BELOW IS THE FULL TEXT OF MY OPENING REMARKS AT THE EXPERT WORSHOP ON CONSTITUTIONALISM AND RULE OF LAW ORGANISED BY THE AFRICAN UNION (AU) AND INTERNATIONAL IDEA IN PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA: CHAIRPERSON YOUR EXCELLENCIES DISTINGUISHED INVITED GUESTS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE COUNCIL OF AFRICAN POLITICAL PARTIES (CAPP) IS GRATEFUL TO THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION (AUC), THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS AND TO THE INTERNATIONAL IDEA, FOR THE INVITATION TO THIS IMPORTANT WORKSHOP. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP IS TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PROCESS OF APPRAISING THE STATE OF CONSTITUTIONALISM IN AFRICA AND REVIEW THE AFRICAN UNION (AU) POSITION ON UNCONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES OF GOVERNMENT. THE COUNCIL OF AFRICAN POLITICAL PARTIES IS A FORUM OF POLITICAL PARTIES ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER IN UNITY TO PURSUE THE OBJECTIVES OF ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF A PROSPEROUS AND PEACEFUL CONTINENT. ONE OF THE KEY OBJECTIVES OF CAPP IS TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA. THIS OBJECTIVE IS IN COMPLETE TANDEM WITH THE VERY FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE AU. IN THIS REGARD CAPP MEMBERSHIP IS COMPOSED OF BOTH THE GOVERNING POLITICAL PARTIES AND THOSE IN THE OPPOSITION. TO THIS EFFECT, THE AU AND CAPP IN 2013 SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MoU) WHICH AIMS TO STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONAL TIES AND COOPERATION IN DELIVERING PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES AIMED AT PROMOTING DEMOCRACY, GOOD GOVERNANCE, HUMAN AND PEOPLE’S RIGHTS, CONSTITUTIONALISM, FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS AND THE RULE OF LAW IN AFRICA. IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, THIS WORKSHOP REPRESENTS ONE OF THE MANY PLATFORMS FOR ACTUALISING SOME OF THE ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF OUR MUTUAL ASPIRATIONS AND THE BASIS OF OUR COOPERATION – THE IMPORTANT ISSUES OF CONSTITUTIONALISM AND THE RULE OF LAW. YOUR EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IT IS OUR HOPE THAT WHILE DRAWING OUR ATTENTION TO RESOLVING THE QUESTIONS OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT, POPULAR UPRISING AND ALL OTHER ASPECTS CONNECTED TO THE ISSUES OF CONSTITUTIONALISM AND THE RULE OF LAW, WE SHALL CANDIDLY DEAL WITH THE MAIN CAUSES GIVING RISE TO UNSTABLE GOVERNMENTS AND THE LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW. THE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT WHICH HOLDS THAT THE CAUSES OF CONSTITUTIONAL INSTABILITY IN AFRICA ARE IN FACT, LOCATED OUTSIDE AFRICA AND DRIVEN BY FORCES WHOSE INTERESTS ARE NOT AFRICA’S INTERESTS IS FIRMLY GAINING GROUND TODAY. WE HOPE WE CAN ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF AFRICAN UNITY AND SOLIDARITY IN ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. FINALLY, IT IS GRATIFYING TO NOTE THAT THIS WORKSHOP WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAPP AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO EXPLORE FURTHER AREAS OF COLLABORATION, SYNERGIES AND COMPLEMENTATION. IT WILL ALSO AVAIL US THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERROGATE WAYS OF ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS CAPP AND THE AFRICAN CONFERENCE ON CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO ENHANCE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS. AS AN ORGANISATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN AFRICA, CAPP HAS AN INHERENT CONNECTION WITH THE GRASSROOTS AND HENCE PROVIDES AN EASY REACH TO THE MASSES FOR ALL INITIATIVES REGARDING GOVERNANCE AND DEMOCRACY. WITHOUT THE WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FROM THE MASSES OF THE AFRICAN PEOPLE, THESE INITIATIVES ARE BOUND TO FAIL OR YIELD VERY LIMITED RESULTS. I WISH TO END BY WISHING ALL OF US PRODUCTIVE BRAINSTORMING AND DELIBERATIONS AS WELL AS ASKING YOU TO BE AMBASSADORS FOR CAPP AND URGE POLITICAL PARTIES IN YOUR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES TO JOIN AND SUPPORT THIS ORGANISATION. I THANK YOU
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 06:54:17 +0000