Moffat Mungazi
Moffat Mungazi
Post Reporter
IT goes without saying that Africa bore the full brunt of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, with its far-reaching repercussions having ripple effects on many fronts.
With millions of indigenous people being captured and traded for goods as commodities by merchants, only the Americas benefited from the forced and cheap enslaved labour on its plantations, while Europe also profited from the products made by the same slaves.
Yet to add insult to that historical injustice of slavery, Africa also suffered colonialism at the hands of Europe following the scramble for territories on the continent.
However, Africa, since the attainment of independence from colonial rule by Ghana in 1957, has remarkably continued to chart its course to self-determination.
Ghana’s feat set a precedent for the rest of the continent to deconstruct the colonial injustices and champion Africa’s decolonisation.
This gave birth to the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) – a Pan-African bloc founded by 32 autonomous countries in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on May 25, 1963 to foster unity and promote cooperation on the continent.
The occasion came to be known as Africa Day, and has since then been commemorated over the years.
OAU was repurposed as the African Union (AU) in 2002, but remaining firmly grounded in its founding objectives of defending and advancing the continent’s multi-faceted interests like socioeconomic development as well as addressing issues of common concerns and shared responsibilities as a united front for mutual global benefit.
While the AU in its former state as the OAU was instrumental in ensuring independence from colonial, oppressive rule for all the countries, the bloc has become more occupied with the overall development of the entire continent.
After the flag independence, which ushered Uhuru for the states, the focus is now on economic emancipation and social transformation.
To unfetter itself from the shackles of servitude, more needs to be done to ensure sovereignty and territorial integrity for all AU members states.
Zimbabwe, therefore, on Sunday joins the rest of the continent in commemorating Africa Day as a way of honouring and immortalising the country’s dream.
The day is each year celebrated revolving around a specific theme.
This year’s annual commemorations are running under the theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”.
The themes are specifically designed to spell out the continent’s immediate goal that neatly dovetails into Africa’s overall aspirations and vision.
According to the AU, this year’s theme is symbolic as it mirrors Africa’s continued struggles, and also seeks to keep going the momentum generated by other initiatives over the years.
“This initiative underscores the AU’s commitment to addressing historical injustices, including the trans-Atlantic slave trade, colonialism, apartheid, and genocide. It builds on decades of advocacy and collaboration, aiming to foster unity and establish mechanisms for reparatory justice on a global scale.
“The theme of the year for 2025 on Reparations was a proposal from the Accra 2023 Reparations Conference. In the continuing pursuit of justice and equity, the conversation about reparations has emerged as a critical and transformative dialogue that requires the collective attention and action of Africans and all people of African descent.
‘‘The scope of this conversation goes beyond historical injustices and into the current fabric of societies around the world. The complexities of addressing past wrongs, whether they stem from colonialism, trans-Atlantic enslavement, apartheid or systemic discrimination, necessitate a thorough examination and strategic approach,” said the AU.
This initiative, adds the AU is crucial in presenting the continental bloc with “the opportunity to take leadership on the Africa Reparations Agenda, as well as bring together the African citizenry and the African diaspora to build a common and united front for the cause of justice and payment of reparations to Africans for historical crimes and mass atrocities committed against Africans and people of African Descent, including colonisation, apartheid, and genocide.”
Typical of his sagacious leadership, President Mnangagwa late last year called for a formal apology, reparations and restorations from Zimbabwe’s former coloniser Britain following the infliction of nearly century-old injustices, crime, abuse and trauma perpetrated against the indigenous black people at the height of the colonial era.
The locals were dispossessed of their land, and alienated by the white minority at the behest of the colonialism.
President Mnangagwa said this during his address at the launch of a study led by the Zimbabwe National Elders Forum (ZNEF), as he called for post-colonial reconciliation.
“The time has come for us to engage our erstwhile former colonial power, objectively and astutely, seeking the much-delayed, yet important post-colonial gesture of reparations, restorations and much-needed apology and reconciliation. Equally, the subject of reparations is not new, but the calls for restitution continue to grow louder and louder,” said President Mnangagwa.
The ZNEF study – initiated by prominent Zimbabweans from various sectors such as academia, business and clergy, among others – is titled “Land Displacements: The Untold Stories of Crimes, Injustices, Trauma and Losses Experienced by Indigenous Zimbabweans During the Colonial Era” and documents the repercussions of colonial exploitation while advocating reparations.
While this year’s Africa Day commemorations are meant to address and redress the past colonial injustices as well as the challenges being faced presently, the annual celebrations can also serve as a vehicle to highlight the successes and progress the continent continues to score.
The AU remains key in tackling neo-colonialism across the entire continent and also stands out as Africa’s repository of its history, resilience and future aspirations.
To that end, Zimbabwe has been making significant strides under the astute leadership of President Mnangagwa in the Second Republic.
Through Vision 2030, the country is geared to attain an empowered and prosperous upper-middle income society anchored on, and driven by priority areas such as economic growth and stability, food and nutrition security, governance, health and wellbeing, infrastructure and utilities development, devolution and social protection, among others.
Against this background, Zimbabwe is on course to immortalise Africa’s dream.
Online Reporter