[AU-Monitor] ADB Annual Meetings Underway in Shanghai and More...

[Hakima Abbas]

ADB Annual Meetings Underway in Shanghai

Annual Meetings of the Board of Governors of the African Development  
Bank Group were opened on Wednesday in Shanghai, China, by Chinese  
Premier, Wen Jiabao.  The meetings, which brought together three  
African heads of state, government ministers and central bank  
governors of 77 member states of the Bank Group, development experts,  
representatives of the civil society and non-governmental  
organizations, provided an ideal opportunity for participants to  
share perspectives and experiences on development issues. Prominent  
among the participants were Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Pedro  
Pires of Cape Verde, Marc Ravalomanana of Madagascar, former  
Mozambican President, Joachim Chissano, and former Canadian Prime  
Minister, Paul Martin.

Read More:
www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/index.php/AUMONITOR/comments/ 
adb_annual_meetings_underway_in_shanghai/

Peoples’ Voices in the Grand Debate: CSO and Citizen Interviews on  
the Proposal for a Union Government
Saloman Kebede interviewed several African civil society leaders and  
citizens about the “Grand Debate on the Union Government” to be held  
at the June 2007 summit of the African Union.  The following  
interview of Jacob Wasai Nanjakululu is part of a series of  
interviews, to be published in AU-Monitor, of African citizens and  
civil society leaders on the AU proposal for Continental Government.  
The interviews were conducted by the Pan Africa Programme of Oxfam in  
the corridors of a civil society meeting organized by UN-CONGO and  
FEMNET in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the week of the 13th March 2007.  
Ivy Maina consulting with the Pan Africa Programme Oxfam edited this  
interview.. These interviews are also available at www.pambazuka.org/ 
aumonitor.

Please send comments to aumonitor.editor at gmail.com.


Interview with Jacob Wasai Nanjakululu, HIV/AIDS Policy and Advocacy  
Officer for Africa Region - ACORD

Saloman Kebede: What form of Continental government does Africa need?
Wasai J. Nanjakululu: We recognize that we were given artificial  
states through colonialism. Breaking these states overnight is a  
daunting task. We should instead build these states to become federal  
states of Africa in order to end up with a federal government of  
Africa. This kind of government should then identify historical links  
that countries share and create regional states like the East African  
Federation. This may help in dealing with internal conflicts.


Saloman Kebede: Why is the Continental Union important to African  
citizens especially the poor and the marginalized?

Wasai J. Nanjakululu: If the continental union’s importance is based  
purely on political recognition, then what good shall come out of it?  
It must guarantee freedom of movement and free markets that work for  
Africa. This will also provide an enabling environment to mount a  
continent-wide HIV&AIDS response. By making Africa one huge market we  
could jointly procure ARVs and establish pharmaceutical factories on  
the continent. This would ease the prices of these essential life  
saving drugs.

Saloman Kebede: What strategic areas of focus do you propose for the  
integration to be successful?

Wasai J. Nanjakululu: One, we need to break open state borders. Two,  
let the citizens be well informed and involved in policy making at  
the country level in order to allow people to engage democratically  
in governance, in wealth creation and distribution. In this way, when  
we propose the issue of African unity then the masses do not see the  
leaders as having hidden motives. Three, we have to come up with a  
good economic policy for African unity. Finally, let us be on the  
lookout for reactionary processes at country level and be prepared to  
deal with them.

Saloman Kebede: What obstacles must the AU overcome for the  
continental union to be successful?

Wasai J. Nanjakululu: I believe that you only see obstacles when you  
take your eyes off the goals. We also need to come to a place where  
we can allow others to lead but not allow those countries who are  
stronger to dictate to other states. The AU has to embrace the  
culture of empowering its people and preserve the historical links  
that unite us.



Saloman Kebede: What one policy would your organization propose to be  
adopted in the continental integration?

Wasai J. Nanjakululu: All governments seem to recognize the role of  
the civil society in development. I would like all Pan African  
organizations to be registered within the AU and given legal mandate  
to operate in all the countries in Africa. We need to avoid instances  
as those in Eritrea where ACORD was kicked out or where some CSOs are  
being proscribed from Zimbabwe for taking a stand. Then we shall be  
able to engage across the continent and create overwhelming support  
and ownership for Continental Union Government from the masses.

Saloman Kebede: What milestones would you like to see achieved within  
the first phase i.e. the first two years?

Wasai J. Nanjakululu: I work with a Pan African organization that  
works to build and strengthen African social movement. We are present  
in 18 countries in Africa. By opening up borders, we will cut costs  
on visa and interconnection of flights.  Open the borders, let  
people, goods and services move. I am sure that can be done at a  
click of a finger from our Heads of States.

Saloman Kebede: What meaningful decisions should the head of states  
make so that this process is people driven, rights based and publicly  
accountable to African citizens?
Wasai J. Nanjakululu: They should open up the debate in the media to  
popularize the proposal and involve the civil society and national  
parliaments.

The views expressed here are the perspectives of the interviewee.  
Jacob Wasai Nanjakululu can be reached at email: jacob.wasai at  
acordinternational.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.fahamu.org/pipermail/au-monitor/attachments/20070516/fe8deccc/attachment.htm