By Emmanuel Nduka
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has called for renewed Pan-African unity, peace, and inclusive development as the continent commemorated Africa Freedom Day, marking 62 years since the founding of the Organization of African Unity.
In a message shared on Facebook, Hichilema stressed the urgency of ending conflict and prioritizing peace across the continent. “We must silence the guns and invest in peace. Instability anywhere on the continent is instability everywhere. Africa cannot afford to be divided by conflict when the dream of unity and prosperity is within reach,” he wrote.
He honored the legacy of Africa’s founding leaders — including Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda, Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere, and Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah — whose vision of independence and Pan-African solidarity, he said, must guide the current generation.
“The current generation of African leaders must rise to the occasion by prioritizing inclusive economic growth, rooted in transparency, prudent fiscal management, and a commitment to ensuring that development delivers jobs and opportunities for all Africans, especially the youth and women who remain the backbone of our continent’s future,” Hichilema stated.
He also called for a reformation of global financial systems, arguing that current structures continue to marginalize African nations. “The continent must continue advocating for a more equitable international financial architecture — one that no longer reinforces historical inequalities but enables Africa to define its own path to sustainable development.”
Africa Freedom Day marks the 1963 creation of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor to the African Union, and is observed across the continent as a symbol of liberation and unity.
