Ownership of African Institutions Is Central

Interview with Janah Ncube, Agency for Co-operation and Research in Development (ACORD).

Janah Ncube is currently the Senior Policy Advisor on Poverty and Development at the SADC Secretariat in Botswana. At the time of this interview she was the Gender Thematic Manager at ACORD in Nairobi, Kenya. In March, Emily Mghanga interviewed her on the proposal to form a Continental Government. While this interview took place before the Accra Grand Debate in July, many of the issues are still relevant. This interview is part of the Peoples’ Voices series of interviews with African citizens and CSO leaders on the AU proposal for Continental Government. Ivy Maina of Pan Africa Programme Oxfam edited this interview.

Emily Mghanga: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the current proposal for Continental Union?

Janah Ncube: The strength of the proposal is the whole concept of wanting to find ways for African peoples to work together in unison. It rests on our common aspirations that we as Africans have for our own development and our ability to emerge as a continent to be reckoned with within the international community. I have great problems with the name “United States of Africa”. I think the name resonates with the whole ideology of a United States of Africa and suggests a formation of a government parallel to the framework that is operating in America. To that extent the name has to be changed. I also think that the proposal does not tell me what a Union government is but rather it spells out a transitional arrangement that will be put in place to take us from where we are to the United States of Africa.

Emily Mghanga: Should it be adopted in Accra in July 2007, what would you like to see the African Union Commission achieve within the first phase (2007-2009)?

Janah Ncube: I have a serious inclination towards non-adoption of this particular concept because I believe there is need to explore the concept Union governance further. While articulating well the transition period, it does not articulate what a ‘United States of Africa’ is. Furthermore, African people are not being consulted. The proposal is not a public document to my knowledge and they are not being asked to participate in the process to establish a union government. There needs to be consultation, consultation and more consultation in terms of governmental, sovereignty and resource issues. If we addressed the current weaknesses of the current mechanisms that the AU has put in place then the AU can be more effective in its functions. There is a need to harmonise the RECs with the African Union.

Emily Mghanga: And why would this form of continental union be important to African citizens & particular the poor and marginalized?

Janah Ncube: Ordinary African people are yet to understand the tangible benefits of the African Union. Unfortunately it still quite abstract and far removed from us. Regional institutions and civil society must work with and for the poor and marginalized to advance their issues in every level of decision making that influences their lives. It is in our interest to work together because we are weak states in many ways. It is in our interest to engage the international community as a block. It is in our interest to use our resources internally to strengthen and develop each other to enable us engage with greater strength with external entities.

Emily Mghanga: How could states and non-states ensure that continental union efforts are transparent, participatory and driven by an appreciation of political and economic rights?

Janah Ncube: At state level, there needs to be more synchronization and coordination of African national ministries with the AU. Civil society on the other hand must engage the African citizens and articulate the issues in a manner that is relevant to them. As civil society we have the responsibility of making and protecting these institutions. We need to be more resourceful in how we provide technical capacity to strengthen AU institutions to deliver effectively. I also think, as civil society, persistently demanding an audience from AU institutions also produces results. It is such persistence that led to the formation of ECOSOCC. While we may have problems with the way ECOSOCC is operationalized, the point is that it is there. And we know that if we persist more then it will eventually become what we want it to be.

Emily Mghanga: What obstacles must the AU overcome for the continental union to be successful?

Janah Ncube: One major obstacle is that it is still not very clear how any one African country is connected to the African Union. Foreign Affairs ministries per government may have an idea of the linkage but that idea is mostly linked to their participation in meetings period. And even when national governments decisions are being made the broader African agenda is not taken into consideration. Such dynamics shall not seize to exist simply because AU will change its name to United States of Africa.
The document keeps calling on us to focus on our commonalities but for us to have a union government which must also address our differences. Pretending that those differences are not there does not help us engage with this process meaningfully and could be a stumbling block to uniting Africans peoples.

Essentially, the greatest challenge in this continent is political will for anything and everything. We see a lot of political rhetoric and political correctness on important issues for this continent. The issue of political will is attached to national institutions and the personalities that we allow to run these institutions.

Emily Mghanga: In what policy area, would you like to see greater convergence and unity across Africa and why?

Janah Ncube: In the area of social justice; conflict resolution and human security; livelihoods; HIV/AIDS prevention and care and women rights and gender issues. These are issues that are affecting most of Africa in varying degrees and in different forms. Acting together on them will mean more resources, shared information, strategies and skills and will increase the probability of success than if we work on them separately.

The views expressed here are the perspectives of the interviewee. Janah Ncube can be reached by email at janah.ncube at gmail.com.

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