Kaunda Urges African Leaders To Push For Regional Unity Kaunda Urges African Leaders To Push For Regional Unity September 23, 1999 ACCRA, Ghana (PANA) Former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda has urged African leaders to push for regional unity, saying while everybody seemed to agree on the need for African unity, very little progress has been made towards a union. He admitted that progress has been made in the area of co-operation but doubted whether the various sub-regional groupings represent satisfactory progress towards a political union of Africa. Kaunda was speaking at an international symposium on "Kwame Nkrumah, Africa and the 21st Century," as part of activities to mark the 90th birthday celebration of Ghana's first president. He said the vision of a united Africa propounded by Nkrumah is "as fresh as it has ever been." He called on the leadership of African countries not to abandon efforts at uniting Africa, saying "very little progress is better than no progress at all." Kaunda said organisations such as the Economic Community of West African States, South African Development Community and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa could provide a framework for collective defence and for peace-keeping. He, however, said he was not happy about the spate of civil and ethnic wars in Africa, adding that "Africa is a continent at war with itself." The civil wars in Angola, Somalia, Sudan testify to a failure of governance in Africa, he noted, pointing out that "the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea is a perfect case that the further division of the continent does not mean the reduction of conflict." He described Nkrumah as a visionary, liberator, pan-Africanist, man of ideas and ideals and action forever determined to see a free and united Africa. Kaunda said the rejuvenation of the Congo crisis after the overthrow and death of President Mobutu Sese Seko is a vindication of Nkrumah's assertion that the "Congo question was never resolved". He said Africa will have to act as one voice and the best way to do so is to unify the African market. Kaunda pointed out that with the present disintegrated markets in African countries, it would be difficult to exert any leverage in world affairs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 Panafrican News Agency. All Rights Reserved.