Harare, Zimbabwe – Young leaders from across Africa and beyond have converged at the Harare International Convention Centre (HICC) for the International Youth Summit on Land and Economic Freedoms (IYSLEF).
The summit, championed by Taurai Kandishaya, President of the Africa Youth Congress, aims to reignite the spirit of Pan-Africanism and foster active solidarity among young people to address critical issues of land ownership, economic empowerment, and self-determination.
In an address to journalists, Kandishaya emphasized the summit’s core objective: to empower young Africans to take full charge of their resources.
“If you do not control your economic means, if you do not control and own your land, lacking ownership means you don’t belong,” he asserted, highlighting the intrinsic link between land ownership, identity, and dignity.
He stressed that without control over their land, Africans lose a fundamental part of who they are.Kandishaya revealed that discussions at the summit have been deeply informed by insights from lecturers at the Chitepo School of Ideology, who have underscored the enduring relevance of Pan-Africanism as a solution to the continent’s myriad challenges. He drew parallels with historical struggles, noting that Pan-Africanism was instrumental in collapsing the slave trade and countering colonialism.
Today, he argued, it is the essential tool to combat the pervasive forces of imperialism and neocolonialism.The concept of “I am, because you are” (Ubuntu) resonated strongly in Kandishaya’s remarks, underscoring the interconnectedness of African people. He called for young people to redirect their energies towards active solidarity and envision a unified Africa that transcends artificial borders.
“We must look and think beyond these artificial borders that were imposed with an idea and an agenda to divide our own people,” he stated, advocating for greater awareness of inter-African affairs, such as events in the DRC, over external conflicts like those in Ukraine.A key focus of the summit is promoting intra-African trade and fostering homegrown solutions.
Kandishaya lamented the current situation where African nations often import goods from European companies despite similar products being produced within the continent. “We are a market of 1.2 billion people, but we cannot be a supermarket of others,” he declared, urging a shift from importing raw materials to importing finished products through local innovation.
The summit boasts a diverse representation, with delegates from over 40 African countries. Significantly, it also includes “friends” of Africa – nations that have not colonized the continent, such as Belarus, Russia, China, India, and Nicaragua, as well as Jamaica.
Furthermore, representatives from communist parties in Canada, Armenia, and the United States are in attendance, signifying the global recognition that the challenges being discussed, particularly those related to unilateralism and imperialism, are not exclusive to Africa.
Kandishaya referenced the Canadian President’s stance against being bullied by larger powers, highlighting a shared sentiment against external dominance. The IYSLEF, with its participation from approximately 43 countries, stands as a testament to a growing international consensus on the need for self-determination and equitable global relations.
