Pan-African Parliament opens the door to economic freedom

The ‘Door of our Return’ has been opened nearly 400 years after Africans were taken to the western continents as slaves.

The Midrand Reporter reported on the press conference held at the Pan-African Parliament on 19 September in Open the door of hope for economy [Week ending 11 October]. African American and Barbados business and religious leaders began their journey back to Africa.

The leaders held a meeting at the Pan-African Parliament on 21 November to discuss ways to bring economic freedom to the African continent and do away with poverty for good. Among the leaders were, New York state senator James Sanders, Dr Julius Garvey son to Marcus Garvey and Dr George Fraser, chairman and CEO of FraserNet.

One of the leaders, Reverend Dennis Dillon, chairman for the Door of our Return Foundation, said that the meeting should not be seen as an ordinary gathering because Africans in and outside the continent were not living in ordinary circumstances.

Dillon added, “We have journeyed through the door of what was no return in Ghana and Goree Island. We have made a commitment that, Benin, Togo and Senegal and all these places along the western shores of Africa that were once viewed as ‘Doors of no Return’ will no longer be doors of no return for Africans and Americans.”

Guests were given a warm welcome by Chief Hosi Aaroni Mahumani, from Giyani who said that if one is a real leader, their key and main responsibility should be to ensure the well-being of the people under them. “It is through that, from generation to generation, that one of our roles is to administer justice, without any fear or favour and to ensure there is social-economic development and also to promote preserve culture and heritage, therefore, I welcome our brother and sisters,” he added.

Dr Julius Garvey added that it was important to focus on economic ventures or solutions. “I would like to emphasis that small and medium enterprise businesses always provide 75 per cent or more of jobs.

“What we need to do, is identify the business opportunities, identify individuals and groups of those who want to partner with similar groups in the United States that we represent so that we can start tomorrow and not wait on the African Union or debates which will make us wait 10 years for our economic freedom.”

Pan-African Parliament (PAP) vice president, Chief Fortune Chirumbira concluded that the key issues such as partnerships between the diaspora and Africa should follow. “We place ourselves as the Pan-African Parliament at the centre of the partnership, be it business, political or social in order to ensure development, as per the PAP constitution.

“We will be pushing as the Pan-African Parliament through the bureau and the plenary that we have a full-time office with an officer whose duty is the African diaspora business.”

Details: Jeffrey Onganga Pan-African Parliament media officer 011 545 5307.

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https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/228168/the-pan-african-parliament-explores-use-of-tech/