The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Uganda’s Dr. Speciosa Naigaga Kazibwe Wandira on Friday launched her bid to replace South Africa’s Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as Chairperson of the Africa Union (AU) Commission.
“Place your confidence in me. My vision is that of an AU taking charge of Africa’s Destiny,” Dr Kazibwe told a selection of African diplomats at the launch of her bid at the Radisson Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“I am ideologically equipped, have the knowledge, the experience and stature to further cement the foundation to ground Africa towards 2063. I am ready to roll the sleeves and go,” she said in her speech.
“The template for action on where to take Africa is already in place. I am a Pan African and seasoned in the affairs of managing Africa-with success, from different fronts. I will be Africa’s Chief Public Servant.”
She said, as Chief Executive of the African Union Commission, her focus will be on peace building and conflict resolution; Infrastructure development; Resource mobilization; Research, communication and people empowerment; Member States and Partners Engagement; reinforcing existing AU Systems to deliver and put on course implementation of Agenda 2063.
According to the Institute for Security Studies, 60-year-old Kazibwe “certainly has the highest profile and the most international experience among the candidates, but that is not all that counts. Given the AU’s increasing emphasis on gender balancing, it counts in Kazibwe’s favour – as well as that of Venson-Moitoi – that they’re women.”
Zuma, from South Africa, has indicated that she will not seek another term at the mid-July summit of the African Union (AU) in Kigali, Rwanda. Kazibwe is a medical doctor like Dlamini Zuma, and has been a United Nations special representative on HIV/Aids.
The three candidates are Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, (65), from Botswana, Dr Kazibwe and Agapito Mba Mokuy (51) from Equatorial Guinea.
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Uganda nominates Kazibwe for top AU job (click to read)
Museveni also praised Dr. Kazibwe as the kind of leader Africa needs.
“As a proud OAU Founder Member, Uganda is proud to present and support the candidacy of Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe Wandira for the position of Chairperson, African Union Commission, 2016 – 2020, Museveni said in his message to Africa on her website (click here).
“On a personal note, I am proud to evoke Dr. Wandira’s loyalty to both Uganda and Africa; she’s an astute advisor like no other, and above all, a competent and thorough executive. Thus, my hope is that Africa will, once again, allow Uganda to contribute to our integration with Dr. Wandira as Chairperson of the African Union Commission.”
FULL SPEECH
Speciosa Speech – June 2016 by The Independent Magazine
