Zambian President Rupiah Banda marked the Africa Freedom Day by touching on the attractive topic of attaining "the United States of Africa", but through a gradual and incremental approach, Zambia Daily Mail reported on Monday.

He said member states of the African Union have agreed in principle to form a union government and, subsequently, the United States of Africa, although they have yet to agree on an approach.

Banda noted "the gradual and incremental approach" entails the strengthening of regional economic communities as well as sensitization of citizens of the respective countries.

The Southern Africa Development Community is of the view that the United States of Africa should be a union of sovereign states as opposed, he declared.

"We need to carry on board Africa's citizens, for their understanding and acceptance is critical to the formation and sustainability of the union government or United States of Africa," he said.

Banda said his government shares the view that a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa would be in a better position to play a significant role in global affairs.

"The continent would be able to effectively address the multi-faceted socio-economic and political problems afflicting it," he was quoted as saying by Daily Mail.