International relations & cooperation minister Naledi Pandor was interviewed by Cathy Mohlahlane on SAFM on January 21 about the African Union. The minister was not candid in her responses to the radio presenter. She insisted that the AU was doing its best for the continent.
In my view, the AU is useless. It protects corrupt politicians and supports despots like Yoweri Museveni and many others. The AU is a paper tiger. It does not have teeth to bite.
While he was fighting the Milton Obote government, even Museveni himself once said the Organisation of African Unity (the forerunner of the AU) was a toothless tiger. He was absolutely right. He expected the organisation to assist him to overthrow the government of Obote but it failed to do so. Museveni is very much aware that the AU is a gentlemen’s club to protect each other from their political opponents.
The AU is quick to condemn Western countries for sanctions against Zimbabwe but it fails to rein in Emerson Mnangagwa and his cohorts from jailing journalists and destroying the economy of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe used to be the “Bread Basket of Africa” but Mugabe and his cohorts destroyed it and blamed imperialists. The AU and SADC countries always come to the defence of despots and hide behind the principle of not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.
The AU and SADC are both useless because right now there are problems in northern Mozambique, where it is alleged that there are insurgents terrorising people of that country. It is also reported that 2,000 people have been evacuated in Cabo Delagado from their work places because of the insurgents. South Africa is also quiet about this. If SA, the Sadc and AU do not act now, the insurgents will destabilise the region and it will be very difficult to restore the situation - and they will blame imperialists.
Who funds these dissidents? Are they funded internally or externally? The AU should identify the funders of these dissidents. It is high time that African leaders stop blaming colonialists and take responsibility for the mess they have created for their people.
Yes, colonialists have created problems for the continent but some despots continue where the colonialists left off. It is not surprising when minister Pandor defends the AU because it defends despots.
• Lyborn Rikhotso is a Sowetan reader and regular contributor to our opinion pages
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