https://mbofanatendairuben.news.blog/2025/05/25/africa-day-should-be-a-time-of-mourning-not-celebration-as-we-have-nothing-to-show-for-our-independence/ *_PLEASE SHARE_* *Africa Day should be a time of mourning, not celebration, as we have nothing to show for our independence* _BY Tendai Ruben Mbofana_ *THE irony of this day is saddening!* On this 25th of May 2025, as Africa commemorates Africa Day — the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963 — there is little to celebrate. This occasion, which was meant to remind us of the struggle against colonial oppression and to affirm our unity as Africans, has lost its original meaning. Instead, it has been reduced to hollow speeches, half-hearted cultural performances, and vacuous political slogans by leaders who have betrayed the ideals of pan-Africanism. The bitter truth is that Africa is not free. We simply exchanged white colonial masters for local black elites who have perfected the art of subjugation. *_● If you believe in Tendai Ruben Mbofana’s fight for justice in Zimbabwe, please consider supporting his work financially. Every contribution helps him keep going, independently and fearlessly._* The face of the oppressor may have changed, but the oppression remains brutally the same. Across the continent, millions of people still languish in dehumanizing poverty despite living in lands rich with natural wealth. Minerals such as lithium, gold, platinum, cobalt, and diamonds are mined in abundance in countries like Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, and Ghana. Yet the people living on these lands reap virtually nothing. In Zimbabwe, for instance, the government is more concerned with exporting raw lithium ore to China than investing in beneficiation that would earn the nation real value and jobs. Why? Because value addition would require transparency, good governance, and long-term thinking — values most of our leaders deliberately avoid. The current model is easier for them: extract, export, pocket the proceeds, and smuggle what they can for personal gain. That is the tragic story of many African countries today. Even the illusion of democracy is slipping away. In numerous African states, citizens live under authoritarian rule, often disguised as “strong leadership.” Elections are a mere ritual, predetermined by rigging, intimidation, and manipulation. Freedom of speech is curtailed, civil society is harassed, and opposition voices are criminalized. The rising tide of military coups across Africa is a stark manifestation of the deep desperation and disillusionment engulfing the continent. Ironically, many of these takeovers are welcomed by citizens who have grown weary of decades of broken promises, endemic corruption, and worsening poverty under so-called democratic governments. From Mali to Burkina Faso, Niger to Guinea, militaries have seized power — often to jubilant crowds — not because the people revere generals, but because they feel they have nothing left to lose. In Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré was greeted as a liberator in 2022 after ousting the civilian government, promising to tackle jihadist violence and restore order. In Niger, the 2023 coup against President Mohamed Bazoum received popular support from citizens frustrated by insecurity and economic hardship. In such bleak circumstances, the people’s choice is no longer between good and bad governance — but between the known failure of corrupt civilian regimes and the risky hope that a military intervention might offer a fresh start. In this toxic environment, African leaders have mastered the use of “Pan-Africanism” as a shield against scrutiny. Any criticism — domestic or international — is swiftly dismissed as a Western conspiracy. Those who expose corruption or demand accountability are branded “agents of imperialism.” The struggle against colonialism, which once inspired noble causes, has now become a convenient cover for tyranny. Zimbabwe’s own leadership frequently resorts to anti-Western rhetoric to justify their failings. Yet, these same leaders preside over policies that surrender the country to new masters — whether in the East or West — for personal benefit. It is laughable to hear some of our leaders rant against Western imperialism, when in reality, they have simply chosen a different overlord. Those who claim to be resisting the West are in fact enslaved by the East, particularly China and Russia. These leaders rush to label their relationship with the East as “strategic partnerships” or “all-weather friendships,” but on the ground, these are exploitative relationships that mirror classical colonialism. Chinese companies are given carte blanche to mine Zimbabwe’s resources — displacing villagers in places like Mutoko and Bikita without consultation or fair compensation, while destroying the environment with impunity. Workers at these Chinese-run operations are treated as expendable, paid slave wages, and subjected to abusive conditions. Meanwhile, our leaders, who should be protecting their people, turn a blind eye because they are the chief beneficiaries. At the geopolitical level, African states are again playing pawn in a global chess game. During the Cold War, African liberation movements were supported not because the Soviet Union or China loved Africans, but because they wanted to undermine Western influence. Once independence was achieved, these powers sought to gain control of our resources. That is the only constant in this power struggle: African minerals are the prize. Today, Russia is once again looking to Africa for support in its global conflicts — and some African leaders fall over themselves to offer allegiance. This is not about solidarity; it is about seeking protection. These leaders want Russia to shield them from international accountability at forums like the United Nations, where the Russian veto can be used to deflect attention from their own human rights abuses. On the other side of the geopolitical spectrum, we find African governments that have chosen to remain under Western patronage. These leaders often project an image of reform, modern governance, and respect for human rights — yet beneath this carefully managed façade lies a similar pattern of authoritarianism and elite enrichment. In truth, they are no more democratic or accountable than their counterparts aligned with Eastern powers. What sets them apart is their skill in masking repression behind slick public relations campaigns, strategic partnerships with Western NGOs, and highly publicised donor-funded development projects. Their media appearances, international conferences, and well-packaged reforms are often enough to win praise from foreign capitals — even as dissent is stifled at home and political opponents are harassed or jailed. At the same time, these leaders continue to allow the unchecked exploitation of their countries’ natural wealth by multinational corporations, granting favourable concessions and tax breaks in exchange for political backing and access to aid. Whether it is oil in Nigeria, cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or gold in Ghana, the story remains the same: vast resources extracted with minimal benefit to the ordinary citizen, while the ruling elite entrenches its power with the tacit approval of Western benefactors. Ultimately, the allegiance may differ, but the outcomes for the people — poverty, marginalisation, and disenfranchisement — remain tragically consistent. Whether under the West or East, the script remains the same: Africans suffer while their rulers enrich themselves and sell the continent to the highest bidder. What we are witnessing is the continuation of the Cold War by other means. Just as in the past, foreign powers continue to fund opposing factions within African countries to secure access to mineral wealth. The civil wars and political instability we see in places like Sudan, the Central African Republic, and eastern Congo are fueled by this scramble for resources — with African lives sacrificed for the greed of both local elites and foreign profiteers. Even the liberation struggles themselves were partly about which global power would control post-colonial Africa, not about real freedom for the African people. And so, as we observe Africa Day in 2025, we must confront an ugly reality: the goals of the OAU have not been fulfilled. There is no meaningful unity among African states. There is little respect for democracy, human rights, or shared prosperity. The majority of Africans still live like colonial subjects — ruled by unaccountable elites, with little say over their future. Foreign powers continue to dictate the terms of engagement, plundering resources while propping up dictators in exchange. Africa must break this cycle. We need a new consciousness — one that sees through the deception of false Pan-Africanism and the hypocrisy of anti-imperial rhetoric. We must realize that we are not truly independent until we own and control our resources, and use them to benefit our people. Africa holds the key to the world’s future, especially in this era of energy transition. Our critical minerals — lithium, cobalt, graphite, and chromium — are essential for green technologies. We must use this leverage to define our own destiny. Let the world come to us on our terms, not the other way around. We must reject the colonial mentality that we always need a master. We must demand transparent, accountable leadership that respects the people, not rulers who sell us for personal gain. It is time we stood tall, as Africans, and charted our own course. Africa Day should not be a celebration of the past. It must be a clarion call for the future — one where true freedom, justice, and dignity are finally achieved. *_● Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate and writer. Please feel free to WhatsApp or Call: +263715667700 | +263782283975, or email: [email protected], or visit website: https://mbofanatendairuben.news.blog/_*