By Charles Mkoka
KIBAHA, Tanzania – Liberation movements from six southern African countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic transformation, youth employment, and regional solidarity after a meeting of party secretaries-general in Tanzania.
Asha-Rose Migiro, Secretary-General of Tanzania’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), said the parties reviewed political and economic developments in the region and assessed progress made since last year’s summit of liberation movements held in South Africa.
The meeting, the 12th gathering of secretaries-general of southern African liberation parties, brought together representatives of CCM, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), Mozambique’s FRELIMO, Angola’s MPLA, Namibia’s SWAPO, and Zimbabwe’s ZANU–PF.
Migiro said discussions focused on how liberation movements can move beyond political independence toward achieving broader economic and social development.
“The first phase of our struggle was political liberation. The next phase is ensuring economic and social progress for our people,” she said, adding that member parties shared experiences in strengthening infrastructure, improving social services, and building resilient economies capable of addressing climate change.
Delegates also highlighted the need to expand employment opportunities for young people and strengthen women’s economic empowerment, describing both groups as central to the region’s development.
Participants also discussed the growing impact of climate change, including recurring cyclones and floods in Mozambique, and agreed that governments and political movements must invest more in climate-resilient development.
A representative from Namibia’s SWAPO party said the meeting allowed liberation movements to exchange information on political developments and coordinate strategies to safeguard the gains of independence.
The official said the parties would continue to engage through bilateral and multilateral cooperation to defend the values of Pan-Africanism and address the challenges facing liberation movements in the region.
The parties also pledged to maintain solidarity in responding to geopolitical pressures and to strengthen cooperation to protect the political and economic achievements of southern Africa’s liberation struggles.