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In a solidarity message at the 5th Congress of the South West African People’s Organisation (Swapo) in Windhoek, Namibia on Thursday, Ambassador Khaya Moyo said freedom was more than just having a flag or walking the same streets with colonisers.
“Can we be happy just because black people can now vote? The answer is no! That is not enough for our people. Our struggle now is for equal land redistribution and equal share in the economy. Now is the time to fight towards economic emancipation,” said Ambassador Khaya Moyo.
He said governments in the region should not be deterred by vindictive sanctions imposed by bitter former colonial masters, in their bid for total independence for their people.
“Our Governments face criticism from our erstwhile masters even to the extent of being slapped with economic sanctions, when we try to address the inequalities of the past in our countries.
“The need to redistribute land is a challenge to all of us in Southern Africa because we inherited deliberate land disparities created by colonial regimes. Regardless of such condemnation we have to know what is right for our people,” said Ambassador Khaya Moyo.
He said leaders should ask themselves if their people are benefiting from the continued plunder of resources by multi-national companies and move to address the issue.
“Do the profits realised from such companies benefit Zimbabwe, Namibia or any other Southern African Country? These companies continue to plunder Africa’s God-given recourses, developing the West, not Africa. Should we watch as bystanders or should we seek to correct and work towards equality?” asked Ambassador Khaya Moyo.
He said the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Policy of Zimbabwe did not seek to disturb the foreign investor confidence but sought to give Zimbabweans a voice in their economy.
“After all it is safer for our economies to be controlled by indigenous people than by foreigners who in times of serious challenges will flee for other destinations beyond our continent,” said Ambassador Khaya Moyo.
He said African countries should always be aware that Western countries wanted to maintain control that they enjoyed during colonialism would do all in their power to reverse economic, political and social gains made by Africans.
Ambassador Khaya Moyo gave the example of how the West denigrated Zimbabwe’s diamonds and imposed sanctions on mining companies, to make it difficult for the country to penetrate the world diamond markets.
Ambassador Khaya Moyo explained that such machinations were not earmarked for Zimbabwe alone but for the rest of Africa, especially countries led by former liberation movements.
He called for liberation movements to unite and form a bulwark against neo-colonialism that continued to be a threat against real emancipation.
“To this end, let me express Zanu-PF’s gratitude to SWAPO and the people of Namibia for continuing to call for the removal of these evil sanctions against our nation, Zimbabwe.
“We should remain mindful of the fact that an attack on Zanu-PF is an attack on all former liberation movements. Bearing this in mind, we should stand closer in unity to fight and win the economic war on our hands,” said Ambassador Khaya Moyo.
“Political and economic cooperation is important between our countries to achieve unbreakable ties.
Let us continue to work hard and put resources in our institutions such as Sadc and the African Union.”
He said SWAPO and Namibia had remained all weather friends of Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe, adding that years of suffering in the trenches during the struggle for independence had made the two countries inseparable, like Siamese twins.
The congress started yesterday and will run until Sunday.
In Zimbabwe, the land has been redistributed and more than 300 000 families have benefited.
Previously about 5 000 white farmers owned the prime land in the country.
Online Reporter