Foreign Affairs Minister, Pelonomi Venson-Motoi has intensified her bid for African Union (AU) chairpersonship as she enters the final phase of her campaign.

Following the postponement of the election to 19th January 2017 in July last year, Venson-Moitoi will face four other candidates in a contest that will put to an end to a lengthy spell of campaigns. Observers express that the fact that there are four other candidates puts Venson-Moitoi in a pole position to ascend to the throne. Venson-Moitoi will face Dr Amina Mohammed (Kenya), Moussa Mahmat (Chad), Agapito Mokuy (Equatorial Guinea), and Dr Abdoulaya Bathily (Senegal).

Venson-Moitoi currently enjoys the backing of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) having got the at last year’s July summit in Kigali, Rwanda, and latter in Swaziland for a second bid.  In July last year Venson-Moitoi faced only two contenders for the position in; Dr Specioza Wandira Kazibwe of Uganda and Agapito Mba Mokuy of Equatorial Guinea. Other candidates had dropped off the race during the course of voting.  Venson-Moitoi emerged with more votes in July Last year but could not garner the two third majority required by the regulations to ascend to the post. Dr Venson-Moitoi garnered 23 votes far cry from the required minimum of 36 votes.

About 28 countries had abstained from the second round of voting, citing wanting qualifications among the two candidates. Since then, Moitoi, who refused to suspend her campaign after falling to win enough support in July has been sourcing for support across the continent and has expressed optimism that she will get the required support at the next summit.

Venson-Moitoi has premised her campaign around the good standing that Botswana enjoys from the international community. Botswana, often referred to as the miracle of Africa is has managed to stay conflict free, stable and peaceful in continent raved by unending civil wars and corruption.

“I strive to share the peace and stability that Botswana is known for and champion this across our beautiful continent,” she said. As Africa’s longest standing democracy, Botswana have managed to hold general elections every five years without fail and have seen three presidents since independence leaving office voluntarily. Botswana also have a good record in human rights and its home to thousands refugees who flee their home countries as result of war and other human right violations acts. Botswana is currently ranked the least corrupt country in Africa by Transparency International, the prestige it has enjoyed in the last few decades.  

Venson-Moitoi who has also led ministries such; Ministry of Education and Skills Development, and Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism has spent the better part of her career in the public service as top civil servant. From the early 1980s to the late 1990s, Moitoi was part of civil service which transformed Botswana’s economy. Between that ear, owing to discovery of diamonds at Jwaneng and prudent public service, Botswana’s economic growth averaged 13 percent.

Venson-Moitoi, if she triumphs will have to preside over a continent which is still not conflict free, ravaged by poverty and disease. The former minister of Education and Skills Development has emphasised that dialogue should be at the centre of problem solving in African and has pledged to promote it during her tenure.

“Dialogue is African. It is one thing that binds us together. We talk and we act, this is how we show progress,” she said. “I believe in the power of dialogue, of getting involved, and of working with others to drive progress.” Botswana’s former head of states; Sir Ketumile Masire and Festus Mogae have been engaged on African missions before to broker peace and end conflicts in various nations. Masire was instrumental in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) peace negotiations in the early 2000s while Mogae was recently engaged to try to bring to an end a conflict in South Sudan.

Mogae has been spearheading Venson-Moitoi’s bid. Mogae who is also the winner of the Mo Ibrahim $5 million award, last year grabbed the opportunity at United Nations in New York introduced Venson-Moitoi to many African countries where he is highly respected. Dr. Venson-Moitoi, on her part, gave an impassioned speech about her own qualifications, why she is quite suited for the post of Chairperson of the AUC.

Venson-Moitoi is vision is to an “integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena” is one that is very much within reach in championing a sustainable future for Africa. She says this is because the AU Assembly adoption of Agenda 2063 was grounded upon this vision.

“Now is the time for the implementation of Agenda 2063 as clearly articulated in the first ten-year implementation plan. Implementation of this will result in quick wins and galvanise the desired transformation programme,” she stated. Venson-Moitoi also envisages AU as an efficient and effective organisation and notes the need to bring institutional culture of a high performance organisation for the purpose of the successful implementation of Agenda 2063.

