The 27th African Union (AU) Summit opened yesterday in Kigali , Rwanda with the launch of the first ever African e- Passport.
Minister of Foreign Harry Kalaba is representing President Edgar Lungu at the Summit which is scheduled to end today.
The launch of the e-passports was announced by Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma who also presented the first two passports to rotating AU chairperson Idriss Deby, President of Chad and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
This is according to a statement availed to ZANIS by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Relations Officer Dorcas Chileshe.
Ms Chileshe said the first group of beneficiaries of the e-passport will include AU heads of state and government, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Permanent representatives of AU member states based at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Ms Chileshe explained that AU members agreed to have a Pan-African passport in 2014 as part of the plan to facilitate the free movement of people within the continent.
She said the African leaders will discuss a wide range of issues especially on peace and security following the deadly violence that erupted in South Sudan between loyal forces to the two rival political camps.
Ms Chileshe disclosed that a new AU commission will also be elected to replace the one being led by Dlamini-Zuma since 2012.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kalaba said the AU Summit is significant as it saw the launch of the Pan African Passport which will enable Africans to move and trade freely on the continent.
He stated that Africa needs to take advantage of this initiative and ensure that they produce quality goods which will be marketable across the continent.
The theme of the two-day summit is “2016 African Year of Human Rights, with particular focus on the Rights of Women”.
Free movement in Africa will be a gift to
Al-shebab and Boko Haram from a security pespective. Countries like South Africa, Botswana and Gabon must be worried about an influx of economic migrants. We have seen the number of trucks with illegal immigrants in Zambia increase in recent months. Even in Europe where this concept was first concieved not all European countries are part of the EU.
The attacks on foreigners seen in south Africa, Zambia and other parts of Africa are likely to increase with the introduction of this ill concieved idea.
However trade between nations must be greatly encouraged and not the dumping of cheap goods on weak economies.
I don’t need such a passport. Useless. HH will not need leave Zambia, what about his cows. GBM maybe, ifyakuchitachita.
Only people who may want that passport are RB and friends who get rich overnight.
There need to be strong Africans that campaign against such its evil globalists who want to create a single undemocratic country they can rule everybody its pure evil and must be avoided at all costs
Well security is a concern, however I welcome this in terms of trade and investment, jobs. Its important that we as Africans have the ability to move freely instead of Visas plus the high cost of travel already. Maybe that will be something they will look at especially for aviation. Travelling by road is great, but countries such as SA, Ethiopia have train services so providing the infrastructure is there sky’s the limit. The continent can sustain itself, and we don’t need people dying trying to cross over to Europe in the name of a better life.
that’s the problem we also don’t need people crossing our countries African countries are already poor now foreigners will come to take your jobs this will create tension.
African leaders have run out of ideas how come asia and south America don’t have these stupid ideas like one asia, one America but they are developed we don’t need this nonsense its people who don’t see the big picture who support it.
Another money-making scheme to pay these pensioners pretending to unite the continent! Awe mwe! Please make sure you do not phase out our passport with immediate effect and make us pay those use.less fees all over again; I remember how I renewed my family’s passports back in 2009 only to be slapped with renewals within a few months! Sick and tired of Afrikan way of doing things.
TIME IS NOT YET RIPE FOR FREE MOVEMENT IN AFRICA FOR AFRICANS. THIS IS DUE TO HUGE ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES AMONG AFRICAN COUNTRIES. VERY FEW COUNTRIES CAN EVEN QUALIFY TO BE CALLED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. EVEN THEN THERE’S ALSO HUGE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES. EG, WE STILL HAVE DICTATORS IN AFRICA. AFRICAN LEADERS SHOULDN’T JUMP INTO FREE-MOVEMENT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION. AFRICAN GOVTs SHOULD FIRST WORK ON FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES TO FIRST IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE CONTINENT, REAL INDUSTRIALISATION, AND FARMING AND FOOD PROCESSING. RUSHING INTO FREE HUMAN MOVEMENT WILL JUST PROMOTE THE PHOBIA WHICH ALREADY HAPPENS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
tell them these fools I will complain for this to be voted down and even use money out of my own [pocket to educate voters so they they elect a government that does not support such stupidity and
What is E-Passport?
Indeed for security reasons, l also refuse to endorse this system. I also understand now why Lungu did not attend this summit, he is probably been better informed and advised to stay away cos whosoever muted this idea should have consulted wide; sit down between Governments to agree /disagree etc., and NOT just come up with these E-passports whatever this means.