The President of the Pan-African Parliament, Hon. Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira, the Vice Presidents and the entire Membership of the Pan-African Parliament, join Africans across the continent and beyond in commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now the African Union (AU).
On this special day, we remember with nostalgia, the pan-africanist spirit that compelled our founding fathers to establish the Organisation of African Unity on 25th May 1963, with the noble objective of uniting Africa in the quest for freedom from the shackles of colonialism.
Amidst these celebrations, the Africa Day commemorations are also a timely reminder that, while political freedom and self-determination have been attained, Africa still faces a myriad of challenges that require our concerted effort and sustainable approaches to resolve them.
We must unite now more than ever, to address the persistent challenges of poverty, energy insecurity, unconstitutional changes of government, civil wars, the ravages of climate change, the looming threat of hunger and malnutrition, terrorism and violent extremism, among others.
In the wake of the resurgence of armed conflict in Sudan, the Pan-African Parliament commits itself to continue standing as the voice of the voiceless on the continent. Our rallying point will always be the will of the people of Africa and our operative mantra will continue to be “One Africa, One Voice.”
H.E. Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira
PRESIDENT OF THE PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT
