by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
Editor-In-Chief
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – IN southern Africa, the border between Malawi and Mozambique is unlike any other. It is not a wall, not a fence, not even a formidable checkpoint.
It is a road. A simple stretch of tar that splits villages in two, where crossing from one side to the other can be as easy as changing lanes.
Here, daily life flows seamlessly across international boundaries. Locals often joke that one can have breakfast in Malawi and lunch in Mozambique without ever leaving their neighbourhood.
When illness strikes, residents cross the road for treatment in a Malawian clinic, then return home to Mozambique by evening. The communities sing together, dance together, trade together, and only at night retreat to homes technically divided by colonial cartography.
This extraordinary coexistence is not unique to Malawi and Mozambique. Across the continent, Africa’s people live out daily examples of cross-border unity that defy the artificial lines drawn by European powers at the Berlin Conference of 1884–85, which carved Africa into colonial possessions with little regard for ethnic, cultural, or geographical realities.
Borders That Unite, Not Divide
At Lake Kariba and Victoria Falls, Zimbabweans and Zambians move freely across the mighty Zambezi River.
Residents of Chirundu, a border town, share fishing expeditions and meals without suspicion or hostility. The same spirit exists between Botswana and Zimbabwe, where families traverse the frontier to shop, attend weddings, or visit relatives.
In Mozambique’s Forbes and Sango border posts with Zimbabwe, communities eat and drink together in market stalls that straddle the boundary.
Similar stories are told between Namibia and Botswana, Angola and Namibia, and Malawi and Zambia.
These interactions illustrate an everyday Pan-Africanism—ordinary citizens affirming the dream of continental unity through lived experience. For them, borders are invisible lines in the mind, not barriers to human connection.
The Exception: South Africa and Afrophobia
Yet the narrative shifts dramatically at South Africa’s borders. Despite being Africa’s most industrialised nation, South Africa has become notorious for xenophobic and Afrophobic violence.
Unlike Malawians and Mozambicans who see their neighbours as brothers and sisters, South Africans often accuse migrants from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Malawi, and Mozambique of “stealing jobs” or burdening public services.
Waves of xenophobic attacks—in 2008, 2015, 2019, and again in 2022—have left scores dead and thousands displaced.
Movements such as Operation Dudula have targeted foreign nationals, painting them as scapegoats for the country’s deep socioeconomic challenges, including unemployment, poverty, and inequality.
This hostility contrasts sharply with the spirit of unity displayed across other African borders.
It raises pressing questions: why is South Africa, a country that once received solidarity from its neighbours during the anti-apartheid struggle, now resistant to Pan-African ideals? Analysts suggest the answer lies in domestic frustrations, economic disparities, and the failure of post-apartheid governance to deliver inclusive prosperity.
The Pan-African Vision: A United States of Africa
The dream of African unity is not new. Leaders like Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana championed the idea of a United States of Africa (USA) as early as the 1960s. The goal: one president, one parliament, one currency, one military, one flag.
Today, the African Union (AU) has revived aspects of that vision through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to remove trade barriers across the continent and build a single market of 1.4 billion people.
Citizens across the continent echo these aspirations.
Kenyan economist Kipkirui Mwangi notes: “Despite being East Africa’s largest economy, we keep our borders open. We encourage free movement of people and goods to stimulate trade. Imagine if the entire continent did the same.”
Ugandan activist Namazzi Mbabazi laments resistance to unity: “Some countries are stuck in small fiefdoms, blind to the fact that Africa is rising. We need vision to understand the power of becoming one.”
Nigerian entrepreneur Adaeze Adesina adds: “In West Africa, we already have free movement between Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, and Chad. Extending this to the whole continent would transform Africa into a global powerhouse.”
The Sleeping Giant
For many, the potential of a united Africa lies in strength against exploitation. Zimbabwean commentator Farai Madanhire argues:
“When all 54 countries unite with one currency, one parliament, and one military, Africa will finally awaken as a sleeping giant. The world would no longer impose unfair tariffs or plunder our mineral wealth with impunity.”
He cites recent U.S. trade policies that disadvantage African exporters as evidence of why collective bargaining power is essential. “If we were one country, no one would dare blackmail us. Unity would protect our resources and dignity.”
Resistance and Skepticism
Not all share this optimism. South African resident Kgotso Lebusa dismisses the idea: “These countries pushing for unity are poor. They have nothing to show. South Africa cannot carry the burden of failed states.”
Such views reflect the challenges of building consensus across a continent of diverse economies, cultures, and political systems. Critics argue that before pursuing full union, African nations must first tackle corruption, weak governance, and infrastructural deficits.
Border Realities: Daily Life and Jokes
Back at the Malawi-Mozambique border, residents find humour in their unique geography.
Wyze WeBe Tanaka quips: “So when I overtake on this road, am I a border jumper?”
Tsar Twitch laughs: “You can overtake through Mozambique and come back to Malawi in seconds.”
Enock Sailis reflects: “Borders are just lines in our brains.”
Others feel anger at the colonial legacy. Moses Kita fumes: “Every time I drive here (Malawi-Mozambique border), I curse the Europeans—especially the British and Portuguese—for dividing us. But I also take comfort knowing that one day true African unity will undo this.”
Lessons from History
Africa has already witnessed the dangers of division. The 1994 Rwandan genocide, civil wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Angola, and xenophobic killings in South Africa are reminders of how ethnic and national divisions can spiral into violence.
Conversely, unity has shown strength: the Southern African Development Community (SADC) collectively pushed back against apartheid South Africa, while ECOWAS has often acted as a regional stabiliser in West Africa.
Benefits of Unity
Research and policy studies highlight the potential gains of unity:
Economic integration: AfCFTA could lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty and boost intra-African trade by 52% by 2035.
Political stability: A unified Africa would have greater leverage in global negotiations.
Social cohesion: Unity fosters mutual respect, reduces conflict, and builds continental identity.
Collective security: A shared military force could respond faster to crises, reducing reliance on foreign interventions.
Above all, unity cultivates a sense of belonging, pride, and dignity—transforming Africa from a continent of 54 fragmented states into one formidable global player.
The Road Ahead
For now, Africa remains divided by colonial borders. Yet, as the daily lives of Malawians, Mozambicans, Zimbabweans, and Zambians show, unity is not just an elite aspiration. It is already practiced in villages, markets, and riversides across the continent.
The challenge is whether political leaders will match the vision of their people. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 envisions “an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens.” Whether this dream becomes reality will depend on overcoming nationalism, poverty, and external interference.
For ordinary Africans sharing meals across borders, however, the future is already clear: a United Africa is not just possible—it is inevitable.
– CAJ News