Pan-African rebirth needed to fight imperialist bullying

By Nevanji Madanhire

It must be the greatest wish of every sub-Saharan leader to, in their lifetime, witness the collapse of the American empire which many think- tanks have concluded is nigh. America’s global domination has hung like a dark cloud over the world and has affected African politics in a huge way. The US has led or supported wars to determine the governance of a number of countries, many of them in Africa. This, ostensibly is to spread “democracy and freedom” but history has shown that their actions have had the opposite effect namely entrenched dictatorship through war and mayhem.

In the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, which signalled the collapse of the Soviet empire, there emerged the unipolar world with the US seated at the apex. To maintain this position America had to see to it that no country stood up to challenge it aided by its currency. But China has risen and is threatening to move America’s cheese. Russia is awakening too, hence the proxy war in Ukraine. The resultant geopolitical conflict has affected world politics and is causing mayhem in sub-Saharan Africa.

In the past few decades Russia and China have made big strides into Africa and the US doesn’t like it. It is encouraging conflict in Uganda over gay rights; in Sudan to push back the influence of the Russian Wagner group; in Senegal because Macky Sall is no longer desirable to them; and in Rwanda because Kagame stands in the way of US dominance in the Great Lakes region. There are many sub-Saharan African countries where American fingers are evident.

Now the US is taking on the most powerful country in sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa is now in America’s crosshairs and this is not going to be good for the region. Moves are already underway to sanction it. The devastating effects of sanctions have been seen and felt in neighbouring Zimbabwe which has lost US$100 billion worth of business over 20 years.

South Africa was supposed to host an Agoa summit this year but a group of American lawmakers have proposed the summit be taken away for its “deepening military relationship” with Russia. The military drills it held with China and Russia and an accusation that it supplied weapons to the latter in support of its fight in Ukraine are at the centre of the row. If South Africa is removed from Agoa it stands to lose US$1 billion annually which it makes through exports to America. A weakened South Africa will adversely affect the whole southern African region.

The Ukraine war has united the West in its parochial interests; it should unite Africa too. The Nato principle of collective defence which says an attack on one ally is an attack on all should be incorporated in the African Union psyche too. The events taking place in Africa now should birth a pan-African renaissance that creates a bulwark against all forms of foreign domination and imperialist bullying epitomised by the US’s latest moves against South Africa.

In Conversation with Godfrey Tsenengamu

In 2014 he was suspended by the Joyce Mujuru Zanu-PF faction. In 2015 he was suspended by the party’s G40 faction and in 2020 he was suspended and expelled by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction. Godfrey Tsenengamu, the former ZANU-PF Youth Commissar and Central Committee member, tells it as it is in this compelling episode. Having supported Mnangagwa’s ascendence in ZANU-PF he confesses that this was a huge mistake. Watch his episode here..

Audience Responses

From the Godfrey Tsenengamu episode, our community had this to say:

Tonderai Chikono:

I never thought, I will EVER listen to this dude for over 3 minutes, but alas he is quite entertaining and he has interesting facts! He can NEVER exonerate himself though, the past will always be sticky till the tomb !

Assan Mususa:

I have now completed all previous videos of Sir Trevor, and I am up to date. Live long Mr Trevor and keep the show going cause in the next 5 years, you will be interviewing me.

Stannie Mashava:

If the truth be told this guy is very vibrant and would make a good leader. I have listened to most of his messages and one would agree with me that he is full of drive to foster national development and genuine leadership modelling

Hazel Zimbiti:

God bless you my brother. May God protect you and may you live long and fight for a better Zimbabwe.

Coming Next: In Conversation with Moffat Takadiwa

Don’t miss the next episode with Contemporary Visual Artist Moffat Takadiwa In Conversation with Trevor.

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