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President Jacob Zuma of South Africa has cleared the controversies surrounding the deadlock that followed the last African Union elections, with a tie between former wife who is also the country's Home Affairs Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and current and outgoing chairperson, Jean Ping of Gabon.
In a press statement which was made available to Journalists in Cape Town Friday, after his live broadcast, the South African President promised that his administration would abide by the outcome of the forthcoming Summit of the African Union in Malawi where a decision would be taken by African leaders on who becomes the next leader.
His words: "On the issue relating to the candidacy of the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to the African Union Commission as chairperson, we reiterate that we are driven by the principle of strengthening the AU and improving its functioning and operations.
"We also believe in the principle of giving all regions of the African Union {AU} the opportunity to serve the organisation".
Saying that South Africa had no intention of dominating the continent or to bully any country or structure, the President noted that his country would serve, if elected, as a humble, loyal and disciplined member of the African Union.
"We stand ready to respect whatever outcome emerges from the African Union summit in Malawi. We all have a responsibility to promote the unity of the African Union so that it can continue its task of serving the peoples of Africa, leading them out of poverty and the legacy of centuries of colonialism and underdevelopment" he also said.
Meanwhile, President Zuma, while speaking on his achievements, said that he was proud of the fact that his administration had done well in just a few years.
"Our government's progressive pro-poor policies continue to assist in achieving significant reductions in the levels of severe poverty and in the improvement of the quality of life of millions of fellow South Africans.
"Too many households and communities remain trapped in poverty, unemployment and inequality and are unable to access the opportunities created by an improving political and economic climate" he said.
