Untitled Document

From the 1^st to the 3^rd of July 2007, 53 heads of state from all over Africa will gather in Accra, Ghana for the African Union (AU) summit. Top on their agenda will be the union government of Africa, that is a united Africa under one government, no border boundaries, one currency, one economy, one nationality and one future! Are the African leaders ready for such an arrangement? Are the African people ready? Were they or are they going to be consulted? Can it be achieved? Are the youth of our continent ready for a united future? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such developments? So many questions, yet so little answers!

It has been questioned whether this unity will be a unity of the people of Africa or of the heads of state. If it’s the later, this will render the idea an elitist political arrangement that will not necessarily bind on the ground. At the same it is difficult to imagine the heads of state agreeing on a unity government anyway! Others have questioned, are we pushing the “club of seven’s agenda” (south Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Libya, Algeria, Egypt and Ethiopia)? Or is it a Muammar Gaddafi agenda? Are all the African leaders involved or are they following in other people’s agendas?

At the insistence of the Chairman of the Committee of Seven, a broad-based conference was held in Abuja, Nigeria, in November 2005, under the theme “Desirability of a Union Government in Africa.” It was attended by a wide spectrum of participants including members of the Committee of Seven, the academia, technical experts, representatives of the African Diaspora, Civil Society Organizations as well as executives of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and media practitioners from different parts of Africa, concluded that:

a) The “necessity for Union Government is not in doubt”;
b) it must be a “Union of the African people and not merely a Union of states and governments”;
c) its formation must be “based on a multi-layered approach” and on the principle of "gradual incrementalism”;
d) the role of the RECs should be highlighted as building blocks for the continental framework.

What will the union government entail? Do we remove all boundaries on our continent? Is that feasible? Do we introduce one currency? Will stronger economies like South Africa accept that? Can we sustain one large military? Can we keep it under control? Does the new head of united Africa appoint ministers, military people etc? What happens to the existing systems? I know I am asking more questions and providing no answer at all.

The truth is, the idea of the Union Government of Africa has never been put to the youth for consultation. The committee (committee of seven) led by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on its second recommendation clearly stated that the unity should be of the people of Africa not the heads of state or governments. It is not a secret that the youth constitute 40% of African population and hence their voice needs to be clearly heard if the idea of a unity government is to succeed. I don’t mean to be pessimistic, but without the consultation of the youth, this whole idea will not succeed. If it does, it will not be real!

Can the united government achieve a democratic society were fundamental human rights flourish? What with the prevalence and dominance of African ideology and society by well known personal rulers like Gaddafi, Mugabe, Museveni just but to mention a few. Can Africa resonate on the pursuance of one pan African ideology? Can those that are linked more to the west agree, or should I say would their masters agree?

Will the union government recognize the steak of the youth in the continent and prioritize our development? It is not a secret that the African Youth Union is composed of people old enough to be our fathers! What will the union government offer us when they have failed to include us in the process of debating the idea? Moreover, when they have failed to sign and ratify the African Youth Charter they adopted at the Banjul summit in 2006. It is on record that only four countries (Burundi, Mali, Benin and Togo) have signed and non-have ratified. Does this generation of people ever see a future after themselves? What with all their children abroad!

There is no doubt that a united Africa will be more powerful and prosperous than divided. There is no doubt that the African people desire a stronger and more prosperous Africa. There is a doubt however that the African people will be guaranteed this future. There is definitely doubt whether the African people will be accorded a chance be heard and to participate in this process.

Certainly, the Pan African Zimbabwe Youth Movement desires a united, stronger and prosperous Africa but we shall not tolerate any mystified elite conglomeration of the failed generation of our leaders and their unpopular regimes. We need to take stock of parity and convergence in our common goals and then move together as one with our people!