Online Reporter
Isdore Guvamombe-Reflections
How good and pleasant it would be before humanity for the United Nations to, for once, show its ingenuity by proclaiming December 4 as the International Day of Struggle Against Colonialism, as recommended by a thoughtful Russia?
Imagine UN has many international commemorative days- some of them on very important issues but some of them so archaic to something like the International Day of Frogs, (no pun entrende). There is a World Frog Day, and yet there is no day to commemorate billions of people whose countries struggled against colonialism and are still struggling to shake off the after-effects and trauma of colonial rule.
Not that I have anything against amphibia, NO! But let us face it, effects of colonialism and subtle attempts to recolonise the Global South are daily occurrences. The struggle is real. The wars in many parts of the world attest to that huge phenomenon of colonial hangover and the desire to maintain hegemony on former colonies.
Honestly, all progressive thinking countries in the world, including, but not limited to Africa and Global South, deserve a day to commemorate the daily struggles against colonialism which in neo-colonialism and or subtle colonialism has been repacked as democracy, human rights, good governance and accountability etc, by the same former colonial masters, mainly the West.
This is the irony of it.
For the avoidance of doubt, the vast majority of countries considered part of the Global South are former colonies, with nearly all nations in Africa, Latin America, and large parts of Asia falling into this category, meaning the number is well over 134 countries depending on how you define the Global South, precisely.
Apparently, about 80 percent of the world’s population lives in the about 134 former colonies in the Global South, from Central and South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania,
Yes, the irony of it is that the former colonial masters have done laundry on themselves, repackaged themselves as saviours and upholders of human rights, democracy while running a narrative calling leaders of liberation movements or Governments in the Global South, dictators. How sly?
The UN Day of Struggle Against Colonialism is a long-overdue necessity that allows us to reflect, openly express ourselves, share our struggles and map the way forward. Thanks to Russia.
It is fact not fiction that the United Nations through its General Assembly or other organs designates specific days, weeks, years and decades as occasions to mark particular events or topics in order to promote, through awareness and action, the objectives of the organisation. Usually, it is one or more member states that propose these observances and the General Assembly establishes them with a resolution.
The majority of observances have been established by resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, although some have been designated by UN specialised agencies.
So, Russia’s proposal needs a resolution.
On occasion, these world day celebrations are declared by the specialised agencies of the United Nations, such as UNESCO, UNICEF, and FAO when they concern issues that fall within the scope of their competencies. Some of them may be later adopted by the General Assembly.
But why Russia? History has it that Russia is one of the countries that supported liberation movements against colonial rule. Russia, during the Soviet era, invested heavily in dismantling colonial rule because it has always been in the Russian blood that colonialism is inhuman.
Besides weaponry and other material support, Russia trained many freedom fighters and today’s mentality under President Vladimir Putin is a continuation of the country’s desire to liberate the world, to make it safer, peaceful and progressive, by giving equal respect and opportunities to all people, from small and big countries alike.
Democracy, human rights, good governance and all other trinkets cannot be defined and seen only through the spectacles of Western countries. All people in the world deserve a better life, respect and equal opportunities.
Russia is very correct because I recently studied the Francophone Africa pact and felt that the French are very bad people, at least their governance and attitude towards former colonies can only be described as horrible, for lack of diction.
There is indeed need to rally behind the liberation process that has started in the Sahel region. Those countries are still colonies by all definitions and need liberation. The French government must, in honest, be ashamed to be still maintaining such hegemony on former colonies.
The progressive world, the Global South and little everyone else, should rally behind countries that are trying to break away from the French in the Sahel region.
The French are certainly not smart
On the other hand, sanctions imposed by US and its Western allies on Zimbabwe are purely misplaced colonial hegemony. It is that colonial hangover that has seen Zimbabwe being slapped with illegal sanctions that affected the economy and made the people suffer since 2001.
Russia on the other hand has increase its footprints in Africa because it is progressive thinking and respects other nations. Russia has increased its foothold in Africa by coming up with win-win deals.
Russia in a major global player in grain production and has been very generous donating to many regions of the Global South. To feed people facing hunger. No strings attached.
Russia has been very generous to countries like Zimbabwe on the health delivery system.
Some of us will not forget that in July 2008 at the UN, Russia and China became fair players and vetoed a resolution to sanction Zimbabwe.
The British and US efforts to apply punitive pressure on Zimbabwe were abruptly undermined that night when Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution seeking sanctions against Zimbabwe.
The resolution, calling for an arms embargo, and financial and travel restrictions on then President Robert Mugabe and 13 other leaders, was backed by nine nations but foundered on the vetoes of the two permanent members. The arms embargo would have affected Russian and Chinese weapons exporters and would also have seriously crippled Zanu PF (Zimbabwe’s liberation movement and ruling party).
The outcome at UN headquarters in New York poured water on the US and its allies to implement regime change.
Going forward, Russia must be applauded for thinking of billions of people living in former colonies, who need to reflect, openly express themselves, share their struggles and map the way forward in a more organized and unified purpose.
We eagerly await a UN resolution on the International Day of Struggle Against Colonialsm. To Russia be the glory!
