By Masimba Mukichi.
London (News of The South) – l write this article with a heavy heart, the Berlin Conference of 1885 misfired by dividing Africa for the
Africans. They created artificial African borders as they deemed fit, as long as the borders served their
interest,they felt it was ok to parcel and demarcate Africa into countries of their choice and design.
The Berlin Conference of 1885 left Africans separated from their kith and kin by imaginary borders which
were imposed on them without being cognisant of the fact that these African kinsmen of a specific geographical location share a culture and rich history.lt left Africans vulnerable and weak they were now not able to attend funerals across the river without being asked for a visa or a passport. The vast majority of Africans today can’t enjoy working and living in neighbouring countries without bring labelled border
jumpers or economic migrants. It’s unforgivable that the Berlin Conference left them immersed in this choking dirty.
The Berlin Conference of 1885 was designed and carried out to perpetuate the interests and hegemony of the colonizers. The sphere of influence principle came into being at the Berlin Conference it gave authority and autonomy to any European power which claimed any territory,they were given the right to occupy and have total control of that state.
lt’s beyond doubt the current borders of Africa are not fit for purpose and are the ones fuelling xenophobic ideology. South Africa in particular is living the Berlin Conference’s partition of Africa’s desired dream of egoentrism. They have a firm belief that South Africa is solely theirs and any other
foreign national is an intruder intending to munch the South African chocolate bar and national cake. What the South Africans forget is that it was only the Berliln Conference which divided them from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi,Angola and Zambia.
For Africa to have a permanent solution to xenophobia and tribalism, the time to act is now.The most sensible thing to do is to forget the Berlin Conference demarcations and re-divides Africa into Eastern, Western, Southern , Northern and Central Africa. lt is as clear as the full moon that people of Southern
Africa share a common culture and history. It makes sense for the SADC Region to unite and form one country governed by one president, East African countries must also play to the same tune of coming together and elect one president and do away with the current borders. Central African states must do
likewise, elect one president and have one capital city of governance and do away with the current borders imposed by the partition of Africa. North African countries must also regroup and elect one president and allow free trade and free movement of people without visa restrictions. West African countries must also ignore the current borders imposed by the partition and elect one president to run the affairs of that region.
lf Africa bids farewell to the demarcations of the Berlin Conference and embrace an African solution to
solve African problems then only can we be nearer to cab xenophobia and tribalism. After subdividing
Africa into East, West;South,North and Central zones with intact elected government, then only can we start thinking of implementing Julius Malema’s ambitious idea of having one president for Africa.
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