Nkosozana Zuma's election as AU Commission chair entails more SADC commitment

Angola, Addis Ababa  – The Angolan Foreign minister, George Chikoti, said the election of South African Nkosozana Zuma to the post of chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission increases the responsibility of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) if her term is to be successful. The election of the South African Interior minister, Kkososana Zumba, took place during the 19th Summit of African Heads of State and Government that started on Sunday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Nkosozana Zuma beat her opponent, outgoing Jean Ping, of Gabon, and is thus in charge of the body that responds for management and administration of the organisation. Meanwhile, during the 18th AU Summit of January this year, none of the two contesting candidates reached two-thirds of the vote required to win the seat. To the Angolan Foreign minister, there is a high level of satisfaction within SADC as there is a sentiment of the need for a change in the AU. According to Georges Chikoti, the post is a hard task and Nkososana Zuma will need the help of all SADC and Africa countries to respond to the leadership requirements. The minister stated that Zuma won the first round by 27/24 votes, the second (29/22), the third (33/18) and fourth by 37. He stated that the battle was a hard one, with Angola as the SADC chair having played a relevant role in the preparation and implementation of the electoral strategy, together with South Africa and other partners.