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Cde Mutasa

Felex Share Herald Reporter
AFRICA should unite and be active in shaping the thinking of international institutions to avoid being abused by Western powers, Presidential Affairs Minister Cde Didymus Mutasa has said. Officially opening the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa bureau meeting in Africa in Harare yesterday, Minister Mutasa said the West’s “cavalier attitude” towards Africa should come to an end.
“Africa should strive to be a competitive player and voice in shaping the thinking of international institutions and the public discourse on international relations,” Minister Mutasa said.

“In this regard, Africa’s recent strong stance against the condescending attitude of the International Criminal Court is commendable.”
The Bureau meeting is meant to reflect on the deliberations and decisions made during the 10th CISSA conference hosted by Zimbabwe in May as well as discussing security issues affecting the continent.

The meeting, that ends today, is being held under the theme: “The Menace of Terrorism in Africa.”
Minister Mutasa thanked the directors general who attended the May conference for their ambassadorial role in telling the true pre-election story in Zimbabwe.

“However, we continue to note — with concern — the unrelenting attempts by the western world to cast aspersions on Zimbabwe’s electoral processes with a view to perpetuating the illegal regime change discourse,” he said.

“The West’s cavalier attitude towards Africa and their total disregard of our African voices and opinions is reflected in the dismissal of the AU and Sadc Observer teams’ positive verdict on the Zimbabwe elections.”

Minister Mutasa said the growing middle class in Africa would see the continent being a competitive asset in shaping international economics.
“With a resurgent economic growth rate, which has effectively made the continent the second fastest economic growth region in the world, after Asia, Africa should pronounce itself and transcend the Afro-pessimism discourse that has continued to haunt the continent,” he said.
“Africa enjoys the advantage of a growing middle class, which is expected to shape international economics, politics and security dynamics.”

“This growing middle class and not Non-Governmental Organisations should assist Africa’s efforts to strengthen democracy on the continent.”
Such democratic processes, Minister Mutasa said, were driven by domestic realities but were more sustainable than dispensations foisted on the continent by hired NGO voices.

He expressed concern with the alarming rise in security threats on the continent this year.
“These threats include the violent impact of negative armed groups, small arms proliferation, secessionist impulses, human and drug trafficking, smuggling of precious minerals, money laundering and poaching,” he said.

“These security threats have coalesced to shape and amplify the contours of the single most dangerous security challenge of our times that is international and trans-frontier terrorism.”

Minister Mutasa said of late cases of terrorism have been rife in Mali, Kenya, Nigeria Somalia and Algeria adding that it was disheartening to note that people of African descent resident in developed countries were perpetrating the gruesome act.

“They are alienated in their adopted countries and choose to use their former homelands as platforms to stage acts of revenge against the interests of their adopted countries,” he said.

“The targeting of western interests has become an issue of concern as it projects African States as having weak institutions to fight terrorism. It is therefore our duty to enhance Africa’s security architecture to ensure that terrorists do not find easy targets on the continents.”
He said Africa should guard against international terror groups like the United States’ Africa Military Command that take advantage of instability in some parts of the continent to perpetrate their activities.

“Indications are that these military deployments could precede the establishment of permanent foreign military bases on the continent.
“There is need for close intelligence co-operation at continental level as a route towards shutting out external players using Africa as a battleground.”

The Minister commended African intelligence officers for the role they played during the hosting of the United Nations World General Assembly by Zimbabwe.

“The successful hosting of that mammoth conference would not have been achieved without the contribution of the Security Services of Africa,” Minister Mutasa said.
“The creation of tranquil environments helps in encouraging viable and sustainable tourism industry.”