By Joseph Chirume<\/p>\n
Qgeberha<\/p>\n
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality celebrated Africa Day on 30 May in Motherwell with the theme of unity among\u00a0Africans and a reduction of crime in communities.<\/p>\n
The event took place at the Motherwell\u00a0NU6 sports fields and was organized by the South African Police Services and the Motherwell Community Policing Forum.<\/p>\n
Executive Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe encouraged the youth to emulate the founding fathers of the African Unity and discouraged them from committing crime.<\/p>\n
Cllr Lobishe said, \u201cWe know that it was originally a gathering of 32 countries that formed the Organization of African Union (OAU), the predecessor to the African Union (AU). The objectives were to fight for the independence of Africa. Most African countries, including South Africa, were under white colonial rule. The colonizers stole our wealth and heritage. If you are an African, you should know that you\u2019re not meant to be poor, because our continent is rich.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were not born to live in poverty. Poverty and hunger are a result of colonization. Apartheid is a result of colonialism. They came here from their countries to rule us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Lobishe encouraged the youth to realize their dreams and work very hard to ensure freedom of Africans is achieved. She told them to promote unity with other African brothers and sisters.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cAfrica Day is a celebration of the continent\u2019s rich history and achievements, but more importantly, it is a call to action for unity, pride in our cultures, and sustainable development. It reflects on Africa\u2019s ongoing journey toward independence, peace and prosperity.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we celebrate Africa Day, we must work towards unity in our country. We see the work that the police are doing. We have faith that crime will be reduced,\u201d said Mayor Lobishe.<\/p>\n
The chairperson of the Motherwell Community Policing Forum, Siphiwe Mbolekwa vowed that he would not allow xenophobia to occur in Motherwell.<\/p>\n
He told The Messenger, \u201cWe are here to celebrate Africa Day that has been facilitated by SAPS and the Motherwell CPF to foster the unity between South Africans and African brothers and sisters\u00a0from across the continent. There is also a soccer tournament between African teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are saying that what happened in Valencia (xenophobia in Addo) is not acceptable. Whenever crime takes place, people should report it to SAPS and not take the law into their hands. We are also doing our best to ensure that there are no xenophobic attacks in our area. As CPF we support the community and the police to ensure that there\u2019s no attack or hatred of our brothers and sisters from other African countries. We don\u2019t want xenophobia to come here and we don\u2019t want it anywhere in our country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Organizer for the Zimbabwe football team, Simon Chiuya welcomed the initiative and also urged his countrymen to abide by the laws of South Africa. .<\/p>\n
Chiuya said, \u201cWe are here to participate in this tournament to mark Africa Day. We feel honored to have been invited to this platform as this allows us to share our sentiments through sport. Remember that sport has the power to unite people of different backgrounds. We want to be seen, to be known and to relate well with South Africans. We say forward with African unity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis tournament unites us with South Africans. The issue of xenophobia is contentious but the truth is that not every South African is xenophobic because we live and work and do business with most of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prominent Motherwell musician, poet and artist, Bonakele Lungu implored Africans to unite in order to achieve the dream of attaining freedom.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Lungu said, \u201cAs an artist I want to reiterate the dreams of Nelson Mandela that Africa should unite and speak with one voice. This kind of event gives an idea that indeed Africa needs to unite. If we talk about the situation now in Africa we have a division and we ought to unite as Africans.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ought to see each other as brothers and sisters and be able to say if my brother is starving, I have to give a hand to help him. If my sister is starving with no food to eat, I have to give her food to eat.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistorically, when we were under Apartheid, South Africans traveled to exile, to other African countries to get help, that\u2019s where they got military training and logistics assistance in terms of speeding the downfall of the white minority rule back home. The African unity narrative has to be bolstered and propelled enough in order to reach every corner of the continent.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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