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REUTERS<\/p>\n
South African diplomat and doctor, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, newly elected chairwoman of the Africa Union Commission<\/p>\n
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Did sheer luck \u2013 and a determined effort to avoid more embarrassment \u2013 play a decisive role in the election of Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma as the chairwoman of the Africa Union Commission? <\/p>\n
The mysterious absence of two key leaders and the suspension of two key states from the AU may have tipped the delicate balance in her favour on Sunday. <\/p>\n
The SA government itself and most observers have credited the victory to unprecedented diplomatic lobbying led by International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. <\/p>\n
SA and Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers criss-crossed the continent drumming up support. <\/p>\n
This played an important role in breaking the deadlock in the election contest with the incumbent, Gabon\u2019s Jean Ping, in January. <\/p>\n
But Jakkie Cilliers, head of the Institute for Security Studies, believes there was also a large element of luck. <\/p>\n
He noted that Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, both of whom were strong allies of Ping, were not at the AU summit in Addis Ababa where the vote took place. <\/p>\n
Meles was believed to be gravely ill in a European hospital and Jonathan had to stay at home to deal with domestic crises. <\/p>\n
Cilliers also noted that Mali, Equatorial Guinea and Madagascar had been suspended from the AU because of coups. <\/p>\n
He believed Mali and Equatorial Guinea would have voted for Ping, and their absence might have given Dlamini Zuma the narrow edge she had over Ping in the first round of voting \u2013 27 to 24. This was not the two thirds she needed to secure the post. <\/p>\n
But after that Cilliers believes the determination of leaders prompted them to throw their weight behind the candidate who was in the lead to resolve the embarrassing impasse after January’s inconclusive election. <\/p>\n
Dlamini Zuma increased her lead to 29-22 and then 33 to 18 and then 37 in the last round after Ping had to withdraw. <\/p>\n
Yesterday political parties across the spectrum hailed her election. <\/p>\n
President Jacob Zuma, her former husband, said he had been humbled by the confidence that Africa had shown in the \u201csouthern African\u201d candidate. <\/p>\n
Zuma said her appointment would build on the work done by her predecessors, including Ping, and would ensure a \u201cmore efficient and effective\u201d commission, particularly in the implementation of \u201cdecisions pertaining to unity, peace, stability, development and the upliftment of women and children\u201d. <\/p>\n
Messages of support for one of the country\u2019s longest-serving and effective cabinet ministers began pouring in. <\/p>\n
DA MP Ian Davidson, the party\u2019s spokesman on international relations, said the \u201ctime was ripe\u201d for a representative of the SADC to hold the office. <\/p>\n
The past three chairmen have been from Francophone African countries Ivory Coast, Mali and Gabon. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe she has the appropriate skills and competence to transform the AU into an efficient and effective body as well as the diplomatic acumen to address the many crucial issues facing the African continent,\u201d Davidson said. <\/p>\n
Dlamini Zuma has been credited with a dramatic improvement in the running of the Home Affairs Department, which achieved its first unqualified audit in 16 years last year. <\/p>\n
African Christian Democratic Party president Kenneth Meshoe congratulated Dlamini Zuma as the \u201cfirst woman and also the first person from SADC\u201d to take up the post. <\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she is a woman and a mother we believe that she will lead the focus and put an end to the current abuse of women and children by militants in the DRC and surrounding areas,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
The ANC said it was \u201cthrilled\u201d. \u201cHer victory has punctuated the need to reposition and refocus the AU to ensure that it responds to global challenges confronting the continent and to work towards greater unity of the continent,\u201d said spokesman Jackson Mthembu. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe ANC believes that comrade Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has the potential and the capacity to take the AU to new heights owing to her accumulated experience in the liberation movement.\u201d <\/p>\n
She had served with distinction in every position she had held \u201cowing to determination and visionary drive\u201d. <\/p>\n
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) also congratulated Dlamini Zuma, saying she was a \u201cstrong leader and good administrator\u201d who would add value to the commission. <\/p>\n
However, UDM president Bantu Holomisa said it would be a pity to lose a person of Dlamini Zuma\u2019s calibre in the cabinet \u201cat a time when South Africa faces a leadership crisis in many government portfolios\u201d. <\/p>\n
Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said SA would \u201cmake the necessary adjustment\u201d to allow Dlamini Zuma to take up her new role as soon as possible. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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