* ** * *WHY SHOULD THERE BE A UNITED STATES OF AFRICA?* * Dr. Motsoko Pheko*
Why should there be a United States of Africa? Pan Africanists have applied their minds to this subject for a long time. In his AFRICA MUST UNITE, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana wrote, ‘’ If we (Africa’s people) are to remain free, if we are to enjoy the full benefit of Africa’s rich resources we must be united to plan for our total defence and the full exploitation of our material and human means in the full interest of all our people. To go it alone will limit our horizons, curtail our expectations and threaten our liberty. For his part Mangaliso Robert Sobukwe the first President of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) speaking in April 1959, said: “We regard it, as the sacred duty of every African state to strive ceaselessly and energetically for the creation of a United States of Africa from Cape to Cairo and Madagascar to Morocco. The days of small independent states are gone. Today we have, on one hand, great powerful countries of the world. America and Russia cover huge tracts of land territorially and number hundreds of millions of population. On the other hand small weak independent countries of Europe are beginning to realise that for their own survival, they have to form military and economic federations hence NATO and the European Economic Market. For the lasting peace of Africa and the solution of the economic, social and political problems of the continent, there must be a democratic principle. This means that foreign domination under whatever disguise must be destroyed.” Nkrumah and Sobukwe made these unchallengeable political statements over 50 years ago. Today informed institutions and learned people even outside Africa affirm that the economic power of Africa rests on the formation of a United States of Africa. According to the 2006 World Bank data, if Africa were a single country, it would have had a total gross national income of 978 billion America dollars. That is over R6 846 billion. In his book ‘’AFRICA RISING’’ Prof Vijay Mahajan, former dean of the Indian school of business who holds the prestigious John P Harbin Centennial chair in business at University of Texas writes that this figure of R6 846 billion places Africa ahead of India as a total market. He points out that a United States of Africa would show up as the 10th top economy in the world. Only the economies of the United States of America, Japan, Germany, Britain, China, France, Italy, Spain and Canada would top Africa, but a United States of Africa economy would top that of India which was $906.5 billion in 2006, that of Brazil which was $892.28 billion, Republic of Korea $856.6 billion, Russia federation $822.4 billion and Mexico $820.3 billion. Africa is rich. There is no need for Africa’s people to remain hewers of wood and drawers of water for the industrialised areas of the world. Indeed the stock exchange is preoccupied with Africa’s gold, diamonds, uranium, platinum copper, iron ore etc. Kwame Nkrumah was right when he said, “Only a united Africa can redeem its past glory renew and reinforce its strength for the realization of its destiny. We are today the richest of continents and yet the poorest of continents. But in unity, our continent could smile in a new era of prosperity and power.” There are some African leaders who fear a United States of Africa. Their fears must be addressed especially the one on sovereignty and economy.The foundation of the United States of Africa, however, is Pan Africanism. Pan Africanists, such as Sobukwe, Nkrumah and Lumumba have clearly stated that a United States of Africa does not mean loss of sovereignty of individual member states within the union, but rather enhances that sovereignty. The formation of the United States of Africa must not be too rushed; neither must it be too delayed. After many years of doubt about the establishment of the United States of Africa, President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania said “There is no time to waste. We must either unite now or perish. Political independence is only a prelude to a new and more involved struggle for the right to conduct our own economic and social affairs to construct our aspirations unhampered by crushing and humiliating neo-colonial influence.” The grim reality is that Africans are one. Africa is one house with 53 rooms. When one of these rooms catches fire, there is no way those in other rooms my not be injured. Africans are sailing in one ship. If it sails across the stormy sea of struggle they shall be safe. If it sinks, they will all perish. The United States of Africa will strengthen Africa’s people and advance them faster technologically and make Africa an economic giant, to be reckoned with in the world. Africa’s people will no longer suffer poverty, humiliation and imperialist terrorist attacks such as recently happenzed in Libya where oil wealth is now under the control of imperialists. These imperialists talk peace, democracy and development but they walk war, kakistocracy and neo-colonialist terrorism. END *Dr. Motsoko Pheko is author of several books and former Member of Parliament*
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