RWANDESE AND ZIMBABWEAN AMBASSADORS BID FAREWELL TO THE AFRICAN UNION

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 27 August 2014- Two outgoing African ambassadors today bade farewell to the African Union after serving their terms as Permanent Representatives to the Union.

Prof. Joseph Nsengimana, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda and Dr. Andrew Hama Mtetwa, Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe paid their farewell courtesy calls on the Chairperson of the AU Commission Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma at the Union’s headquarters in Addis Ababa today. Prof Nsengimana expressed his and his government’s appreciation of the election of Dr Dlamini Zuma as the first woman Chairperson of the AU Commission and commended her for the support she has extended to him during his tenure as ambassador.

Dr Dlamini Zuma thanked Prof Nsengimana for his active participation and contributions at meetings of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) and remarked on the cooperation that has been extended to the AU by the Rwandese government, especially the full support pledged by President Paul Kagame.

In her meeting with Dr Andrew Mtetwa of Zimbabwe, Dr Dlamini Zuma expressed her appreciation for his active role within the structures of the AU. She wished Zimbabwe success as it leads the regional economic community SADC (Southern African Development Community). Zimbabwe assumed leadership of SADC at the regional bloc’s ordinary summit held in Victoria Falls earlier this month.

Ambassador Mtetwa, who announced that he has now retired from his country’s foreign service, commended the Chairperson for the work she has embarked on since her appointment. He also announced that he is likely to continue sharing his expertise in African development through teaching.

Both the ambassadors were presented with tokens of appreciation for the time they have spent in Addis Ababa, serving the interests of the continent. The Chairperson wished the ambassadors success in their future endeavours, with the outgoing Rwandese ambassador declaring “I am African”, the slogan by which the AU seeks to promote African ownership of, and sense of belonging to the continental organisation.

For further information contact:
Mrs Wynne Musabayana| Deputy Head of Communication and Information Division | Directorate of Information and Communication AUC| E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org

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