Zimbabwe becomes AU’s APRM 39th member

Addis Ababa, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe on Saturday became the 39th out of the African Union’s (AU) 55 member states to voluntarily join the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), a tool for enhancing governance and democracy on the continent through monitoring and assessment by other participating countries.

The APRM is a specialized agency of the AU established in 2003, in the framework of the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

The AU describes the APRM, which members join on voluntary basis, as “a tool for sharing experiences, reinforcing best practices, identifying deficiencies, and assessing capacity-building needs to foster policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is in Ethiopia, signed Zimbabwe’s accession to the APRM at its meeting held ahead of the 33rd AU Heads of State and Government Summit which opens on Sunday.

The APRM is now chaired by South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who took over from President Idriss Déby of Chad at the same meeting.

President Mnanngawa described Zimbabwe’s accession as a “momentous and historic occasion,” lauding the APRM as a forum which is “in consonant with our African philosophy, heritage and traditions of building unity and societal cohesion through dialogue.”

“In acceding to the APRM, my government is reinforcing its commitment to constructive reviews which help entrench a democratic culture that benefits primarily the people of Zimbabwe. My country subscribes to the practical application of the dictum, “African solutions to African problems” which is also the hallmark of the APRM,” President Mnangagwa said.

“We thus stand ready to participate in programmes which ensure that all hotspots are prioritised for peace making and peace keeping efforts undertaken by the African Union towards durable peace and silencing the guns on our continent.”

“Silencing the guns: Creating conducive conditions for Africa’s development,” is this year’s AU Summit theme.

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s joining of the ARPM was testament to his administration’s commitment to entrench open, transparent democracy and good governance.

“Zimbabwe’s decision to join the APRM has been informed by the democratic trajectory which forms the bedrock of the Second Republic, since my assumption of office in November 2017” he said.

“To date, we have already undertaken deliberate and extensive cross cutting political, economic, legislative and media reforms towards achieving a just, open, accountable and economically prosperous nation.”

Part of the reforms included alignment of laws to the Constitution which would be completed by the end of the second quarter, he said.

He said the reforms, which had been accompanied by establishment of all the constitutionally provided for Commissions, were meant to enhance and consolidate democracy.

The commissions include those responsible for media, anti-corruption, gender, elections, peace and reconciliation.

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe had established a dialogue platform for all political parties aimed at bringing about national unity, cohesion and political tolerance.

“Zimbabwe is therefore ready and committed to undertake remedial steps to address gaps to enhance internal and regional political stability, economic growth and sustainable development,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa also participated at the NEPAD Heads of State and Government meeting that saw various agencies committing to enhancing the continent’s development.

President Paul Kagame took over the agency’s chairmanship from President Macky Sall of Senegal at the meeting.
New Ziana