By Charles Mkoka
More than three decades after the final wave of southern Africa’s independence struggles, the region’s historic liberation movements are redefining their mission.
Once united by the shared goal of overthrowing colonial rule and minority regimes, these movements now face a different challenge: translating political freedom into economic transformation and social progress for their citizens.
That transition was at the centre of discussions when secretaries-general from six southern African liberation parties met recently at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Kibaha, Tanzania.
The gathering marked the handover of the chairship of the Liberation Movements Secretariat from South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) to Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
But beyond the formal leadership transition, the meeting reflected a broader reflection taking place across the region, one about how liberation movements can remain relevant in a new political and economic era.
The parties represented at the meeting, ANC (South Africa), CCM (Tanzania), SWAPO (Namibia), MPLA (Angola), FRELIMO (Mozambique), and ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe); share a common political heritage.
Each emerged from long struggles against colonialism, apartheid, or minority rule during the 20th century.
Their victories reshaped the political map of southern Africa: Tanzania gained independence in 1961 and became a hub for African liberation movements. Mozambique and Angola achieved independence from Portugal in 1975. Zimbabwe ended white minority rule in 1980. Namibia won independence from South African administration in 1990. South Africa dismantled apartheid in 1994 after decades of resistance.
For many Africans, these victories symbolized what is often called “flag freedom.” Yet independence alone did not resolve the deeper economic inequalities created during colonial rule.
Today, leaders of these movements increasingly argue that the liberation project is incomplete.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, speaking during the handover ceremony, said the unity of the liberation movements remains essential to defending sovereignty and advancing development.
“Freedom is not given, freedom is organized,” he said.
For many analysts, the challenge facing these movements is how to transform their historical legitimacy into solutions for contemporary problems such as unemployment, inequality, and technological disruption.
Across the region, youth unemployment remains high, economic growth is uneven, and the global economy is increasingly shaped by digital technology and climate change.
CCM Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, who now assumes the secretariat’s chairship, said liberation movements must adapt to these realities.
“The struggle today is not only about political independence,” she said. “It is about economic transformation, social justice, and ensuring that our people benefit from development.”
This evolving agenda reflects a broader shift in African political discourse.
Where the 20th century struggle focused on political sovereignty, the 21st century debate increasingly centers on economic sovereignty, including industrialization, technological innovation, and control over natural resources.
Regional leaders say frameworks, including the African Union’s Agenda 2063, are designed to guide this transition.
Agenda 2063 envisions an Africa that is integrated, prosperous, and driven by its own citizens, emphasizing infrastructure development, regional trade, and technological advancement.
In Tanzania, planning efforts, in line with the Development Vision 2050, seek to align domestic policy with continental goals.
Officials say these strategies aim to ensure that political independence is matched by economic resilience and inclusive growth.
The Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School, established jointly by the six liberation parties in 2022, has become a central institution for political education and leadership development.
The school is intended to train a new generation of political leaders while preserving the principles that guided earlier liberation struggles, including Pan-Africanism, solidarity, and self-reliance.
Mozambique’s FRELIMO Secretary-General, Chakil Aboobakar, recently assumed the role of chair of the school’s Board of Trustees, reinforcing its role as a shared institution among the parties.
Supporters say such initiatives are essential as liberation movements face growing competition from newer political parties and shifting public expectations.
While liberation movements remain dominant in several southern African countries, their political dominance is no longer guaranteed.
In recent years, opposition parties and civil society groups have gained ground in many parts of the region, reflecting rising demands for economic opportunity, transparency, and good governance.
Political analysts say this changing environment means liberation parties must increasingly rely on policy performance rather than historical legitimacy alone.
“Young voters did not experience the liberation struggles directly,” said a local political observer. “For them, the question is not who liberated the country, but who can create jobs and improve their future.”
Despite domestic pressures, the movements continue to emphasize regional solidarity and shared political values.
During the meeting, leaders reaffirmed their opposition to international sanctions affecting some member states and reiterated support for decolonization efforts in Palestine and Western Sahara.
Such positions reflect a longstanding tradition of international solidarity rooted in the liberation era, when African movements relied heavily on cross-border cooperation.
That spirit of cooperation, leaders argue, remains relevant as African countries navigate an increasingly complex global political landscape.
The year 2027, when Tanzania’s CCM marks the 50th anniversary of its formation, was highlighted during the meeting as an opportunity for reflection across the liberation movements.
For many participants, such milestones are moments not only to celebrate history but also to reassess future direction.
Half a century after many of these movements first came to power, the central question remains whether they can successfully lead what some leaders now call “the second phase of liberation,” one defined not by the removal of colonial rule, but by the creation of prosperous and inclusive economies.
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