Online Reporter
Nduduzo Tshuma in Johannesburg, South Africa
THE ruling party, Zanu-PF, has praised the recently concluded Liberation Movements Summit as a high-level gathering that not only reaffirmed the historical bonds of solidarity among former liberation movements but also charted a bold, forward-looking agenda centred on youth empowerment, economic integration, and prosperity for the African continent.
The three-day indaba, which began last Friday and concluded on Sunday with the Summit of Heads of State and Leaders of Liberation Movements, ran under the theme: “Defending the Liberation Gains, Advancing Integrated Socio-Economic Development, Strengthening Solidarity for a Better Africa.”
It brought together six Southern African liberation movements — the ANC of South Africa (host and outgoing chair), Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe), MPLA (Angola), Swapo (Namibia), Frelimo (Mozambique), and CCM (Tanzania) — for strategic deliberations aimed at confronting growing threats to the parties’ continued relevance and survival amid shifting regional and global dynamics.
Zanu-PF Secretary General, Dr Obert Mpofu, and heads of the party’s respective leagues arrived last Friday for discussions with sister parties on various issues affecting the movements, culminating in Sunday’s Summit of Heads of State and Leaders of Liberation Movements — the final and most crucial phase of the three-day indaba.
Speaking at the close of the summit on Sunday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Chris Mutsvangwa, said the attendance of regional leaders was a powerful declaration of revolutionary solidarity.
Addressing the Leaders’ Summit, President Mnangagwa — who is also Zanu-PF First Secretary — called upon Southern Africa’s liberation movements to remain steadfast in defending the gains of independence and to boldly chart new paths of people-centred development in the face of growing threats from counter-revolutionary forces.
President Mnangagwa urged liberation parties to remain true to their founding principles, emphasising that the future of African prosperity lies with revolutionary movements rooted in the will of the people.
His counterparts — Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (Namibia), Daniel Chapo (Mozambique), João Lourenço (Angola, represented by his deputy, Cde Mara Quiosa), and Samia Suluhu Hassan (represented by former Prime Minister, Cde Mizengo Pinda) — all echoed President Mnangagwa’s call for unity and solidarity among liberation, in the face of growing threats to the region.
They also agreed on the need for deeper intra-African trade and collaboration among liberation movements to support regional integration.
Sister movements from Africa and beyond addressed the Summit, declaring their unwavering support.
In particular, sister parties from China and Russia expressed their countries’ commitment to supporting the region’s economic agenda and freeing African economies from neo-colonial control and manipulation.
Cde Mutsvangwa said the gathering rekindled memories of solidarity from the liberation era, when countries such as Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Angola hosted and supported Southern African liberation movements during their struggles against colonialism, apartheid, and minority rule.
“So, it was an affirmation of our past links. We are the only region in Africa with an economic bloc like SADC, which is currently chaired by President Mnangagwa.
“We are a region that goes beyond neighbourhood. We acquired a political soul as we fought for independence. We are unique among any economic blocs in the world,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.
He said the summit was remarkable for its future-oriented character, with leaders turning their attention to economic integration and the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“The more exciting aspect of this conference was its forward-looking nature. People were not just reflecting on the past — we were charting a future focused on economic integration and the opportunities that the Africa Free Continental Trade Union will offer to the youthful dividend of the African continent,” he said.
Cde Mutsvangwa said Africa is now better positioned to assert itself, leveraging new alliances and diversified sources of investment beyond traditional Western powers.
“We are facing the headwinds of the West, which has always sought to dominate Africa, but there is now a new ray of hope.
The world of capital has become more level. We now have China as the second economic powerhouse globally, with India soon to become the third. All these are friends to Southern Africa,” he said.
Cde Mutsvangwa further stressed the need for large-scale foreign direct investment to drive industrialisation, create jobs, and uplift young Africans — linking this to the ideals of past generations who fought for freedom and prosperity.
“Once we urbanise, modernise, and create industries, young people will have jobs. Then they can identify with the aspirations of the youthful generation of the 60s and 70s who fought for independence because they wanted prosperity. The only way we can pay homage to them is to deliver prosperity,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.
He described the summit as one of hope and vision, with a strong focus on the future rather than the past.
“We are far more interested in looking through the windshield to the future than through the rear-view mirror to the past.
We are a summit of hope for the young people of the region — a summit of hope for Africa,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.
