Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga met with President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Harare yesterday to seek Zimbabwe’s endorsement of his candidacy for the position of African Union (AU) Commission chairperson.
Mr. Odinga, one of three candidates vying to succeed the incumbent Moussa Faki, also aims to secure the support of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Speaking after the meeting at State House, Mr. Odinga expressed optimism about Zimbabwe’s backing.
“I have come to announce my candidature and to ask for support from Zimbabwe and SADC by extension. I am happy to have been received very well by the President,” he said.
President Mnangagwa, who is the current SADC Chairperson, welcomed the visit as an opportunity to foster regional collaboration in shaping the AU’s leadership. Mr. Odinga also took to his X account, stating, “We landed in Harare, Zimbabwe today to a warm reception courtesy of H.E President Emmerson Mnangagwa. It’s been a pleasure sharing with the President my vision for Africa and discussing my candidature for the AUC Chairmanship.”
The AU Assembly recently allocated the chairmanship to the Eastern Africa region, ensuring equitable representation and reflecting ongoing institutional reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and meritocracy. Past chairpersons have come from western, central, and southern Africa, while the deputy chairperson post will now go to North Africa.
Mr. Odinga emphasized Africa’s shared challenges and the need for collective solutions. “We have shared experiences with other nations, we know where we are coming from and where we want to go. But Africa will only be developed by Africans themselves. We must have a clear roadmap and blueprint on how to develop Africa,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of integrating Africa’s 55 states to maximize the continent’s vast resources and leverage its youthful population for transformative growth. The new AU Commission chairperson will be elected via a secret ballot at the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 25.
Mr. Odinga’s visit to Harare marks a strategic step in rallying regional support, with further visits planned across Southern Africa to bolster his campaign.
