Freeman Razemba Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE has launched the African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC) national chapter whose main objectives is to support Government to implement African Union initiatives, policies and programmes.

It also seeks to popularise the AU and encourage citizens to contribute to their Governments’ position papers on African Union initiatives, policies and programmes.

Zimbabwe joins other African countries that have established National ECOSOCC Chapters and it became a member state during the recent 3rd Permanent General Assembly in Ethiopia.

The national chapter collaborates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

ECOSOCC is an advisory body of the AU, whose purpose is to give civil society organisations a platform to contribute to AU institutions and decision-making processes in various projects and programmes.

ECOSOCC is made up of civil society organisations (CSOs) from a wide range of sectors including labour, business and professional groups, service providers and policy think tanks, both from within Africa and the African Diaspora.

It also gives civil society organisations a platform to contribute to AU institutions and decision-making processes, in various projects and programmes.

In an interview yesterday, ECOSOCC Zimbabwe chapter chairperson Mr Tamuka Magwenzi said they were apolitical and would not tolerate anything that is politically motivated.

He said as the newly-elected general assembly members from Zimbabwe, they will take the initiatives of the AU and its key organs’ decisions and strategic objectives to the nation.

“The African Union ECOSOCC Zimbabwe Chapter will adhere to the directives of the general assembly of AU-ECOSOCC and serve in the best of interest to support the Zimbabwean Government in its 2030 middle class economy agenda, as well as the African Union’s 2063 Agenda by fully engaging the civic society to participate in the process and re-frame the society against regime change agenda and other divisive mechanisms by foreign continents to control the African potential, growth and development,” he said.

Mr Magwenzi said the national chapter will concentrate more on bringing CSOs to the Government for closer cooperation towards national development and re-frame “the old mentality of criticising” the Government, among other various issues.

He said they had since set up a task-force and have also begun making consultations with the Government and various stakeholders.

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