US lecture tackles political situation in Zimbabwe

Southeastern Africa may be far away from Northwest Philadelphia, but scholar Molefi K. Asante thinks it is something locals should be educated about.

Consequently, he held a session titled "The Dangers of Re-Entry of Zimbabwe into the World Economy: An Assessment" at the MKA Institute for Afrocentric Studies, 5535 Germantown Ave., Germantown, recently. At the Sunday evening lecture, the professor drew attention to how locals could participate in the transcontinental economic landscape.

"There has been a long political struggle," Asante said.

He explained the ethnic tensions within the various national groups. He also pointed out many of the European farmers who owned land in the country had taken the land in much the same way that land was taken from the Native Americans in the United States. The peoples of Mozambique engaged in guerilla warfare.

"No people like suffering," said Asante, leading to the overthrow of the former government.

He then explained the transformation the country has had to make with the change of regime. Asante added though there is a lot of global coverage of the Mozambique situation abroad, the American media does not report on Mozambique or the African continent.

Asante also gave updates on some of the news from Africa. He spoke of the transitions in South Africa, the sanctions on many eastern African nations and the influx of Chinese coming to the continent. He noted there are Chinatowns throughout the African continent from Senegal to South Africa.

"Africa is still rich in resources — gold, oil," he said.

He then made a case for an African union while each country retains their individual identities.

"This was great," said Sharon Howard, who had many comments during the question-and-answer session that followed the lecture.

She said she is a world traveler and has been to Zimbabwe. She has traveled with Afrocentricity International, a global group founded by Asante and fellow Temple University professor and scholar of Africology Ama Mazama.

Shenuti Lasme from Afrocentricity International said he felt it was an important lecture. He also said the organization is planning its next trip to the African continent.


It was late last year Afrocentricity International delivered a "Hands Off" statement regarding Zimbabwe. It was issued by Mazama, the preaat of Afrocentricity International, along with Asante, who serves as international organizer of the group.

"Now that the transition to the Presidency of Zimbabwe has been made from the Honorable Robert Mugabe to his First Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Afrocentricity International warns the external vultures to stay out of the political affairs of the country," said Mazama and Asante in an official statement dated Nov. 24, 2017.

"Afrocentricity International will condemn any Zimbabwean who works with outsiders to overturn the people's revolution in order to re-enslave the masses to the economic domination by white racist interests. There will be individuals, blacks and whites, who will conspire against the new government and we call for vigilance among the war veterans and those who understand the meaning of the struggle against white minority rule under the former Rhodesia. Long Live Freedom in Zimbabwe!" they said.

On the national level, President Donald J. Trump made a statement in regarding Zimbabwe on March 2.

"In November 2017, dynamics within the factionalized ruling party of Zimbabwe, the African National Union-Patriotic Front party, reached a head," Trump said. "Facing impeachment, Robert Mugabe resigned. The subsequent change in government has offered an extraordinary opportunity for Zimbabwe to set itself on a new path toward implementing reforms that could allow the United States to re engage in ways not previously possible.

"Concrete actions must follow President Mnangagwa's stated intentions to carry out political and economic reforms. The actions and policies of certain members of the government of Zimbabwe and other persons, however, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, to respond to this persisting threat, I have determined that it is necessary to continue this national emergency and to maintain in force the sanctions," Trump said.