The management and staff of ETHICORE Political Consulting conveys it congratulations to Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and the Government of the Republic of South Africa, on the momentous and historic occasion of Dr. Dlamini-Zuma’s election as Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission in a tightly contested affair against the incumbent (Former Gabon minister, Jean Ping), who has chaired the AU Commission since its establishment. This follows months of intense lobbying by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and South African President Jacob Zuma.
On Sunday 15 July 2012, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (currently South African Minister of Home Affairs) was elected to the esteemed position of Chairperson AU Commission during the 19th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dr. Dlamini-Zuma was elected to the most senior position of the 51 member continental body, following four rounds of voting in which she ousted Mr. Ping by obtaining two-thirds (60%) of the vote. In the first round of voting she obtained 27 votes to Mr. Ping’s 24. 29 vs. 22 in the second round. 33 vs. 18 in the third round and 37 votes in the fourth and final round of voting.
We wish Dr. Dlamini-Zuma well in fulfilling her new found duties and responsibilities and wish to thank her for her service to the country as a Minister in successive cabinets of the South African Government since the advent of democracy in 1994. In particular we applaud and commend her appointment as the first representative from the South African Development Community (SADC) in 49 years to lead the continental body and the first female ever.
In particular, we will take a keen interest in the continued evolution of the AU and its programs for enhancing Africa’s governance and economic development, under Dr. Dlamini-Zuma’s leadership.
We look forward to the announcement of Dr. Dlamini-Zuma’s replacement as Minister of Home Affairs in the South African Government, to continue the transformation of the Department of Home Affairs, which she led since 2009.
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