By Hassan Abbas, Addis Ababa
As the African Union (AU) celebrates its 50 Years Golden Anniversary and its brain child, the governance assessment Mechanism (APRM), marks 10 Years of its existence, African leaders have been challenged to promote democracy and good governance.
The call was issued by two African governance activists, the CEO of the APRM Continental office, Assefa Shifa and the former Mozambican President, Joachim. Opening during the opening of a two days colloquium to reflect on the 10th Anniversary of the APRM.
In his presentation on progress in improving governance in Africa, Mr. Shifa cited Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere of Tanzania as one of the few African leaders who could descend from power from their own volition.
He added that others leaders like Joachim Chissano of Mozambique and Nelson Mandela of South Africa who followed Nyerere’s footsteps by stepping down from leadership position at a time nobody their people were still in quest of their services.
On his part, President Chissano who was invited to offer a key note address to the gathering of more than 100 African experts and political leaders’, said the African continent once accused for having imperial presidents was now making significant strides in democratization and respect to constitutional and term limits.
He argued that term limit and respect for good governance values were the heart of the AU and APRM cherished values but situation in some countries caused the whole of the Continent to be accused. He reminisced how his own people protested when he announced to step down.
“My personal view of the state of governance and democratization in Africa is that against the backdrop of imperial presidents and hegemony leaders, the wave of democratization is now too high for such practices,” said Mr. Chissano a recipient of the prestigious Mo Ibrahim Governance Award.
He expressed his optimism that with the APRM, Africa has now a unique opportunity to address governance issues with a Pan-African solidarity. He said the design of the APRM makes it possible for African countries to treat each others like members of the same family and that has helped incidents of leaders being overthrown from power to diminish.
“With democratization in Africa and APRM advocacy among other interventions, Africans today must act and feel like brothers and sisters…military coups are now sporadic as those who continue to ascend to power unconstitutionally are clearly aware that they will be denounced,” he said.
The former leader called upon African leaders to strengthen the Mechanism to become a premier assessment Mechanism for governance in Africa so as to cherish the dream of AU founders who longed for a more prosperous Africa.