Debra Matabvu
PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA has stressed that the destiny of Africa is entirely in the hands of its people, urging them to work together to build a prosperous, stable and self-reliant continent that ensures abundance and comfort for all its citizens.
In his compelling call for unity and collaboration, in a statement marking the commemoration of Africa Day, delivered at State House in Harare, the President emphasised the importance of ownership and self-determination in securing Africa’s future.
Africa Day is marked on May 25 every year.
President Mnangagwa, who is also the SADC chairman, urged Africans to seize the opportunity to chart a path towards a brighter, more stable and prosperous future.
He said no external force will develop the continent unless Africans themselves take ownership of its progress.
The President said the time for Africa to depend on others had passed, and the move towards prosperity must be driven by the continent’s own people, leveraging its rich resources, unity and resilience.
“Let me underscore that Africa must remain vigilant and always aware of the ever-looming threats from neo-colonialists bent on negating the socio-economic and political potential, as well as achievements of our countries,” he said.
“Never again should our countries and continent be under foreign subjugation, by whatever guise. It is, therefore, our duty to constantly rekindle the flames of independence, freedom and sovereignty bequeathed to us by our forefathers.
“The unity, peace, stability, development and prosperity of our great continent must be the common objectives and goals for all of us.
“The responsibility to build, develop, modernise and industrialise Africa, as well as to protect her peoples from instability and conflict, lies with all the children of Africa, including those in the diaspora.”
Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa said, shall forever remain committed to the values and ethos of Pan-Africanism and African renaissance.
“Together, as the children of Africa, hand in hand, side by side, in peace, love and harmony, let us work together to build the Africa we want,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the values that underpinned the establishment of the African Union (AU), formerly the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), 62 years ago, which include unity, self-determination and resource sovereignty, should continue to guide Africans today.
He added that the present generation must fulfil its responsibility to realise the AU’s Agenda 2063, a blueprint for inclusive and sustainable development across the continent.
Said the President: “62 years ago, African nations stood at the crossroads of history, emerging from the shadows of colonial rule and seeking to define the shared destiny of the peoples of this great continent.
“The establishment of the OAU was undoubtedly a bold declaration that Africa was no longer willing to be divided by oppressive racist regimes.
“It was an affirmation of our sovereignty, cultural identity and inalienable right to self-determination. That defining moment in our shared history must remain a source of inspiration in our collective determination to consolidate our independence, unity, quest for dignity and a higher quality of life for our people.
“Unity is our greatest strength.”
The President reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to home-grown development strategies and regional economic integration, saying the country would continue to rely on its own expertise and natural resource endowments.
“The emphatic calls made those decades ago, with regards to the importance of solidarity among African nations; ‘African solutions to African problems’ and the importance of Africa’s natural resources to benefit her peoples, must echo louder in our present time.”
President Mnangagwa said this year’s Africa Day was being commemorated at a time the continent was intensifying calls for redress of historical injustices.
The President highlighted that this year’s AU theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”, serves as a strong appeal to confront the legacy of colonial exploitation.
He noted that, like many other African nations, Zimbabwe faced the desecration of its cultural heritage, cultural artefacts and human remains by the colonial regime, often under the pretext of scientific research or for display in foreign museums and private collections.
He said the return of these artefacts was essential, as they rightfully belonged to Africans.
The President called for reforms to global political and financial systems, arguing that the current architecture marginalises the continent.
“Zimbabwe joins Africa in calling for a more representative and inclusive global political and financial architecture,” he said.
“Africa’s voice with regards to our unique challenges, including conflicts, the debt albatross, climate change and economic disparities, among others, must be heard in the discourse that shapes global peace and security towards sustainable social and economic development.
“On its part, Zimbabwe will, therefore, continue to take ownership and charge of our development trajectory, leveraging on our homegrown-solutions and rich natural resource endowments.
“Our collective expertise, resources and resilience of our people will be harnessed as we remain masters of our own destiny.”
President Mnangagwa said the current generation should emulate sacrifices of African forefathers who ushered in independence.
“The freedom we enjoy today across our motherland and mother continent of Africa was not handed over on a silver platter,” he said.
“It was the result of unparalleled sacrifice of the gallant sons and daughters of the soil, many of whom paid with their lives.
“Zimbabwe is grateful and will forever cherish the enduring fruits of Africa’s fraternal support and solidarity we received through the Liberation Committee.
“This helped to usher our hard-won independence and that contribution was not in vain. Today, us the present generation must do our part to bring to fruition the realisation of the African Union Agenda 2063.”
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