African leaders advise the ANC
By Palesa Lekeka
AT THE PULPIT: Former Zambian President, Kenneth Kaunda spells out lessons for the ANC
BLOEMFONTEIN – The ANC centenary celebrations whipped up some nostalgia for some people when the organisation trotted out its aging stalwarts and former allies to serenade it and hand-out some lessons on good governance.
While the roles of luminaries like the late Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Samora Machel of Mozabique and Joshua Nkomo of Zimbabwe in the titanic struggle against apartheid was enunciated by others, Kenneth Kaunda – popularly known as KK in his heyday – was at hand to deliver eulogies to his fallen comrades and remind the ANC of its founding virtues.
The mercurial KK took veterans of the South African liberation struggle back to the 1970s and 1980s when he broke into rallying cry: “Tiyende pamodzi”, albeit with slightly altered lyrics to dovetail with his battle to conscientise people about the dangers of unprotected sex.
Kaunda, however, returned to his other favourite theme when he chided political opportunists and leaders who dip their fingers into public coffers.
He lamented growing poverty in Africa and called for concerted efforts to end corruption, disease and exploitation.
The former Zambian president, who ruled his country for 27 years after leading it from colonialism in 1964, was s among African leaders who spoke during the presidential gala dinner held on the evening of Saturday, January 7.
“We have to fight exploitation of one by another, poverty, corruption, and crime which are common to all countries that were once upon a time colonised,” the 88-year-old Kaunda said. President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda called for a realistic assessment of traditional society.
“Africa was colonized because of the weaknesses of the Africans. We must realistically assess traditional society considering that Ethiopia was able to defeat Italy. We should analyse our defeat by Europe and the reasons why Africa was colonised,” Museveni said.
Museveni added: “Africa belongs to us. It is free. My own insurance is Uganda. It is safe. I am insured. Let’s protect our Africa.”
He also stressed that there was no point in insuring small things like cars and houses while the continent was not insured.
“What insurance has been made for Africa?” Museveni asked.
Quoting Kwame Nkrumah, Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba, said: “Unity in diversity is a translation of what is in the freedom charter. The continent is now free, now it is time for us to free our people from the poverty and other things.”
Pohamba said that it was time for the continent to work together to get Africa where it should be.
“We are doing better in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, we have done better and we must continue to do more to improve the continent of Africa,” said Pohamba placing emphasis on African unity and the formation of an African government.
Current Zambian president Michael Sata stressed the importance of the ANC’s achievements saying: “In 100 years, you have changed human beings but the party remains the same. You are so dynamic that we have to learn from you. Congratulations to the president and the people of South Africa for remaining united.”
