Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Writer
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has called for African nations to urgently pursue reparative justice, economic sovereignty, and youth-led development, unequivocally declaring that the continent can no longer remain shackled by the legacy of colonialism and global inequality.
In a statement marking the 62nd Africa Day commemorations, delivered at State House in Harare on Saturday, the President issued a rallying call that extended beyond symbolic unity. He demanded the return of looted cultural artefacts, redress for historical injustices, and reform of global systems that continue to marginalise Africa’s voice and interests.
He emphasised that Africa must not only remember its past but take bold steps to confront it — reclaiming its history, demanding restitution, and ensuring that its resources benefit its people.
“Having successfully fought against colonialism and achieved independence, our focus has now shifted towards fostering economic freedom, regional integration, and sustainable development that benefits our peoples for generations to come.
“As we celebrate this year’s Africa Day commemorations, we stand united in our shared commitment to justice, equality, and the dignity of all people of Africa and African descent,” said President Mnangagwa.
The President noted that, like many African nations, Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage — deeply rooted in history — continues to face desecration.
“Colonial powers systematically looted cultural artefacts and human remains, often under the guise of ‘scientific exploration’ or to enrich their museums and private collections. Our precious relics and heritage must be repatriated to us, their rightful owners. We join the continent in reaffirming our commitment to multilateralism, a rules-based international order, and stronger political representation of Africa in global fora,” he said.
His call comes as Zimbabwe intensifies its own efforts toward reparative justice. In October last year, President Mnangagwa launched a landmark study led by the Zimbabwe National Elders Forum (ZNEF), titled “Land Displacements: The Untold Stories of Crimes, Injustices, Trauma and Losses Experienced by Indigenous Zimbabweans During the Colonial Era (1890–1980): A Case for Reparations.”
The study seeks to document colonial injustices and pursue legal redress, including financial compensation and a formal apology from the British government for its role in the systematic dispossession of indigenous Zimbabweans.
In December, during the 8th National Thanksgiving and Dedication Service in Bulawayo, ZNEF members pledged to present the President with a detailed dossier chronicling a century of colonial injustices that deprived Zimbabweans of land, livestock, and economic agency.
The initiative, which began in 2022, is supported by a broad coalition of Zimbabwean stakeholders, including religious leaders, academics, and business executives.
This year’s commemorations — marking 62 years since the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU) — were dominated by calls for continental ownership of development, protection of sovereignty, and full implementation of Agenda 2063, the AU’s strategic blueprint for inclusive growth.
President Mnangagwa, who currently chairs the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said it was time for Africa to abandon dependency and build a future defined by “African solutions to African problems.”
He stressed the urgent need for Africa to redefine its developmental path and reclaim its rightful place in the global order, noting that this year’s theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” is a timely call to address historical wrongs.
“Zimbabwe joins Africa in calling for a more representative and inclusive global political and financial architecture. Africa’s voice — on issues such as conflict, debt burdens, climate change, and economic disparities — must be heard in shaping global peace and sustainable development. The imperative for reforming international financial institutions to ensure fair terms for Africa is of urgent importance,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said that African nations can no longer be constrained by exclusionary colonial legacies that perpetuate inequality.
“Zimbabwe will continue to take ownership of its development trajectory, leveraging home-grown solutions and our rich natural resources. Our collective expertise, resources, and the resilience of our people will be harnessed as we remain masters of our own destiny.
“Likewise, we are committed to playing our part within SADC and other regional economic communities to promote integration, industrialisation, and shared development, as envisioned by the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, has also underscored the urgency of global financial reform, particularly in securing access to affordable development capital.
Speaking at a G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting in South Africa earlier this year, Prof Ncube said Africa requires cheaper, long-term, and concessionary commercial capital.
Development economist Ms Alice Chikonzi echoed these sentiments, arguing that the current international financial system is outdated and continues to marginalise developing nations — especially in Africa.
“We need urgent, inclusive reforms that give African countries equal voice in global financial decision-making bodies such as the IMF and World Bank. Beyond structural reforms, there must also be a serious and honest conversation about economic reparations. For centuries, Africa’s resources, labour, and wealth were extracted to build the prosperity of the Global North — often at great human and developmental cost.”
Ms Chikonzi stressed that reparative justice is not an act of charity, but a necessary step to correct systemic imbalances that continue to hinder Africa’s potential.
“For Zimbabwe and the broader African continent, a more equitable system would mean fairer access to financing, restructuring of unsustainable debt, and the ability to mobilise capital for climate adaptation, infrastructure, and industrialisation,” she said.
Without such reforms, she warned, Africa will remain on the margins of global growth — despite its abundant natural resources and youthful population.
“A reformed global financial system must prioritise development justice and allow countries like Zimbabwe to define their own economic futures without punitive conditionalities or external dictates. It’s time the world acknowledged that a stable and prosperous Africa is not only a moral imperative but a strategic necessity for global economic stability,” she said.
Echoing similar views, economic analyst Mr Nimrod Zulu said Zimbabwe’s economic trajectory has long been shaped by colonial exploitation, resource plunder, and structural inequality.
“During colonial rule, vast tracts of fertile land were seized by settlers, mineral resources were extracted with little benefit to local communities, and African labour was exploited under coercive systems. This created a dual economy — one that served colonial interests while suppressing indigenous economic development,” he said.
Mr Zulu concluded that reparations should be framed not only as restitution for past injustices but as a strategic lever for sustainable development
