Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma: The renewal of Africa belongs to this generation

We are meeting at a critical juncture in the history of our continent. We are poised for the new beginning. Our primary responsibility as the elected representatives of our people is to look at how far we have come and to prepare for the long and arduous road of restoring this great continent of Africa to its former glory.

This glory speaks of Africa as the cradle of humanity and constitutes the very genesis of her civilisation. It tells of architectural wonders like the pyramids of Egypt, the sculptures of the ancient kingdoms of Ghana and Mali and Benin, the temples of Ethiopia and the Zimbabwe ruins. These contributions to the civilisation of humanity reaffirm our faith in ourselves and in our continent that Africa is on the march to a better future.

Our meeting here today to wind down the work of the Organisation of African Unity is the confirmation of our dogged determination to bring about our continent's rejuvenation.

The Organisation of African Unity was born during the most difficult period in the history of our continent. It had to challenge racism and the ingrained prejudice that led to the dividing of our continent by the European countries.

It fought relentlessly and succeeded against the crime against humanity that colonialism and apartheid was and will forever be. It also sought to redress the legacy of slavery that was bequeathed to us by those who only saw us as nothing but pagans and less human than themselves.

Today we are saying a fond farewell to our continental organisation, which has served us so well and is now to be replaced by the African Union. The new African Union will assume a bigger role. This will encompass the political, economic and social challenges facing our continent.

The renewal of Africa belongs to this generation. We dare not, we cannot afford to fail our people, our continent and the generation of African leaders before us.