Munyaradzi Huni
30 June 2011
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea — President Mugabe arrived here yesterday to attend the 17th session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union today, where the crisis in Libya is expected to dominate proceedings.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces was received at Malabo International Airport by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Youth
Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Olivia Muchena and senior Equatorial Guinea government officials.
President Mugabe was seen off at Harare International Airport by Vice President Joice Mujuru, Cabinet ministers, senior Government officials and service chiefs. VP Mujuru is the Acting President.
The meeting will also discuss youth empowerment issues and is being held under the theme; “Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development.”
The leaders are geared towards providing a better environment and skills for African youths to excel and contribute meaningfully to peace and security, socio-economic growth and sustainable development of the continent.
Several Heads of State and Government of the AU who arrived here yesterday are expected to ratify the African Youth Charter and endorse the implementation of the medium term priorities in the plan of action for the African Youth Decade.
They are also expected to consider and discuss the report of the AU Peace and Security Council on its activities in Africa.
The PSC is a standing decision-making organ for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts Africa. It is also a collective and early warning arrangement to facilitate timely and efficient response to conflicts.
The World Federation of Democratic Youth has blasted the International Criminal Court for issuing a warrant of arrest against Libyan President, Muammar Gaddafi.
In a statement yesterday, WFDY President, Mr Tiago Vieira said the ICC had proved to be motivated by serving imperialist interests only.
“Once again, the ICC comes to prove itself as a ridiculous puppet of the imperialist order, whose only purpose is to legitimise the imperialist interventions.
“It is of high importance to remind, once again that this court does not judge American soldiers or crimes done by the US and since it exists, it has never taken even a word against the countless crimes of Nato or any other imperialist coalition or intervention,” Mr Vieira said.
He blasted the ICC for not speaking out against the killings perpetrated by “the imperialist criminals and their allies in Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Western Sahara, Bahrain, Yemen, Tunisia and Egypt.”
He accused the ICC for siding with the occupiers, the bombers and the dictators.
“Its role is to contribute to the pillage and murder that imperialism spreads around the world with its constant wars and conflicts. The motivation of imperialism to bombard and invade Libya was never and is not Gaddafi or any hypocrite defence of the human rights.
“Imperialism has armed rebel forces, bombed and invaded Libya and killed innocent Libyan people to go after the Libyan immense reserves of oil and to be able to install in that area another huge military compound that will create better conditions for any new interventions,” Mr Vieira said.
He also called upon all WFDY member organisations to denounce propaganda that is being peddled about the Libyan issues. The ICC on Monday approved arrest warrants for President Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sense.
ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo told reporters in The Hague on Tuesday that: “Today, it is time for arrests”.
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President Arrives in Equatorial Guinea