Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has returned home from the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, renewing calls for African unity and home-grown solutions to the continent’s challenges.
The President arrived at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, where he was received by Vice Presidents General (Rtd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Colonel (Rtd) Dr Kembo Mohadi, alongside senior Government officials.
A key moment of the summit was the handover of the AU chairmanship from Angolan President João Lourenço to Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye, marking a transition in the continental body’s leadership.
While in Addis Ababa, President Mnangagwa urged African nations to speak with one voice and intensify efforts to silence the guns in pursuit of a secure and dignified future for the continent’s people.
Speaking on the outcomes of the high-level meeting, he expressed satisfaction with the deliberations and Zimbabwe’s participation.
“We accomplished what we had intended to accomplish. I had the opportunity of meeting several heads of state, exchanging on bilateral relations and I am happy that Zimbabwe is regarded very well by the members of the African Union,” he said.
Water security and agriculture featured prominently during the summit, with President Mnangagwa underscoring the importance of irrigation in safeguarding Africa’s food systems.
“Africa’s main lifeline is agriculture, and modern agriculture can best be enhanced through irrigation. Irrigation depends on the damming of water and Zimbabwe has done well in that regard, but it remains a challenge for many African countries,” he said.
He noted that unpredictable weather patterns continue to disrupt agricultural production across the continent, making sustained investment in irrigation infrastructure critical to long-term food security.
Reflecting on the significance of the annual assembly, President Mnangagwa said it offers African leaders a platform to confront contemporary challenges affecting the continent and its people.
He reiterated that Africa is the home of all Africans and stressed that lasting solutions to the continent’s challenges must be crafted and driven by Africans themselves.
