Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe says Africans should use the celebration of Africa Day to unite in their hearts and minds and renew their commitment and dedication to the principles of the founding fathers.
Delivering a lecture at the University of Ankara on Africa, in celebration of Africa Day organised in Turkey, Motlanthe said whatever difficulties the African continent encounters, its people should not lose sight of the main objective of unity and integration.
"At all times we should consistently and faithfully pursue the prescriptions of the Abuja Treaty, NEPAD and the objectives of Constitutive Act of the AU, develop our economies and ensure that integration and development proceed side by side."
He also called on the continent to use the opportunity to reflect on the proud achievements for the African continent and its infinite possibilities.
He said the day must be seen as a history in motion and a metaphorical moment that unites all Africans from all corners of the continent.
"It says in spite of the divisions imposed on all Africans over the years of colonialism, we share an indivisible future occasioned by our common past of subjugation, domination and dehumanisation."
Africa Day is an annual commemoration of the establishment the predecessor of the African Union, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) that was formed on 25 May 1963, to spearhead the decolonisation of the continent.
The OAU successfully brought about political independence and passed the baton to the AU to complete the lap of economic independence.
Motlanthe further challenged African governments to work towards demystifying the negative perception about Africa.
The African continent is still seen as a dark continent flaked by poverty, diseases, corruption and conflicts.
Motlanthe said these should be looked at in a holistic way with an emphasis on preventing conflicts before they start.
"Although peace is being realised and we are on the right path towards creating a better Africa, the need to put emphasis on conflict prevention mechanisms is acute."
The deputy president also stressed the need for African countries to pool their resources and small markets together to establish a strong integrated market.
He reiterated the need for African governments to embark on a massive infrastructure development to help in the growth and development of the continent.
With strong infrastructure it means Africa can produce food sufficiently, deliver it on the market and be able to out-compete other producers, he said.
When the OAU was founded in 1963, the original goal of some of its founding fathers, like the late Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, was to have something like United States of Africa.
Although the OAU was changed to the current African Union in 2002, Motlanthe said Africa is closer more than ever to achieving the original goals of the OAU.
