Page 65 - Afrika Must Unite

C H A P T E R SIX

F R E E D O M F I R S T

I t is my deep conviction that all peoples wish to be free, and
that the desire for freedom is rooted in the soul of every one of us.
A people long subjected to foreign domination, however, does
not always find it easy to translate that wish into action. Under
arbitrary rule, people are apt to become lethargic; their senses
are dulled. Fear becomes the dom inant force in their lives; fear
of breaking the law, fear of the punitive measures which might
result from an unsuccessful attem pt to break loose from their
shackles. Those who lead the struggle for freedom must break
through this apathy and fear. They must give active expression
to the universal longing to be free. They must strengthen the
peoples’ faith in themselves, and encourage them to take part in
the freedom struggle. Above all, they must declare their aims
openly and unmistakably, and organize the people towards the
achievement of their goal of self-government.
The essential forger of the political revolution is a strong, well-
organized, broadly based political party, knit together by a
programme that is accepted by all the members, who also submit
themselves to the party’s discipline. Its programme should aim
for ‘Freedom first’. ‘Seek ye first the political kingdom,’ became
the principal slogan of the Convention People’s Party, for with­
out political independence none of our plans for social and
economic development could be put into effect.
There has been a good deal of talk about dependent territories
making themselves viable before attem pting to take upon them ­
selves the responsibilities of self-government. T hat is precisely
what they cannot do. As long as the government of less de­
veloped countries remains in the hands of colonial adminis­
trators, their economies are set to a pattern determined by
the interests, not of the indigenous inhabitants but of the national