The Southern African Development Community, SADC, says this year’s Africa Freedom Day is an occasion to celebrate a range of welcome developments on the continent.
A statement released to the Zambia News and Information Services, ZANIS, by the SADC Corporate Communications Unit says this is particularly so because the African Union has taken root, with many of its institutions already established.
The southern African grouping also notes that the Pan-African Parliament has been inaugurated as a platform for the articulation of the aspirations of the peoples of Africa.
SADC also notes that commendable progress has also been made in the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, or NEPAD, especially in the priority areas of agriculture, infrastructure, environment and health.
It points out that these are the key areas in reducing poverty, promoting social
stability and improving the quality of life.
SADC further notes that progress has been made in the areas of peace, security and stability.
The regional grouping however has observed that much remains to be done.
SADC says the African continent must keep striving to address both HIV and AIDS, gender inequality, domestic violence and the persistence of violent conflicts in various parts of Africa, which continue to hold back development by destroying social and economic infrastructures, diverting resources and tearing asunder the social and cultural fabric of affected societies.
“On this Africa Day, let us rededicate ourselves to the unity and socio-economic
development of Africa and its people.May we all, across our continent, celebrate
Africa Day with pride in the achievements of the OAU. May we all be inspired to face the future with renewed vigour, loyalty and dedication to our continent and its people, confident that the successor to the OAU, the African Union, and its
development programme, NEPAD, will take us forward towards the achievement of the goals of African unity, peace, democracy and prosperity for all,” the statement read in part.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) today joined the people of the African continent, from all walks of life, in commemorating the forty-fourth anniversary of Africa Day.
May 25 marks an important landmark in the history of the African people’s struggle for self-determination, freedom, independence, economic and social development. It is a day on which we celebrate the formation, on 25 May 1963, of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
