Is Zuma betraying SADC's integration efforts?

In 1961, Kwame Nkrumah said: ”Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world. I believe strongly and sincerely that with the deep-rooted wisdom and dignity, the innate respect for human lives, the intense humanity that is our heritage, the African race, united under one federal government, will emerge not as just another world bloc to flaunt its wealth and strength, but as a great power whose greatness is indestructible because it is built not on fear, envy and suspicion, nor won at the expense of others, but founded on hope, trust, friendship and directed to the good of all mankind.“

And in 2000 Colonel Gadaffi of Libya, perhaps inspired by Nkrumah, but for selfish reasons, put forward a proposal of far-reaching consequences. He wanted full political and economic integration that would lead to the United States of Africa. A preposterous ideal to begin with! But African leaders attending the AU summit in Accra, Ghana, in July 2007 decided to devote their time to a “Grand Debate on the Union Government”. The Committee of Seven, headed by Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, recommended that work towards forming the “United States of Africa” was needed.

In 2006, under the chairmanship of Olusegun Obasanjo, the Committee of Seven undertook a ”Study on An African Union Government: Towards the United States of Africa”, and its findings were presented to an extraordinary session held in November 2006 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study found that, “all Member States accept the United States of Africa as a common and desirable goal (but) differences exist over the modalities and timeframe for achieving this goal and the appropriate pace of integration”. Obasanjo advocated taking 15 continental institutions created under the AU and transforming them into the 55th state in Africa, by 2015.

In principle South Africa appears to have embraced the idea of the continent moving towards full political and economic integration. Thabo Mbeki was president of South Africa when the AU passed this absurd resolution to form the United States of Africa and proposed the gradual strengthening of regions and AU institutions including executive, judicial, financial and technical institutions.

Mbeki, when delivering the inaugural lecture on May 27 2010 at the Thabo Mbeki Leadership Institute, further reiterated the above view when he said: “The objective to achieve the unity of our Continent, perhaps as a federation or confederation of states, will take time to achieve. However this does not mean that Africa cannot speak with one voice on matters of common interest. Of critical importance in this regard is that we should do everything possible to strengthen both the regional organisations, the Regional Economic Communities, such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Ecowas, and the African Union and its institutions, including the Pan-African Parliament and others.”

Museveni has also supported the idea of regional integration. He has said, “you cannot have a country without a common language — indigenous or borrowed. USA uses English; India uses English, their own huge linguistic groups (Hindu, Gujarat, Tami and Bengali) notwithstanding; Soviet Union used Russian and Brazil used Portuguese. Economic integration does not demand the same degree of cohesion as political integration. A federated East Africa could eventually be a very cohesive part of Africa, using Kiswahili enriched by Bantu and Nilotic/Cushitic dialects. Such a cohesive African state would become the strategic backbone of the African peoples.”

His areas of concern include trade negotiations with foreign countries, dealing with the desert (the environment) and inter-state security issues as well as the fact that adherence to common political principles or standards of good governance varies significantly from state to state. These are important considerations that should not be ignored by proponents of a single government for Africa. How do you integrate South Africa with Somalia?

It does provide some measure of comfort that SADC, when meeting in 2007, adopted a common and sober position in the way forward towards a unified and integrated continent in response to the resolution of the AU.

“Our countries throughout Africa do not have the same level of development and it will take some time before we have the proper infrastructure in place to make that integration which we all agree upon possible,” said Lazarous Kapambwe of Zambia, who was part of the SADC deliberations on regional and continental integration. The argument for regional integration is a valid argument if it is for the purpose of stimulating trade among member countries and boosting the economic growth and development of the region. It however becomes nonsensical if the ultimate aim is to speedily move towards the formation of the United States of Africa.

For SADC the establishment of the Southern African Customs Union, and abolishment of the need for visas among countries such as South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique already was progress towards regional integration. In 2008 SADC managed to achieve an important milestone by launching, at its summit held in Sandton, Johannesburg, the SADC Free Trade Area. Mbeki then as chairperson of SADC, said: “It seems unavoidable that we must reaffirm the importance of regional integration for at least two reasons. Firstly, none of us will be able to assure political and social stability, security and economic development in our countries if the region as a whole continues to grapple with underdevelopment, instability, poverty and marginalisation. Regional economic cooperation and integration offer us the opportunity to pool our limited resources and build an economic base to address the challenges of economic growth and development. Secondly, regional economic integration can create the basis for regional markets and industries to overcome the limits of small national markets, to achieve economies of scale and enhance competitiveness as a platform to participate more effectively in the world economy.”

Jacob Zuma, on occasion of his keynote address to British parliamentarians at the Palace of Westminster in London on March 4 2010, said: “We need to foster regional integration, as a first step to continental integration. Africans must trade with each other, share skills with each other, access each other’s markets, and invest in each other’s economies.”

Zuma was further reiterating the position of the region in line with the resolutions of the AU. But it is of great concern when he then appears to be publicly advancing the common position of the region while privately canoodling with Gadaffi ahead of the AU summit planned for late July in Kampala, Uganda. On July 20 2010 he visited Libya to discuss the “coordination of positions regarding the agenda of the AU summit in Kampala,” according to Libyan sources. It is somewhat disturbing that a South African president would see the need to travel all the way to Libya to meet with Gadaffi for “coordination of positions” ahead of the AU summit.

Libya’s position in respect of continental issues is unequivocal. What is also unambiguous is Gadaffi’s employment of chequebook diplomacy in furthering his own narcissistic interests, as aptly demonstrated by the farcical gathering, in 2008, of 200 African kings and traditional rulers who bestowed on him the title “king of kings”. Gadaffi during his “coronation” implored those royal stooges to advance his campaign for the creation of a single government for Africa. He said: “We want an African military to defend Africa, we want a single African currency, we want one African passport to travel within Africa.”

So, this impromptu visit by Zuma to Libya arouses much suspicion and concern, especially against the backdrop of allegations contained in the controversial Browse Mole report that he was bankrolled by Gadaffi to topple Mbeki, who for a number of years was considered an obstacle to Gadaffi’s continental ambitions. And the fact that countries like Burkina Faso and Togo, which have benefited from Gadaffi’s financial largesse, have been vehemently supporting his preposterous idea of the United States of Africa. Common logic would dictate that a South African president would “coordinate positions” with his regional counterparts not Gadaffi.

What appears more preposterous is the statement by Zuma’s spokesperson, Zizi Kodwa, that: “This visit is more concerned about strengthening the organs of the AU and how to speed up the process of regional integration.” Does South Africa consult with Libya on its regional matters? We can wish and hope that the region is not being sold for “30 pieces of silver”.

The pursuit of regional and continental integration is a noble pursuit necessary for the development of Africa and reversing the losses of colonialism and unbridled kleptomania. Liberalisation of trade among African economies, promotion of investments and good governance as well as the establishment of industries, among other things, should be the driving force behind these pursuits. Gadaffi and his wet dream of a single African government can “sommer” wait.