The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) joined the rest of the continent and the world in celebrating Africa Day on 25 May 2021. The continental Parliament seized the opportunity to sensitise Africans across the world to work towards achieving Agenda 2063 aspirations.
Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on 25 May 1963. It is celebrated in various countries on the African continent, as well as around the world. This year’s event was celebrated under the African Union theme for 2021: “The Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building Africa We Want.”
In this regard, the PAP held an event with African Parliamentarians, civil society and Africans in the Diaspora to discuss the repatriation of African artefacts back to Africa while reflecting on the progress that the continent has made since the foundation of the OAU. The event also served as a platform for a call for the acceleration of the attainment of Agenda 2063 goals.
“As the PAP, we call upon all the African Peoples scattered worldwide to promote the achievement of the goal of African unity and our continental vision in Agenda 2063. We call upon all Africans to work together for the renaissance and rebirth of our continent. The unity of our continent is essential to achieve the Africa we want,” said PAP’s Acting President, Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira while delivering his speech.
He added: “Our identity is synonymous with our resilience as a people from slavery, to Western imperialism colonialism to liberation. But our liberation is not complete until our peoples are liberated from the shackles of poverty, insecurity and statelessness. Africa is one. The independence of almost all African states was achieved because Africa fought as one.”
The constituency for Africa (CA), an African-focused Organization in the United States of America challenged the PAP to come up with viable policies that will turn around Africa’s fortunes.
“Today we celebrate Africa Day, but we still have a long way to go as a continent. We need African National Parliaments to come up with solutions that will improve Africa’s existence. MPs across Africa must be bold in calling for the return of stolen Africa’s Artefacts. Africa needs to be organised in achieving this and we count on Parliamentarians to lead the way.”
Also speaking during the event revered historian, Dr Mathole Motshekga challenged Africa to go back to the drawing board if it is to attain progress.
“A lot of damage was done when the colonisers destroyed Africa. They made sure that we lost our identity; they distanced us from being Africans. But if we are to emerge victoriously, we need to revisit how we practised our cultures, traditions and existence before the arrival of the colonisers,” he said.
