Launch of the AU commemorative stamp, ICC Durban, 1 July 2002: Address by Deputy President Jacob Zuma

Honourable Cabinet Ministers from South Africa and our sister countries in
the continent,
The Secretary General of the OAU,
Chairperson of the Board of the SA Post Office,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen of the media,

Let me begin by welcoming all our delegates from all over the continent.
We are truly honoured to have you in our country.

Distinguished guests, on 23 April 2001, South Africa signed the
Constitutive Act of the African Union. This was a historic and significant moment because South Africa could not be a founding member of the Organisation of African Unity at its inception, as it belonged to the group of countries that had still not attained liberation. Our participation was only
limited to the contribution of the African National Congress as a liberation
movement.

To us, this Summit is a fulfilment of the words of the late President Jomo
Kenyatta who said many decades ago, that Africa would not be free until
the OAU holds a Summit in Durban. It is therefore a reminder that President Kenyatta's dream of an Africa that is free from colonialism has been realised.

It is a great privilege for us to not only host this inaugural summit of
the AU, but to also host the last Summit of the OAU, a double honour and a unique moment indeed. We are also humbled by the task of becoming the first chair of the AU and to contribute to the establishment of its new organs.

The launch of the AU is significant in many respects. It signifies a
departure from the old, indicates the beginning of a new era for Africa,
and is also a significant step towards realizing Africa's renaissance. In
addition, it firmly lays the foundation for the building of an Africa that
is united in a common programme for Africa's social, economic and
political development.

The inauguration of the Union also provides an anchor for the successful
implementation of our sustainable development blueprint, the New
Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), a programme of the OAU and AU.

Africa's unity and common vision are the key to the eradication of
poverty, arresting underdevelopment and bringing about peace and stability, and we need to achieve these goals working together as Africans. The success of each country is linked to the success of others. It is important for us to always remember that unity is the rock upon which the OAU was founded, and it will also cement the AU.

We also believe it is necessary to emphasise that the launch of the AU is
not simply a name-change from OAU to AU. The two institutions have one
common mandate, unity of the continent, but the era in which they operate,
and the challenges they face, are obviously different.

The OAU has succeeded in fulfilling its mandate to liberate Africa from
colonial rule, and it has laid the foundation for all countries to participate in the international arena as free nations. The AU needs to consolidate these gains of the OAU by ensuring that the continent is better prepared to deal with the challenges of the 21st Century, and to achieve the ultimate goal of African Unity and sustainable development.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that we launch this special
commemorative stamp and envelope today, marking this significant occasion in the history of our country and Africa.

It is our humble, yet very symbolic way of capturing this event for posterity.

The stamp correctly embodies the importance of unity, co-operation and
trust, as well as togetherness, friendship and happiness. May these, together with prosperity and a better life, result from the birth of the African Union.

We would like to once again, state our unequivocal commitment to working
tirelessly to ensuring the success of the AU.


I thank you.