Speech by Mr. Tim Mugerwa the President of African Youth Union (AYU) to the delegates and guests during the 3rd Annual summit of AYU held on 17/10/2013 in Pretoria, South Africa. The Guest of Honor Brig Gen Yekelo H.E. The High Commissioner of Botswana H.E. The High Commissioner of Uganda The Director of Research Institute for Security Studies (ISS) The CEO of Youth for Human Rights Africa AYU National Coordinators Delegates Distinguished guests Ladies and Gentlemen I convey my sincere gratitude to everyone who is doing a great job in making Africa a self reliant continent. Your presence here is aboard hint to a brighter Africa. REACTIONS TO AFRICAN LEADERS’ SPEECHES DURING THE 68TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY UN Security Council needs reforms We are in total agreement with President Jacob Zuma that the UN Security Council needs reforms. We understand that the council is yet to celebrate 70 years of existence but to some of us it looks like that permanent member states will be celebrating 70 years of membership. Africa contributes a quarter to UN membership which makes it unfair and undemocratic not to have even a single permanent member on the council. As the youth of Africa, we have to add our voices to the voices of our leaders and ensure that in the future world affairs do not become global without the involvement of Africa. AU’s position on ICC I categorically make this clear that Africans are not against ICC as an institution as it has been portrayed by some western media houses. Africans are not content with the manner under which the ICC is ran, it looks like its major donors are compromising its independence to suit their own selfish interests. ICC is degenerating into typical western tools that are only good at throwing contempt to Africans and making false revelations that Africans are incapable of managing their own affairs. During the crisis in Libya, the UN Security Council and western powers did all they could to despise Africans and Africa’s institutions. During the time when President Jacob Zuma was chairing AU Security Council discussing peaceful intervention in the Libyan crisis, western powers were recognizing Libyan rebels and giving them all the support. We cannot therefore just watch whilst the court is deviating from its original purpose to that of its masters. ICC has to execute its duties according to the original statute that was signed in Rome. Having said that, Africans have to consider building strong judicial systems that are capable of making fair judgments to all Africans. It is therefore everyone’s responsibility to see that Africa’s justice system is strong and competent. Support for Kenya We are behind Kenya and AU’s position on deferring the cases against President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy Mr. William Ruto. African Youth Charter The African Youth Charter was adopted by the seventh ordinary session of the assembly held in Banjul Gambia on the 2nd of July 2006. It is now seven years since the charter was adopted but there is no single state that has ever implemented. Anyway who cares? Of course it is poor child of Africa. African youth have to be active and hold their governments accountable. If the charter was fully implemented, the state of African youth would be pleasant to everyone. Whilst adopting the charter, African states were convinced that Africa’s greatest resource is its youthful population and that through their active and full participation, Africans can surmount the difficulties that lie ahead. States also acknowledged the commitments already made towards the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and inviting the partners to reaffirm their support to advance the well-being of youth. They recognized the efforts made by States Parties and civil societies to address the economic, social, educational, cultural and spiritual needs of youth. States recognized that youth are partners, assets and a prerequisite for sustainable development and for the peace and prosperity of Africa with a unique contribution to make to the present and to future development. They considered the role that youth have played in the process of decolonisation, the struggle against apartheid and more recently in its efforts to encourage the development and to promote the democratic processes on the African Continent; But alas, all the considerations, recognition, acknowledgements among many nice sounding descriptions have failed to go beyond paper and ink. Allow me to ask the same question; who cares? Of course none other than the victims, you are the victims, therefore take action. AFRICAN YOUTH UNION AYU was a missing gap between young people and their governments. Its formation bridged that gap; put an end to ceremonial youth groups. Guided by the African Youth charter, it wants the system of representing youths to be replaced by youth involvement, participation and integration in all key government departments. It’s a fallacy that one person can represent millions of people. The system where UN and other institutions host events and one youth from every African country is picked to represent others has proven barren for decades which has to be phased out. Attending events is not what African youths want or need, they need empowerment and support for their initiatives. Africas major challenge and hindrance to development is over dependency on foreign and support for in all sectors. African regional bodies too are carrying their begging basket to Europe, Asia and America. Africa cant develop or be respected when its still begging almost everything. Efforts to reduce the dependency syndrome havent been given enough attention. Am aware that Africa cant suddenly do away with aid, for Africa to have a brighter future, young Africans have to take a grand and bold action. African Youth Bank African youth Union through one its strategic plans has joined the practical exodus of making Africa self reliant. In this regard, in the next five years, AYU shall establish the first ever indigenous bank on the African continent that shall be called African Youth Bank (AYB) The bank is set to begin in 2018 but its campaign will be launched next year. AYB is realistic and achievable in the set time frame. A quarter of its funding has already been secured. The bank will be a product of the already designed program called Entrepreneurship Fund Program (EFP). EFP is going to be officially launched next year in four model countries that will include: Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda and South Africa. The program will avail revolving loans with a small administrative fee to youthful entrepreneurs with innovative businesses projects. We are deploying a team of selfless young men and women across the continent to promote the program, teach and engage youths in creative youth developmental work and activities. It’s the EFP that shall give birth to AYB. AYB will be different from existing banks. Itll be accessible by all youths who are contributing to the economic development of Africa. Its a Pan-African bank not because itll be available in all African countries but because it belongs and supported by Africans. AYB will not end the Pan-Africanism rhetoric but to a great extent it’ll curb it down. The current problems affecting youth and all Africans are as a result of poverty and dependency. A poor person cant say no to corruption, cant access quality education, better health services, afford a balanced meal, in a nutshell cant afford good standards of living. The time has come to walk the talk and do away with endless talking. Actions have to replace words if were to build a respected continent. Economic freedom and self reliance will not fall from heaven; weve to work for them as our fore fathers worked for political freedom. The same way the generation of the 20th century united against colonialism, apartheid and slave trade it should be the same way the 21st century should do to fight poverty, foreign dependency and imperialism of all nature. Political freedom was acquired on the expenses of our predecessors’ blood, lives among other sacrifices. We ought to know that the exodus to economic freedom too needs extraordinary efforts for it to be achieved. We may not have to go through what our predecessors experienced but we should be prepared for anything. The only crime that Thomas Sankara committed to deserve murder was his indigenous policies for his people and his pro Africa policies A self reliant Africa is possible but it can only be possible when Africans stop to be selfish, mean and feeling indifferent about issues affecting the continent. Weve to feel ashamed of ourselves for being chronic beggars yet we too can support and sustain our projects if were willing and committed to doing it. Its very possible for this generation to make Africa economically independent. Its not too difficult as it looks, it only needs kind hearts, change of attitude, being positive and believing in our selves. A new and self reliant Africa is possible if we promote free trade where artificial frontiers are no longer a hindrance to trade and movement of people. Like I said earlier, we ought to reduce foreign dependency, support our own initiatives, protect and support local investors, reduce on imports and end importation of non essential goods. I appeal to everyone gathered here today to be an ambassador and agent of AYB. We’ll meet in Kampala Uganda next year for our 4th annual summit. God bless Africa Thank You.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 14:13:54 +0000
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