Only through unity will Africa triumph!

TODAY, March 23, is SADC Liberation Day, which was declared at a meeting of the regional bloc in Windhoek, Namibia, in August 2018.

It is a day that holds pregnant meaning to the storied liberation history of the region and continent.

It was on this day in 1998 when a decisive battle between the South African Defence Forces —as the military arm and enforcers of the vicious apartheid system — and thousands of combatants from the People’s Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (originally the armed wing of the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA)), supported by the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia and the Cuban Revolutionary Forces, was fought in southern Angola, at Cuito Cuanavale.

In essence, it pitted the apartheid forces against the combined might, will and resolve of Angolans, Namibians and Cubans.

Historians have since variously described this watershed battle as “the largest military confrontation in Africa since the end of the Second World War”.

What followed after the victory of the liberation forces and the chastisement of the South African Defence Forces was the progressive retreat of apartheid from the region.

It culminated in consequential events, such as the release of Nelson Mandela from prison on February 11, 1990, the independence of Namibia a month later (March 21) and ultimately the democratic elections in South Africa on April 27, 1994.

This effectively officially marked the vanquishing and end of colonialism in Africa.

At the inaugural commemorations of SADC Liberation Day, which President Mnangagwa attended in March 2019, Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço critically indicated: “This location where we are gathered today signifies the defeat of the racist army of South Africa which opened the doors for the independence of Namibia and the liberation of Nelson Mandela and consequently, marked the end of the Apartheid in South Africa.”

He added: “The Republic of Angola is proud for this historic decision which enables the present and future generations of the Southern African region to remember the countries and people who played part in the liberation struggle so that their sacrifices are not forgotten.”

In a statement yesterday, President Mnangagwa, who is the chairperson of SADC, critically indicated that, as we commemorate this auspicious day, we also need to “deeply reflect on where we stand in the context of the historical struggles whose aim was to give full ownership of the means of production in our economies and, consequently, to be the masters of our own destiny as well as restore our dignity”.

The region, he added, must remain vigilant and be alert to the emerging challenges that threaten our hard-won independence and general stability.

Most importantly, he exhorted member states to continue to stand in solidarity against the imposition of sanctions, as well as other coercive actions that undermine the region’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As we stand at this critical moment, it behoves us all, as people of the region and continent, to stand shoulder to shoulder, as the brave people of Namibia and Angola, together with their Cuban allies, did at Cuito Cuanavale in order succeed in all our endeavours.

It is the same solidarity that was shown by ZIPRA forces and their uMkhonto weSizwe counterparts from the ANC when they shared trenches fighting Rhodesians during the Wankie (Hwange) Battle.

It is also the same solidarity that was evident when ZANLA forces fought side by side with FRELIMO to defeat the Rhodesians.

So, our victory is shared.

Clearly, the same formula will help us as SADC and Africa to reach our ambitious goals, be it to deepen intra- and inter-regional trade, solving the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), closing ranks and fighting in South Africa’s corner as it is bullied by the United States, and also dealing with the scourge of climate change, which is worryingly becoming increasingly regular.

Encouragingly, there are signs that Africa is becoming more united, assertive and determined than ever to deal with its challenges.

The recent historic convention of two regional blocs — SADC under President Mnangagwa and the East African Community (EAC) under the chairpersonship of President William Ruto of Kenya — to solve the crisis in the eastern DRC is as instructive as it is comforting.

Our challenges are common and shared; so, too, should be our solutions.

Only through unity and solidarity will we reach the promised land.