Africa Freedom Day

Thu, 25 May 2017 11:56:12 +0000

ZAMBIA today joins the rest of the continent in celebrating Africa Freedom Day, that special, auspicious occasion when the people of Africa pose to look back where they come from, where they are and where they are going.

No words can perhaps better define the spirit and meaning of Africa Freedom Day than those penned by that world giant and icon of freedom struggle, Nelson Mandela, who said:

‘‘I will not leave South Africa, nor surrender. Only through hardship, sacrifice and militant action can freedom be won. The struggle is my life. I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my days.’’

Madiba wrote those words on Robben Island, the notorious prison where he was serving life imprisonment under harsh, cruel conditions intended to break him down and give up his fight to liberate his people, and indeed the rest of Africa, from the shackles of apartheid, colonialism and imperialism.

True to his faith, Nelson did not surrender. He spent the better part of his life in a dark, cold cell, watching only a fraction of the sea through a heavily barred window. Defiantly and gloriously, he came out to set South Africa free. As he promised, he fought injustice and discrimination to the end of his days.

There are many lessons Zambians can learn from this man. One of them is to appreciate the meaning of freedom and the other is to learn to forgive.

We agree with veteran freedom fighter Sikota Wina that it is ridiculous for some Zambian political parties to boycott Africa Freedom Day because of whatever challenges they may face because the event goes beyond political affiliation.

The freedom struggle created the conditions enabling these parties to contest as political entities to govern this country. They owe their very existence and relevance to the meaning and spirit of Africa Freedom Day.

For them to shun such an occasion is a supreme insult to our forefathers who fought and sacrificed for us to be free to form political parties of our choice. In essence they are refusing to accept that Africa is liberated or that Zambia is now independent, sovereign and free.

‘‘This is a day when we celebrate our freedom from bondage, and one shunning such an event is giving a message that they lack that feeling of being happy that Africa is free from colonialism…..We are not celebrating a particular party but….our continent and nationhood as Zambians.

‘‘Unless one is annoyed with our liberation from colonialism, one should not participate in celebrating it,’’ says Mr Wina. Those are humbling words from a man who saw it all.

The incarceration of Hakainde Hichilema may have annoyed the UPND but it should have moved them to realise that is the meaning of freedom: the ability to govern ourselves and make our own decisions – right or wrong. Even they, given the chance to rule, will not tolerate impunity.

As the country debates whether or not the two biggest political parties should engage in dialogue to ease the political tension, this is what Nelson Mandela said about the subject: ‘‘Courageous people do not fear forgiving for the sake of peace.’’

He added: ‘‘A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial and uninformed.”

What we learn from this is that if UPND wants President Edgar Lungu to forgive Mr Hichilema they must learn to be humble and not arrogantly refuse to attend a unifying event such as Africa Freedom Day. It takes two to tangle and agree or agree to disagree.

UPND must set the tone for a conducive environment for dialogue. Otherwise, as Mandela once quipped: ‘‘In my country we go to prison first then become President.’’