Zimbabwe Ratifies The AU Protocol.

Zimbabwe ratified the Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union on 20 June 2007.

The Protocol adopted by the African Union in 2003, adds the following objectives to the original objectives of the African Union:

•  Ensuring effective participation of women in decision-making, particularly in the political, economic and socio-cultural areas;

•  Developing and promoting common policies on trade, defence and foreign relations to ensure the defence of the continent and the strengthening of its negotiating positions; and

•  Inviting and encouraging the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of the continent, in the building of the African Union.

The Protocol also provides for the right of the Union to intervene in a Member State in respect of what have been termed grave circumstances, pursuant to a decision of the Assembly and based on the recommendation of the Peace and Security Council, in order to restore peace and stability in that country. The grave circumstances that are understood to necessitate such intervention include: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity as well as a serious threat to the legitimate order of that country.

The Protocol further prohibits Member States from allowing the use of their territory as a base for subversion against another Member State.

Zimbabwe has been an active member of the African Union since its evolution and the ratification of the Protocol is recognition of the significant strides that the organisation has made in economic, social and political spheres and its potential to facilitate further development of the continent.