Anglican Communion News Service

(CPSA) Consideration must be given to the creation of an Economic Union of African States to ensure growth and development for the greatest number of people on the continent.

This was the message from the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane, at the launch of Jubilee 2000's Africa campaign. The campaign is aimed at the cancellation of the international debt of developing countries and to address the imbalance in the economic affairs of nations. Delivering the keynote address this week, Archbishop Ndungane said it was time "for the giant of Africa to wake up from its deep sleep and to take its rightful place in the world. We are a people and a continent with a rich heritage, the cradle of humanity," he said.

Pointing to the success of the European Union, which had started out as an economic union, the Archbishop said it was urgent that there should be a meeting of minds to further the aspirations of Africans. Political leaders should look beyond bilateral or regional economic agreements, to more ambitious ones.

According to Archbishop Ndungane, an Economic Union of African States would ensure, inter alia, that: "Africa would never again be marginalised, thereby becoming the begging bowl of the world; Africa's resources would never again be exploited; Africa would not become the dumping ground for environmentally repugnant refuse, such as nuclear waste; and conditions exist for attracting investment capital from all parts of the globe into the continent of Africa. "Now is the time for the countries of this continent to settle down to a period of sustained and invigorating growth - economic and social growth that will trigger development world wide. It is most encouraging to note that a recent study by the Economic Intelligence Unit reckons that five of the world's 20 fastest growing economies are in Africa. That is remarkable and we need to build on this," Archbishop Ndungane said.

He added that to do so successfully, "governments must recognise that with freedom comes responsibility. Thus, any freedom from debt must be accompanied by a commitment to ensure that people benefit from the advantages that will follow."

An Economic Union of African States would bring the continent closer towards economic independence, while providing "the opportunity to negotiate with more muscle and realistically with the developed and industrialised world,"he said. Archbishop Ndungane said that Africa had to play a pivotal role in influencing the next millennium. To do so, it had to be freed from the last shackles of oppression that is holding it back - the yoke of international debt.