Mugabe donates $1m cattle money to AU

African Union Commission chairman Mousa Faki Mahamat holds the $1 million dummy cheque donated by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe at the opening of the Heads of State summit in Addis Ababa on July 3, 2017. ANDUALEM SISAY | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

By ANDUALEM SISAY in Addis Ababa

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe Monday donated $1 million to the African Union Commission through the sale of his and his friends’ cattle.

“You see, as an African and a farmer, the donation of cattle came to me naturally, given that our continent is rich in cattle,” he said as he handed over the $1 million cheque at the opening of the African Union Heads of Summit in Addis Ababa.

President Mugabe noted that he made the promise in Johannesburg, South Africa in June 2015 to donate 300 head of cattle to the newly-established African Union Foundation.

Innovative idea

“…When I returned to Zimbabwe, I informed my party and people, they said to me: ‘Uh…Comrade Mugabe, Comrade President, this is a very innovative idea; it is a very noble cause and we would like to be part of it.’

"They therefore joined hands and mobilised more cattle over and above my personal pledge,” he said.

“I am aware that this humble gesture on our part has no universal application. But it demonstrates what is possible when we apply our minds to the most urgent tasks before us to find alternative and innovative ways of funding our union and in particular, Agenda 2063,” President Mugabe said.

Our dignity

During the Johannesburg meeting, the African heads of state promised to find innovative financing mechanisms for the African Union and Agenda 2063. They include 100 per cent financing of the AU Commissions’ operational budget; 75 per cent programme budget and 25 per cent of the peacekeeping budget.

“It is the beginning of restoration of our dignity and integrity as a continent. Unless we can do that, we will remain dependent on others.

"It is never going to be easy to win ourselves from the donor-dependency syndrome. But we need to forge ahead for our sake and that of our future generations. This modest contribution I am making today is a symbolic step in that direction,” President Mugabe said.

The theme of this year’s summit is: “Harnessing demographic dividend through investment in the youth”.