Sunday Mail Reporter
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere has urged African youth to take control of their continent’s narrative, saying the tools of digital storytelling such as phones and cameras are now weapons of liberation in the fight for identity, land and economic freedom.
Addressing delegates at the International Youth Summit on Land and Economic Freedom (IYSOLEF) at the Harare International Conference Centre yesterday, Dr Muswere said young people had a crucial role to play in reshaping Africa’s story, which for decades had been distorted by the foreign media and colonial-era prejudices.
“In this digital age, the tools of narrative warfare are no longer locked in foreign newsrooms,” he said.
“They are in your pockets. Your phones, your cameras, your keyboards, they are weapons of liberation if used responsibly.
“While our President, His Excellency Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, is building Zimbabwe brick by brick, you must build Africa post by post. Each image, each tweet, each blog or video contributes to the archive of our collective identity.”
The summit, held under the theme “Land and Economic Freedom: The Key to Africa’s Sustainable Development”, brought together youth leaders and activists from across the continent to discuss land rights, economic empowerment and the power of African-led storytelling.
Dr Muswere called on the youth to be intentional about the content they create and share online, warning that future generations will look at today’s digital record as the foundation of African history.
“But I must urge you: Be intentional. Be aware,” he said. “Because the stories we tell today will become the reference points of tomorrow.
“Just as we study cave drawings to understand ancient civilisations, future generations will study our social media trails to understand who we were.
“Will they see pride or shame? Will they find agency or apathy? The answer depends on what we choose to post, to document and to defend.”
Dr Muswere said land remained the cornerstone of true African liberation and that economic development cannot be achieved without addressing historical injustices around land ownership.
He said land distribution was a fundamental principle in economic empowerment, hence the title deeds programme provided by President Mnangagwa to land beneficiaries.
“The land question is not simply about hectares or boundaries,” he said. “It is about identity. It is about historical justice. It is about whether or not Africans are fully free.
“Land was the first thing taken during colonisation and it must be the first thing reclaimed in our journey toward true liberation.”
He said Zimbabwe’s Land Reform Programme was a “milestone”, not a mistake, and urged young people to boldly tell Africa’s side of the story in the face of international misrepresentation.
“And let us be honest: We will never speak truthfully of economic development until we have resolved the fundamental issue of land ownership,” said Dr Muswere.
“Across the continent, we have seen how land continues to be the site of conflict, both physical and ideological.
“But land is also the foundation of our economy, the heart of our cultures and the spiritual link between generations.
“It is the root of agriculture, the stage for industry and the anchor of nationhood.”
Dr Muswere encouraged young Africans to move beyond mimicry of foreign systems and instead embrace African authenticity in thought, expression and action.
“Your generation is not waiting in the wings, you are already on the stage,” he said. “The question is: Will you use your role to advance the continent or mimic the very systems that undermine it? The time for mimicry is over. The era of African authenticity must begin.”
The post Use digital tools as weapons of liberation: Dr Muswere appeared first on herald.
The post Use digital tools as weapons of liberation: Dr Muswere appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.