EFF statement on Africa Day
25 May 2016
The EFF marks 53rd Anniversary of African Unity signified by the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on this day in 1963, and its successor, the African Union. The EFF is proud of the ability of the African people to constitute a united international voice to combat the collective and common challenges faced by black African people across the world.
The EFF celebrates the 53rd anniversary mindful of the realities that still face the continent and its people. We note that the people of Western Sahara are still to realise their freedom, self determination and sovereignty from Morocco. We are also mindful of the fact that the people of Swaziland are also still to realise their democratic freedoms in light of the dictatorial regime of Mswati III.
In addition, the continent is faced with ever increasing problems of terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism signified by the emergence and rise of Boko Haram and El Shabaab. These groups, in both the Eastern and Western regions of the continent have caused terror to the lives of our people, denying them of peace, security and self-determination.
As we celebrate the 53 years of the efforts of our founding fathers for the independence of the African continent, we know that many challenges still threaten to undo the central promise of self-determination. The EFF believes that there is not political freedom that could ever be sustainable without economic freedom. The unity of the African people across the world lies in our ability to realise economic emancipation.
Economic Freedom in the continent should mean that as much as possible, more that 60% of the goods and services that we consume, from Cape to Cairo, are produced or assembled in the continent. Economic Freedom means quality health care, sanitation and housing. Economic Freedom means the return of the land to our people, and the return of the consciousness about the land.
In celebration of the unity that African people have demonstrated over the past decades, it is clear that the struggle must be extended to an unapologetic program of action towards economic self-determination. We ought to produce for ourselves, and not be a minerals extraction and consumerist continent that produces nothing.
On this day, we call on all Africans across the world to unite with the dream of the continent for unity towards economic self-determination. All Africans must begin to contribute towards the change the economic face, structure and conditions of the continent knowing that the success of the continent as a whole, impacts on the full humanity, dignity and success of all other Africans anywhere in the world.
On this occasion of the 53rd Anniversary, we call on the second and long overdue face of the self-determination struggle to focus on economic freedom and determination. If Nkruma's generation gave us political unity and freedoms, then let this generation bestow on the continent, economic emancipation and self-determination for all.
Issued by Mbuyiseni Quintin Ndlozi, National Spokesperson, 25 May 2016
