Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Desk Editor
A series of events have been lined up to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity, renamed the African Union in 2002, with a theme focusing on justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations.
In a media briefing in Harare, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Rwandese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency James Musoni said events to mark this year’s Africa Day underscore a vital and long overdue call to action to recognise historical injustice, promote healing, and pursue meaningful reparative justice for Africans and people of African descent around the world.
“The African Union has declared this year’s theme as justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations. This initiative underscores the AU’s commitment to addressing historical injustices because colonialism is the worst injustice.
“This also included the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, apartheid, and genocide. It builds on decades of advocacy and collaboration, aiming to foster unity and establish mechanisms for reparatory justice on a global scale. So this theme underscores a vital and long overdue call to action to recognise historical injustice, promote healing, and pursue meaningful reparative justice for Africans and people of African descent around the world. It reflects our collective commitment to equity, dignity, and the restoration of rights and opportunities that were long denied through colonialism, slavery, and systematic discrimination,” he said.
Egyptian Ambassador to Zimbabwe and Chair of the Oversight Committee into the May 25 commemorations, Her Excellency Salwa Mowafi outlined some of the events earmarked for the day including showcasing of films celebrating Africa and a solidarity march.
“We wanted this Africa Day also to be that colourful, and to reflect our rich cultures and our rich cultures in the continent. So, in Zimbabwe, here, we are pleased that our Africa Day 2025 celebrations will be like we try to add lots of diversity to it.
“On May 28, we call it the African Movies Festival, and we are very happy because this will be the first time that we organise such a kind of activity which will feature movies from Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia, and of course Zimbabwe, our host. We are abiding with the theme of Africa Day, which has been specified and declared by the African Union, so all these movies will just be the main theme of, the struggle of the African peoples in different regions of Africa.
“I wish that lots of people will attend because it is something that you can not miss and then after that, on May 31, it’s Saturday, so there will be a marathon. This is also the first time that we are organising this event. It’s a big marathon. It will happen around areas surrounding the Liberation City and African Liberation Museum. We will have our 21 kilometres, 12 kilometres, 5 kilometres, and if you are like me, let’s walk together. I think it will be a very nice event. In this event, all of us, the embassies, it’s open for public, and there is a link for that,” she said.
Africa Day marks the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which was founded in 1963. It celebrates unity, diversity, progress, and the enduring spirit of solidarity among African nations and the journey towards an industrialised Africa under the Agenda 2063 blueprint.