“We need to develop and implement communications strategy that is aimed and popularising Agenda 2063 and ensuring the kind of buy-in that drives its success. This is another critical activity coinciding with the next tenure of Office of Chairperson. I will therefore ensure the development of the effective communications strategy to gamer further understand and support for Agenda 2063, thus instilling the culture of ownership among the citizen of Africa,” she said.

With Africa experiencing changes in population dynamics, Moitoi says the contennet is now dominated by young men and women who have not been given the opportunity to utilise their creative to propel the country forward. Venson-Moitoi says she has the plan do deal with this matter and ensure that Africa reaches its potential and become in influential player in global affairs.

MOITOI’S VISION FOR AFRICA

Ambitious Africa
Guided by our shared principles peace, justice and equality, we as citizens of Africa we must keep on working for greater democratic governance in international decision making. This includes working to ensure that global institutions and bodies including the United Nations, Security Council accurately reflect the realities and dynamics of today’s world. To this end, the need for reform of Security Council cannot be overemphasised.

The time is now and we are on the right path. We cannot look back after more than seventy years of existence of the global body, to place this reform agenda on the priority list. We have continued as African leaders, to agitate for extending the number of permanent members to Security Council, thus making it more representative and better equipped to address the challenges and opportunities that the world faces, particularly in the area of international peace and security.

From MGDs to SGDs
According to annual reports on the implementation of annual MGDs, African countries were recording steady improvements on most targets. The focus now is Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs). To achieve this, I believe policy makers must pursue inclusive goals strategies that promote broader participation of the active labour force. At the same time, we must ensure that returns from growth are invested in programmes that enhance productivity capacities of broad segments of society particularly women, young people and the vulnerable.   Furthermore, African governments  need to keep expanding agricultural policies through better policies and heavy investment in improved seeding, integrated farming, used of fertilizers and increased access to finance.

Realising Agenda 2063
Much has already been achieved by au through the development of the Agenda 2063, and the ground work has begun. I believe as the chairperson of the AUC I will be well placed to drive our continent to “The Africa we want!” that is ensuring that Agenda 2063 and its 10 year implementation plan delivers on its ultimate objective; to change the lives of all African people for the better.  My focus will be putting in place the systems and procedures that will help us deliver of those aspirations. I believe my visions and experience, coupled with the internal expertise at the AUC, will help me deliver of this task.

Transformation Agenda
I consider myself a transformist, rather than a conformist. Thus I fully support the transformation agenda of the AUC and am pleased to have this opportunity at a time when the development trajectory of the continent is strong. The AUC’s agenda 2063 enhances the momentum of this and makes clear the desired objective through the key strategic levels. Implementation of flagship projects will constitute the real vehicle for transforming Africa and achieving its integration, development and prosperity goals. I am confident that this dream that we have and share at the AUC is where within reach.

The Africa we want
One of the greatest wishes of all AU members is to “silence the guns” on our continent. To see all school going age children attend class and get an education. To see the rights of women and men; girls and boys on the continents given their rightful place in the laws of the country they live in. To see democracy flourish. This is the Africa we want. It is my dream to be a part of that process.

Driving the democratic development across Africa
As chairperson, the AUC, i will commit to promoting practices that seek to enhance Africa’s quest for democratic development. I will galvanised the support of all members states of the AUC to ensure that, together, we champion democratic governance by promoting the strengthening  of democratic institutions, safe guarding human rights and guaranteeing the rule of law.

A United and Prosperous Africa
We live in world with daunting challenges that respect no borders. No country, big or small, rich or poor, can solve these challenges on their own. They require a concerted effort from all of Africa citizens. This is an era of collective action and we, as the people of Africa, need to work together to make a different to ensure an integrated, peaceful, developed, and prosperous Africa. We have the resources, expertise, passion and evolving mindset in political, social and economic spheres to work together to make this vision of a united Africa a reality.