VP Chiwenga Reflects on AU Goals During Museveni Inauguration

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Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga led a Zimbabwean delegation to Kampala for the inauguration of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Speaking during the inauguration Dr Chiwenga said the trip allows Zimbabwe to assess democratic and governance progress across the continent and apply those lessons at home.

“Zimbabwe regularly sends delegations to African Union and EU member states during major national ceremonies,” Dr Chiwenga said.

The purpose is to gauge how far countries have advanced and to benchmark Zimbabwe’s own development. Observing other governance models, he added, helps inform policy decisions in Harare.

“We go to see the level of advancement a country would have achieved, and compare it with what we have achieved as African countries,” Dr Chiwenga said.

He recalled that the Organization of African Unity was formed in 1963 to achieve independence for all African states. That goal was realized with the liberation of South Africa.

Since then, the AU has set continental targets on human rights, elections, and governance through declarations in Banjul and Addis Ababa.

“Those were the main objectives until the liberation of the last country on the continent, South Africa,” he said.

Dr Chiwenga pointed to Agenda 2063, adopted in 2013, as Africa’s 50-year development plan. He said the agenda sets long-term objectives that future leaders will inherit.

“Attending the inauguration shows how different parts of Africa are progressing on democracy and governance.

Agenda 2063 asks what we want Africa to be like in 2063. These are set objectives for whoever comes in,” he said.

Dr Chiwenga said Zimbabwe will continue attending such events to strengthen institutions and align with the AU’s agenda for democracy and development.