Reawakening Africans take 2: A call to have spirited campaigns about free movement in Africa

The word Africa lives rent free in my mouth and heart. Sometimes it feels so awkward when I don’t mention her in my conversations, because she is a part of me. I thought my vacation to Mozambique would just be a vacation. No writing or conversations about Africa. The plan was to reconnect and recharge. Yes I did just that however, just before I could breathe Africa made its way to my mouth. 

Let me mention this again, I am not affiliated to any political organisation. I am affiliated to Africa and Africans. Every analysis that I share are my views and not inspired by any employer. I am a storyteller and voice of reason in Africa. The views I share are to inspire change and to keep the Africa conversation going. I hope that this perspective will develop your views and enhance the conversations around free movement. But first can His excellency Secretary-general of the African Continental Free Trade Area Wamkele Mene and his team  gather here for a moment. I hope this analysis reaches your office,hopefully other multilateral organisations, Public sector, private sector and Non-profit organisations.  

The journey to Mozambique 

History has deprived Africans the dignity of building nations on their own values,  heritage and culture. Today, our democracies are embedded in oppressive systems that deprive many young Africans of opportunities. We live in democracies that are striving to encounter the true essence of freedom. I believe that our freedom is rooted in the African Continental Free Trade Area. 

It was on the 05th of April 2024 when my little sister and I began our journey to Mozambique. We were so excited and eager to cross the border. Let me mention that it is not my first time traveling to an African country, however, it was my little sister’s first time. More than anything, my concern when embarking on any Africa journey is the border and the immigration process. No, it has nothing to do with any visa irregularities on my end. It just so happens to be very challenging crossing these African borders and as an African going to Africa. 

I thought Mozambique would be a little less complex, little did I know. A rude awakening or rather a slap on the face we were met with at the Komatipoort Border. Hello South Africans we are your neighbours, not your friends this is what Mozambique whispered. I took a deep breath exhaling the humidity and comprehending the reality we were about to encounter. We headed over to get our passports stamped. Just after we were granted entry into Mozambique everything went downhill. 

We were first informed the company that we were traveling with had been held up for three days. According to the Chief’s office in Mozambique, they couldn’t let the truck through to Mozambique because they required proof that we travelers like myself existed. So, when we arrived the Chief’s office requested that one official meet us at the border to prove our existence. When the official arrived he had the copies of our passports and indeed they corresponded. We then confirmed that we were traveling to Morrunglo for camping only. 

He scanned through all our passports and in a wink of an eye demanded our passports immediately. We, by all the campers present, were very hesitant to hand our passports to this official. He then insisted that it was the Chief’s instruction that he take our passports. We therefore handed him our passports and then he disappeared. Our bus was parked at the fuel station, three team leaders were held hostage and now they took another team leader. We were left with our bus driver and twelve disgruntled travelers. 

To say we waited is an understatement. We were buried at the port of entry for nine hours straight. The anger and nervousness ranged. Every chance we got to make calls to ask for feedback from the team we were told that the Chief was still processing our passports. We waited until we forgot that we were still traveling to Mozambique. In the process of waiting, I think the disheartening aspect was not being allowed to use the toilets at the fuel station. They would refuse or make us purchase items before using the toilets. This is the Africa, I did not sign up for.

The trip organiser had no control on how Mozambique would welcome us. He complied with all his travel documents and that was still not enough. 

We need more spirited advocacy campaigns about the benefits of free movement

We need the free movement of persons on the African continent now. I am not only making mention of this because of my experiences when traveling the African continent. However, as an African continent we need to spend more time sharing spirited advocacy campaigns about the benefits of free movement of persons on the African continent. 

The African Continental Free Trade Area provides an exclusive opportunity for countries in the region to competitively integrate into the global economy. The World Bank group( 2020:1) stated that AfCFTA has the potential to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty but achieving its full potential will depend on putting in place significant policy reforms and trade facilitation measures. AfCFTA’s essential opportunity is to help African countries diversify their exports, accelerate growth and attract direct foreign investment.  

What better way to accelerate growth on the African continent by sharing knowledge about the benefits of free movement using the AfCFTA. I think as a young African where the AfCFTA is concerned there is not so much understanding and clarity of a borderless Africa. I speak for myself that I had to conduct research about the AfCFTA to better gain clarity of the bigger picture. Therefore ,if we require more Africans to support the movement we need to start advocacy campaigns and workshops where we share the knowledge that they need.

With reference to my journey to Mozambique let me be the first to make a call to the AfCFTA. We need more campaigns and workshops sharing knowledge about free movement. It is storytellers or travelers like myself that can assist Africans better understand the role of the AfCFTA and free movement. I hereby make a call to the AfCFTA secretariat to bring me on this journey. I support the vision and I am ready to share more knowledge.

On a lighter note, after the very bumpy ride to Mozambique the vacation was life-changing and amazing. If you want to have the best camping experience I highly recommend you try Camping Retreats. Please follow them on all social media platforms. 

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