Maravi

Africa should unite before I die -KK

Africa should unite before I die -KK
By Edwin Mbulo
Friday October 12, 2007 [04:00]

Dr Kenneth Kaunda has said that he wants to see an African continent which is united before he dies. And Dr Kaunda said Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe must not be demonised for his actions because he was going through problems created by British colonial masters. Addressing 200 participants from Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Uganda, Mauritius, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Sudan, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Namibia and the United Kingdom, attending the British Council sponsored Inter Action leadership programme in Livingstone, Dr Kaunda said that he foresaw a United States of Africa despite political problems going on in Sudan, Ethiopia and other African countries.

Dr Kaunda said that despite having caused the two world wars, Europe was more united now than before.

“Slaves where picked from Africa by European countries and I’m happy that the financial base of blacks account for billions of the wealth in America. I appeal to all blacks in Europe and America to come back to Africa and invest. It is better for them to have two homes in Europe and here in Africa,” he said. “God is great and before I die I want to see an Africa continent which is united.”

And Dr Kaunda said during the liberation talks with then British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, President Mugabe was told not to talk about the land issues as a prerequisite for independence.

“The colonial masters used one John Cecil Rhodes to drive blacks from their beautiful land. We held several talks with the British colonial masters led by my dancing partner Margaret Thatcher and Mugabe was told not to discuss the issue of land. So don’t demonise him as he has gone through a lot against what the British promised,” Dr Kaunda said.

He said that unless the message of ubuntu was well understood, the greatness of globalisation would not work.

“Globalisation must be realised in respect of all races, religions and beliefs. In Southern Africa, we were affected by apartheid and we managed to overcome it. The most important thing is that we are all God’s children, regardless of race or faith,” he said. “Judaism, Islam and Muslim are all from the same area in the Middle East but people are still fighting their neighbours. However, globalisation cannot be defeated as it cuts across all races.”

And Emilia Arthur, lead facilitator and team leader from Ghana wept uncontrollably when Dr Kaunda requested Ethiopians and Eritreans to join him and shake hands as a sign that Africa’s freedom and peace lay in the young generation.

Arthur had asked Dr Kaunda how it felt to be the only surviving leader of the liberation struggle.

“My age mates in your countries do not see the need to love your neighbour as you love yourself, but for you as young leaders, this opportunity of being together creates a conducive environment for a United Africa because you are interacting in peace now and what will stop you from doing the same when you become heads of state?” he asked.

Dr Kaunda also caused laughter when he said that had God created a green human being, he was going to be among the participants at the interaction leadership programme.

And Dr Kaunda said he was forced to become a vegetarian in protest against racism by colonial masters who sold meat products to blacks through pigeon holes which they called ‘boys meat.’

“I almost stopped taking chicken and eggs but I was advised against this as I was expected to get into the rural areas and the villagers were going to be offended as they were going to feed me on chicken and eggs. But by January 1980, I completely did away with eggs and chicken,” he said.

Dr Kaunda urged upcoming leaders to believe in the truth and not lies if Africa was to rise to the occasion.

And Inter Action programmes manager Samantha Chuula said the leadership programme was developed to help participants understand their role as leaders, increase their impact in their communities and contexts and learn from their peers in Africa and the UK.

“So far 930 Africans from 19 countries and the UK have been through the programme, with a further 300 passing through the programme by March 2008,” she said.

Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, MUGABE, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 6:00 PM