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Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Ambassador Frederick Shava has bemoaned the effects of climate change saying they are responsible for the economic challenges facing many African countries.

Ambassador Shava said this in his remarks at the ongoing 45th Ordinary Congress of the AU executive council being held in Accra, Ghana.

“My delegation notes that the continued economic difficulties faced by member states are a result of several factors, particularly the effects of climate change, which have resulted in food insecurity across the continent.

“Zimbabwe is no exception and has declared a state of disaster due to the El Nino weather occurrences that have caused frequent droughts in southern Africa. However, we should take cognisance of the fact that AU’s programmes continue to expand but the purse is not expanding accordingly,” he said.

The key objective of the meeting is to consider and approve the AU Budget for 2025.

This budget is critical in carrying out the AU’s mandate, including implementing Agenda 2063 and its major programmes, as well as the ‘Silencing of the Guns’ campaign.

The Executive Council will also deliberate on the AU’s participation at the forthcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit, which will be held in Brazil in November 2024.

It will also examine AU’s priorities inside the G20 framework.