Africans of the world, unite!

Dr Obert Moses Mpofu

UNITING this great continent called Africa is paramount.

Perhaps, more than that, it has always been crucial that the people of this continent flourish.

If ever there is a continent and a people that has suffered so much subjugation and humiliation, it is Africa and Africans.

This is why luminaries such as Marcus Garvey were deeply rooted in the conviction that “Africa for Africans at home and abroad”.

There is but one Africa.

Yesterday was Africa Day.

It is a day that we always look forward to with anticipation and pride as we reflect on what it means to be a true African.

For some of us, we hold the belief that we were not born in Africa, but Africa was born in us.

Our beautiful continent gives us a great sense of belonging.

As we move forward, let us not waver from the Pan-Africanist teachings of the late Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere, as well as beliefs of Ghana’s iconic late President Kwame Nkrumah. It is about time our continent unites towards one common end.

I have previously spoken against one of the ills that has troubled us for the longest time — Afrophobia.

Africa is home to all of us and we should never be defined by colonial borders.

In our quest to attain total emancipation and improve the lives of our people, let us remember this: We, as Africans, liberated our continent from colonialism with the assistance of those who do not harbour ill will against us.

This is a time when we, as Africans, should take our pride of place in the world.

No one will ever truly love this continent more than us. We will only reach as far as we perceive.

Perception, loyalty, hard work and patriotism should be the drivers of our development agenda.

So many of our people have left the mother continent without looking back.

This is tragic.

The vacuum created may be difficult to fill. Our continent needs all its people to take it forward.

It is also time that our people realise that it does not serve them to betray and castigate their beloved continent.

The prosperity in the West was built by the sweat and blood of our people, who were shipped off into slavery against their will.

If our people are reawakened, they could easily be set free and return home to rebuild their continent.

A simple look at the most developed countries around the globe shows that indeed “nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, ilizwe lakiwa ngabanikazi balo”.

It is now time that Africans lay claim to their homeland and heritage.

We should all start laying one brick at a time and develop our beloved continent.

If we all potentially contribute a “single brick” towards building our continent, we would go far!

Our continent would prosper beyond measure.

I dare say, it is time for Africans to assemble and lift our continent towards total economic emancipation. All Africans should now push towards one common end.

With unity of purpose, our continent will rise and take up its rightful place.

Dr Obert Moses Mpofu is an academic and the Secretary-General of ZANU PF. He writes in his personal capacity.