nkosazana dlamini-zuma

South Africa’s African Union contribution shoots up to R600 million

After 14 years of deliberation, the AU has finally adopted a new way of determining each member state’s contribution to the overall budget, and it’s going to cost us.

nkosazana dlamini-zuma

The idea is that, with the new formula put in place, the top eight economies on the continent will be pulling 60% of the overall budget, and the rest will contribute what’s left.

AU commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been hard at work to finalise this process and considers it a major success. “It is a big breakthrough; this matter has been discussed for the past 14 years.”

Our contribution of more than R600 million will nudge the continent in a direction where Africa is less dependent on external help, but don’t worry, it won’t be all at once. Contributions would be calculated as a percentage of each country’s GDP and would be paid over a five-year period.

“Because it is a huge increase from where we are, it would be phased over five years, starting from next year. It must be funds that are available, predictable, but there must be flexibility in how each country raises those funds,” said Dlamini-Zuma.

The AU currently operates on a budget of R5.8 billion, of which 75% is allocated to progammes and the remaining 25% to safety and security on the continent — say what now?

The conclusion was reached on Saturday at the AU summit, where the new AU head Robert Mugabe also made his first speech and, as is customary, put his foot in it.