Front Line States Summit, Arusha, Tanzania, 29 April 1984

Front Line States Summit, Arusha, Tanzania, 29 April 1984

The Front Line States’ Summit Meeting was held in Arusha, Tanzania, on Sunday 29 April 1984 to consider the recent developments in Southern Africa. The Heads of State and Government present were: President Eduardo dos Santos of the People’s Republic of Angola; President Quett Masire of the Republic of Botswana; President Samora Machel of the People’s Republic of Mozambique; President Julius K Nyerere of the United Republic of Tanzania; President Kenneth Kaunda of the Republic of Zambia and Prime Minister Robert Mugabe of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Also in attendance were Comrade Oliver Tambo, President of the African National Congress (ANC) and Comrade Sam Nujoma, President of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) of Namibia.

The Heads of State and Government and the leaders of Liberation Movements reaffirmed their total and unqualified commitment to the liberation struggles of the people of Namibia against colonialism and of the people of South Africa against apartheid. They reasserted their conviction and that of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), that the total liberation of Africa from colonialism and racism is essential for the security of all independent states of the continent and in particular of the Front Line States.

Further, they reiterated that the root cause of the problems of South Africa is apartheid itself; apartheid is the cause of Africa’s hostility to the South African racist regime and the existence of South African and Namibian refugees. None of these things is caused by the Front Line or other States neighbouring South Africa. Apartheid has been condemned in categorical terms by the United Nations, and by the leaders of Europe, America, Australasia and Asia as well as by Africa. It cannot be made acceptable by the use of South Africa’s military power and economic strength, nor by the use of mercenaries and traitors.

… For the Heads of State and Government of the Front Line States and the leaders of the Liberation Movements repeat a truism: PEACE IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH RACISM AND COLONIALISM. Man is so constituted that men and women will die for freedom and human dignity if they are prevented from the peaceful pursuit of these basic human rights. Neither military might nor devious political machinations, whether directed against the peoples inside Namibia and South Africa or against the free States of Africa, can defeat the idea of freedom and racial equality.

THE STRUGGLE WILL BE LONG AND HARD.
IT WILL BE CARRIED ON UNTIL FINAL VICTORY.
A LUTA CONTINUA!

Source:
Sechaba Editorial, “Peace Is Incompatible with Racism and Colonialism: Final Communique of the Front Line States Summit”, Sechaba, June 1984.

Castro Khwela
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