AFRICA MUST RESPECT HERSELF IN ORDER TO BE RESPECTED – THE CASE OF THE RUSSIA/UKRAINE EVACUATION OF NATIONALS
By Dr Nevers Mumba
……We are only worth the value we place on ourselves.
I have listened to the statement by Foreign Affairs Minister Hon Kakubo with great relief.
Although late, the intervention by government to evacuate Zambian nationals is commendable. We have confidence and faith in God that every single Zambian in Ukraine shall return home safely.
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine reveals an aspect that should awaken all black skinned Africans. The discrimination against Africans in getting on the trains to leave Ukraine and the challenges faced when trying to enter countries of refuge like Poland should awaken something in all our African leaders.
An African has suffered segregation based on skin both at home and abroad. It’s when we face issues of life and death like in Ukraine that we realize that this status quo cannot be sustained.
Most of the Africans in Ukraine are students and are there legally. They must be protected under Ukrainian law, just like we protect any foreigner here in Zambia. They must have equal access to facilities that will guarantee them safety in the time of war.
Blaming Ukraine and Poland however, is not the answer. The answer is for our African leaders to demonstrate that we place value on each and every African wherever they are in the world. We must do more to demonstrate that we are the first governments to facilitate evacuation of our people. The world must see that we value ourselves and that we are ready to spend millions of dollars to bring one African back home safely. WE MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE VALUE.
It may take a while for the world to recognize that Africans are equal in value to every other citizen of the world, but we first must demonstrate this by respecting an African life ourselves.
Just as the world stands ready to support under dog Ukraine against the world’s most formidable army, Russia, the world must also stand ready to support the marginalized Africans across the globe. This is called moral justice for all, but it starts with us.
Dr.Nevers Sekwila Mumba
Former Republican Vice President
President, MMD