Dlamini-Zuma: AU must build bridges (and roads and railways)

A lack of infrastructure development is the biggest challenge facing Africa, says newly elected AU Commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Addressing a gathering of representatives of the Progessive Women's Movement of South Africa in Pretoria on Sunday, Dlamini-Zuma said the African Union's vision of more integration could only be reached if infrastructure on the continent was drastically improved.

"How do we connect ourselves?" she asked, pointing out that transport and communication links were not doing enough to connect countries with each other.

She said there could be no integration, as envisaged by the AU, unless there was proper infrastructure linking the African countries.

Dlamini-Zuma also said she thought integration would be further helped by the Pan African Parliament (PAP) becoming a legislative body which would "harmonise legislation" across the continent.

But integration could not be successfully achieved if peace was not achieved on the continent.

"How do you build a railway in the middle of a war[zone]?"

She said that while the continent had many challenges it also had many opportunities of which it needed to take advantage, and enormous agricultural, energy and human resource potential.

"The challenge, is how to use them for the benefit of Africa."

Speaking about her appointment, she said: "When I go there, I will be working as a servant of Africa and not South Africa."

She said the direction that the AU took would need to be determined with the involvement of its citizens and not its governments alone.

"If it's left to government, it's not going to go anywhere fast."

The Progessive Women's Movement of South Africa is made up of various women's organisations including the ANC Women's League.

Source: Mail & Guardian

HRH Princess Stella Margaret Nomzano Sigcau

HRH Princess Stella Margaret Nomzano Sigcau, born 14th January 1937 at Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape, educated at Lovedale Institute (Teachers Diploma, 1954), and University of Fort Hare (BA degree, 1959), worked as a teacher at a number of schools in Natal 1960/1968, entered politics during the 1968 elections in Transkei, winning Lusikisiki seat.

HRH has held the portfolios of Public Works and Education, Interior (which included Trade and Tourism) and Posts and Telecommunications prior to the granting of independence to Transkei, Transkei’s Minister of Interior Affairs (retaining responsibility for Posts and Telecommunications) with Transkeian independence, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications of Transkei 1981, Leader of the Transkei National Independence Party 1987, third Prime Minister of the Transkei in 1987, Minister of Public Enterprises in the South African Government 1994/1999, Minister of Public Works in the South African Government 17th June 1999 to 7th May 2006, Executive member of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa), currently serving as head of its Projects Division, Member of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL), Natal Executive Council Chairperson of the ANCWL, Transkei;

HRH married 1962 Ronald Shabalala and had issue.

HRH died 7th May 2006 at St Augustine hospital, Durban and was buried at Kwa-Nandi, Qaukeni Farm, Lusikisiki, in the Eastern Cape on 16th May 2006.

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