a life of dignity. We shall continue to do so as we build an Africa that belongs to all Africans through partnerships between governments and civil society, in particular women and youth in strengthening solidarity among Africans. It is in this assertion that we find the significance for this year's Africa Day's theme Youth in Sport.
The youth of our continent have played indeed a significant role in the liberation of the continent and in promoting a socio- cultural identity that is unique to the rest of the world. We therefore join the youth of our continent in celebrating the momentous and historic decision of the world football federation, FIFA, that privileges Africa to host the world cup for the first time in history, thus reinforcing our assertion that Africa, indeed time has come!
On this historic day, we extend our fraternal greetings to all struggling peoples of the world. In this regard, we join the call on the international community to do everything it can to assist the peoples of Palestine and Israel to find a peaceful resolution to their current challenges.
We reiterate our view that the multilateral system of global governance remains our only hope towards addressing all challenges facing humanity. Accordingly, we express our wish that the UN must and should play a central role in restoring peace, security and democracy in Iraq.
On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, we extend our gratitude to you all for taking time off your busy schedules to be with us today in celebrating this historic day, Africa Day!
Africa! Mayibuye! Long Live our future! Long live our Youth!
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
25 May 2004
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
