Pan-African Movement-Rwanda Chapter (PAM-Rwanda) on Monday kicked off a week-long senstisation campaign leading to the celebration of the African Liberation Day that is slated for Friday. During the week, different activities that include an international conference, public talks, exhibition on “Made-in-Africa” products, an African Cultural Night, and community work (Umuganda) will be carried out, according to a statement from PAM-Rwanda. The Pan African Movement Week (PAM Week) activities co-organised with a number of local and international partners and African Diplomatic Corps accredited to Rwanda, will run under the theme: The role of governance, business, media and creative industry in the Total Liberation of Africa. PAM-Rwanda is leveraging President Paul Kagame’s current chairmanship of the African Union to push for impactful conversation around good governance, promoting pan-Africanism among youth, and showing support towards proposed African Union reforms among other pressing issues, according to the Head of Mobilisation Commission at PAM-Rwanda, Ladislas Ngendahimana. “There’s growing deliberate political will to find lasting solution to African problems and, for us, as PAM-Rwanda chapter, we wanted to capitalise on President Paul Kagame’s chairmanship to push for AU reforms which we believe will bring about the transformation that Africa needs,” said Ngendahimana. He said he was upbeat that, through the week, Pan-Africanists will promote good governance in Africa by deepening the Pan Africanism ideology, promoting Made-in-Africa products through the recently adopted Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA), building strong connections of Pan-African media outlets, research, academia platforms and institutions and promoting African values, ethics, diversity with view to build a strong African identity. “The African Day will be celebrated across the world through Rwandan embassies and other African embassies. The overall objective is to celebrate African Liberation Day through focusing on the role of governance, business and creative industry in the total liberation of Africa. This builds on the new momentum set forth by the AU reforms and the recently signed AfCFTA.” “Poor governance is one of the key issues that have for so long hindered Africa’s transformation agenda. It’s high time our leaders walked the talk. Africa must really unite to address its own challenges and the youth must rise up to the occasion to take their continent forward,” Ngendahimana added. The African Liberation Day originates from the May 25, 1963 event, when thirty-one African Heads of State convened a summit to found the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). They called the day African Freedom Day but it was later to be renamed African Day. “The celebration marks each year the progress of the liberation movement and symbolises the determination of the African people to free themselves from the yoke of foreign domination, influence and exploitation,” the statement from PAM-Rwanda reads in part. African Day continues to serve as a platform that brings together all Africans who are concerned with the future of Africa and African people. “It is a day to reaffirm our commitment to Pan-Africanism vision; the total liberation and unity of Africa. It is also a day of reflection on our past achievements as Africans and to rededicate ourselves to the enduring Pan-African vision based on AU Agenda of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena (Agenda 2063),” the statement says. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
