By Yunah Bvumbwe
Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Southern Africa’s liberation movements gathered in South Africa last week for the much-publicised 2025 Liberation Movements Summit.
Heads of State, including Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, joined delegates from the ANC (South Africa), FRELIMO (Mozambique), SWAPO (Namibia), MPLA (Angola), CCM (Tanzania) and Zanu PF (Zimbabwe).
Under the lofty theme, Defending the Liberation Gains, Advancing Integrated Socio-Economic Development, Strengthening Solidarity for a Better Africa, the summit aimed to reflect on shared histories, renew bonds of unity and map out a collective path for the future.
The final day culminated in the adoption of a summit declaration reaffirming the parties’ commitment to unity, justice and development.
The rhetoric was stirring — passionate tributes to the sacrifices made during anti-colonial struggles and bold proclamations about socio-economic transformation. Yet, as is often the case with such summits, the grandeur of the language contrasted sharply with the harsh realities experienced by millions in their countries today.
There is no denying the historic contributions of liberation movements in dismantling colonial and apartheid regimes.
Their sacrifices paved the way for political independence across southern Africa.
However, decades after taking power, the question that increasingly defines public discourse — especially among the youth — is this: Are these liberation movements still liberators in practice or have they become obstacles to progress?
In countries like Zimbabwe and Mozambique, youth unemployment remains alarmingly high. Basic services — healthcare, education, clean water — are often either unaffordable or inaccessible to the poor. Corruption and scandals are rampant and governance frequently lacks transparency and accountability. For many young people, born long after the battles of liberation were fought, the legacy of these movements feels distant, if not irrelevant. Their lived experiences are defined more by poverty and hopelessness than by the “liberation gains” so often celebrated in official speeches.
It is one thing to gather under the banner of unity and solidarity, but quite another to honestly reflect on failures and correct course. These movements speak well of development and justice, but rarely confront the systemic issues within their ranks — crony capitalism, corruption and repression of dissent. In many cases, political power has become an inheritance passed within the elite, while the masses are offered slogans in place of substantive change.
The summit failed to provide concrete, measurable plans on how these parties will tackle poverty, joblessness and inequality in real terms. There was little acknowledgement of the democratic deficits that plague some of these countries — from shrinking civic space to alleged election manipulation. Instead, the summit risked becoming a nostalgic retreat, where leaders congratulated each other for past victories while ignoring present crises.
To add further, youth are no longer satisfied with historical credentials. They want jobs, quality education, opportunities to thrive and accountable leaders. Many are beginning to question whether liberation movements can still deliver on the promises of independence — or whether those promises have been betrayed. This disillusionment is dangerous. It creates fertile ground for populism, political apathy or even violent protests.
What is needed now is not more summits filled with platitudes, but a return to the founding values that made these movements credible in the first place: integrity, people-first leadership and revolutionary honesty. “Tell no lies, claim no easy victories,” as Amílcar Cabral once urged. That is the spirit the summit should have rekindled — the courage to confront uncomfortable truths and the humility to admit failure where necessary.
A path forward?
If liberation movements wish to remain relevant in the 21st century, they must reinvent themselves. That means they should focus on reprioritising the people, especially the youth and the poor, through inclusive economic policies. They should address corruption and mismanagement within their government departments.
Having said all that, it goes to show that the struggle for liberation does not end with political independence. It continues in the form of economic freedom, social justice and dignity for all. Until liberation movements can demonstrate that they are serious about this new phase of struggle, they risk becoming relics of the past — monuments to glory, but disconnected from the people they once vowed to serve.
The Liberation Movements Summit may be over, but real work begins now — not in conference rooms, but in the lives of ordinary citizens across southern Africa.
Source: NewsDay
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