ESAT News (July 3, 2017)
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe on Monday handed over a cheque for $1 million to the African Union, after he and his supporters sold hundreds of cattle to support the cash-strapped continental organization.
Mugabe donated the money as the 29th ordinary session of the African Union summit kicked off on Monday at the headquarters of the continental body in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.
Mugabe said at the summit that his party and the people of Zimbabwe think initial pledge of 300 cattle to the AU two years ago was “an innovative idea and a noble cause.”
“A donation of cattle came naturally to me given that our continent is rich in cattle and cattle are held as a store of wealth,” Mugabe was quoted as saying in Addis Ababa.
Among key issues at the summit include AU financing and institutional reform. 60% of the African Union funds comes from donors, according to reports.
The two-day summit was also expected to tackle issues regarding peace and security on the continent.
“The situation in South Sudan, Somalia, Libya, the Central African Republic, the tense relation between Djibouti and Eritrea, the difficulties in implementing the peace agreement in Mali where the jihadist terrorism is very active and political situation in some African countries such as the DRC, Burundi, Guinea Bissau are the major concerns,” said Faki Mahamat, the new chairperson of the AU Commission.
This years summit is being conducted under the theme “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in the Youth.”