New AU Commission Chair Says Ready To Set New Agenda For Africa

Ms Nkosuzana Dlamini-Zuma, the newly elected Chairperson of the AU Commission on Monday said that she would set-up a new agenda that would drive the developmental programme of the continent.

Dlamini-Zuma who, was elected on Sunday at the 19th AU Summit of the African Heads of State and Government, in Addis Ababa said that part of the agenda would be to ensure the unity of Africans politically and economically.

“We will ensure that we move together as a continent. My election is a victory for Africa. We will discharge our responsibilities effectively by working together with all Member States. We will use the talents we have to better the lives of our people,’’ she said.

Dlamini-Zuma said she would ensure that Africa takes her rightful place in the global arena and would work with UN and other international bodies that would contribute to the AU’s agenda of development.

She promised to carry along Mr Erastur Mwencha, the Deputy Chairperson and all the Commissioners of the Commission.

Dlamini-Zuma, who thanked the African Heads of State and Government for electing her, also thanked her predecessor, Dr Jean Ping “for his wonderful contributions to the AU,'' and promised to build from where he had stopped.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chairperson and all the newly elected Commissioners would assume duty in October 2012.

?Dlamini-Zuma and her Deputy, Mwencha were both? sworn-in on Sunday after the election while the newly elected Commissioners were sworn-in on Monday during the closing session of the Summit.

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