African Union Success will Depend on Pan-Africanism 
By Dr.  Motsoko Pheko

The success of the African Union which will replace the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in July 2OO2 will depend on the Pan Africanist orientation and commitment of the African leaders to the total liberation of Africa. The view by the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki that the success of the African union will depend on the "nature of relations between the ruling parties" of Africa is wrong.

The OAU failed because it became largely a club of African Heads of State. Non Pan Africanists and even anti Pan Africanists led the OAU while Pan Africanists were overthrown, or assassinated or poisoned by agents of imperialism. Examples of such Pan Africanist martyrs were Nkrumah, Lumumba and Sobukwe.

The OAU from its inception was composed of dedicated Pan Africanists and those who were either stooges of the Soviet Union or of the USA. Both super powers looked for "spheres of influence" in Africa now that the colonialists were being made to retreat from Africa by the freedom fighters of Africa.

Pan Africanists wanted Africa to face neither East nor West but forward. The OAU became a political compromise between the Pan Africanist Group led by Kwame Nkrumah and the Monrovia Group led by leaders described by imperialists as "moderates". This is one of the reasons why the OAU became a Pan African body without the Pan African soul. And, therefore, failed in its primary mission of Africa's total liberation.

The African Union will fail if it does not learn from the mistakes of the OAU and allow its leaders to be dictated to by the European Union and the United States. The African Union will have a more difficult task. The OAU fought mainly against colonialism. The African Union is being born in the era of neo colonialism, the worst form and last stage of imperialism.

The essence of neo colonialism is that the state, which is subordinated to it, is in theory independent and has all the outward trappings of international sovereignty. But in reality its economy and political policy are controlled by foreign powers. Political independence is only a means to an end. It is not an end in itself. Its value lies in its being used to create new economic, social and cultural conditions which colonialism and imperialism destroyed. Independence means more than flying own flag, singing a national anthem and having one's own parliament.

The African Union will succeed only when Pan Africanists and the African masses are involved in it and the ordinary people see its benefits. The main objective of the African Union must be the industrialisation, development of Africa's economy, modernisation of her agriculture and maintenance of peace and stability on the African Continent.

Pan Africanism is the imperative for the complete decolonisation of Africa and Africa's restoration to her lost power, glory and dignity. Africans have been humiliated for far too long. They must redeem themselves through genuine Pan African unity. The initial twelve states in America rose to 52 states through Pan American unity. They are today a super power. The European political leaders who denounced Pan Africanism as an empty dream with unachievable goals have copied everything which the Pan Africanists advocated for Africa.

The idea of an African Union which Pan Africanists such as Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, Sobukwe, Azikiwe, Marcus Garvey, Padmore, Mothopeng and DuBoise called "the United States of Africa" was conceived by African leaders in the Diaspora and in Africa, many years before the European Union.

As early as 1958, Nkrumah said, "I am prepared to serve in a political union of free African states under any African leader who is able to offer the proper guidance in this great issue of our time."

Pan Africanists in the southern tip of Africa reinforced the reality that very little can be achieved by Africans without Pan Africanism. That is why Sobukwe, Leballo Ngendane, Mothopeng, Gqobose and many others provided in the constitution of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) the fifth aim as "To propagate and promote the concept of and ideology of Pan Africanism by promoting unity among the peoples of Africa and of African descent through the projection of the African personality."

Pan Africanists throughout the period of over one hundred years of struggle for Africa's liberation; have aspired to use their freedom and national sovereignty to raise the standard of living of their people. To neutralise the evil effects of the artificial boundaries imposed on Africa by colonial powers.

The success of the African Union requires Pan Africanist oriented, dedicated and selfless leaders and citizens. People who submerge self in service to the African nation and mankind. Leaders who abhor greed and corruption. Leaders whose integrity is their greatness.

The African Union will succeed only when it is based on organised Pan Africanism - the tested African political philosophy whose primary achievement has been its defeat of classical colonialism in Africa which had grown very strong roots.. The African Union to be judged a success as envisaged by Pan Africanist visionaries must be a place where Africans will enjoy the full benefits of Africa's riches.

The history of the political struggle of the African people in Africa demonstrates beyond reasonable doubt that until they apply Pan Africanism to their overwhelming problems, they will continue to be relegated to perpetual foreign domination by every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Pan Africanism's clarion call for over a century now, has been that Africans must get rid of their image of poverty and powerlessness. They must look inward. They must largely rely on their own efforts instead of slavishly depending on the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and international donors. Africans must make up their minds to sweat for their economic development and technological advancement. To succeed the African Union must demand of the African people throughout the continent, to throw away their slave and colonial mentality and bear the brunt of their own Pan African success in the same way they did during Africa's struggle against classical colonialism.

The people of goodwill in the world will help the African Union. But the people of Africa as a whole must carry out the greater burden of their reconstruction of Africa, through HARD WORK, in order to achieve for themselves Africa's restoration to her lost power, glory and dignity. This will result in the social emancipation of the African people.

Dr. Pheko is a member of the South African Parliament and deputy President of the Pan Africanist Congress