We hope to have frank discussions with our counterparts: Zulu – SABC Information

The African National Congress (ANC) NEC member Lindiwe Zulu says the 2025 Liberation Movements Summit aims to bring about solutions to problems such as poverty, unemployment and inequality.

The ANC has convened a four-day conference which includes the MPLA in Angola, FRELIMO in Mozambique, SWAPO in Namibia, CCM in Tanzania and ZANU-PF in Zimbabwe.

The summit is being held under the theme “Defending Liberation Gains, Advancing Integrated Socio-Economic Development, Strengthening Solidarity for a Better Africa.”

Zulu says the countries are working towards ensuring that their citizens have economic freedom.

“What is very important at this point and time is unity of the leaders of these liberation movements. But beyond leadership and unity, it’s about being sensitive to the challenges that are being faced by our people, that’s poverty, unemployment, inequality and economies that have a potential to grow and be of service to these people. This is the main reason why we are here, ensuring that we respond to the needs of the people. It’s about ensuring that the economies of our countries grow for the benefit of the people so that they can have the jobs. So that they can create the jobs for themselves,” explains Zulu.

Zulu says that the party hopes to have frank discussions with its liberation movement counterparts. She outlined the importance of the summit, as the world grapples with a number of challenges.

“This is the main reason why we are here as liberation movements. To say, yes, we got the freedom, yes, we removed apartheid, yes, we removed colonialism at the time. But what is the future looking like?”

Video: Liberation Movements Summit | Leaders expected to discuss current challenges

Spokesperson for Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF, Christopher Mutsvangwa, says while tensions between South Africa and the US are not favourable, African countries are looking inward and improving relations on the continent.

Mutsvangwa was speaking on the sidelines of the Liberation Movements Summit, which started on Friday.