By Spy Uganda
Kampala: In a powerful address, Zimbabwean based renowned Pan Africanist Bishop Joshua Mbarara 111 Maponga, discussed critical issues facing Uganda, South Africa and the broader African continent.
His 30 minute presentation via zoom on the weekly popular Pan African pyramid debate focused mainly on African governance, land ownership, economic policies, and the education system designed for Africa’s progress.
The founder of Farmers of Thought Organization based in Zimbabwe particularly emphasized the importance of young people participating in governance to drive systemic change that is Africa cantered rather than continue to irrigate the colonial masters’ systems in Africa that continue to drain African resources.
“I am quite excited to be part of this beautiful conversation. I would like to pitch my conversation to the young minds who have a business to walk into spaces of governance and be able to make an impact and transform the system,” he started.
Maponga criticized the current systems which most African leaders use, that in his view, were designed to make Africans workers rather than owners and masters of their own resources.
He also highlighted the necessity of shifting from being participants in a colonial legacy to becoming true owners of African resources and decision-making processes.
“The system was never designed to make Africans shareholders and owners; it was designed to make Africans workers,” he asserted.
Maponga elaborated on the necessity of understanding and transforming governance structures, calling for a re-evaluation of the current political and economic frameworks inherited from colonial powers.
He pointed out that many African laws and constitutions still reflect colonial influences and need to be reformed to serve African interests better.
He also touched on the critical issue of food security, advocating for the planting of staple foods to ensure self-sufficiency rather than relying heavily on cash crops for export.
“Until we are able to feed ourselves as Africans, planting on our ground what we can eat, we’re going to spend a lot of time talking about an economy that doesn’t serve us,” he said.
In his speech, Maponga also addressed health and technology, urging for an understanding of indigenous knowledge systems to enhance the quality of life and longevity for Africans.
He emphasized the need for technology to improve life rather than merely adopting foreign technological advancements without context.
Towards the end of his presentation, moderated by the founding Speaker and Chairman of PAP Andrew Irumba Katusabe, at Fairway Hotel, Maponga directed a piece of personal advice to Ugandan politician and musician Bobi Wine and South Africa’s EFF leader Julius Malema to first study the systems instead of opposing blindly. He urged them to join the governments to gain a better understanding of how government systems work rather than staying in opposition to make the empty hollow noise while seemingly supporting the colonial Agendas.
“Don’t waste your time running into political systems if you don’t understand them. Join the government and learn the system,” he advised.
Bishop Maponga called upon the young African generation to rise and transform their societies by engaging in governance, understanding their heritage, and becoming the change-makers of tomorrow. “For instance, what’s Bobi’s ideology, if I may ask? What’s his strategy on food security of his people? What about the protection of our cultures and traditions? Because I see him hobnobbing with LGBTQ community, allegedly because they find him,” he said.
More about Maponga
Maponga was on Saturday 26th August 2023 awarded at Fairway Hotel where Pan African Pyramid (PAP) hosted the 6th edition of its awards commonly known as PAP Global Awards, an event that attracted hundreds of Pan Africanists across the globe to celebrate their forefathers.
Bishop Joshua Marara Maponga 111 is renowned Zimbabwean born preacher, philosopher, motivational public speaker, theologian, author, writer, musician, entrepreneur and internationally acclaimed unparalled Pan-Africanist.
Maponga was born in masvingo province, Zimbabwe in 1973. The 49 year old moved to South Africa in his early days and later relocated to Swaziland before eventually traveling to the UK in 1998.
The motivational speaker is the oldest child of Lazarus and Sibanda Maponga and 4 siblings. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Personal Ministries from Andrews University in Michigan, USA. Maponga, whose impactful preaching earned him a nickname “Creative power House”, is the founder of farmers of thought Institute and two other non-Governmental Organizations based in Zimbabwe; The Indigenous Movement and The African Indigenous movement. Maponga has traveled widely and has quite a number of followers who believe in his philosophies. He’s famous for many reasons; He’s a seventh day Adventist church ordained Bishop, motivational public speaker, a community development enthusiast and a strong believer of Pan-Africanism.
Maponga grew up with his parents and from a young age showed a good sign of being independent and as such was able to follow his passion and traveled to places where he could fulfill his dreams. His quest for knowledge saw him travel between South Africa, Swaziland,UK among other countries.
Maponga’s mind was originally set on engineering and although he didn’t eventually follow that path, he took part in the construction, entrepreneurial training, which is an initiative of the international labour organization that helps to set up local talents as consultants for emerging manufacturers and consultants.
Maponga’s father ventured into pastoral work, after his release from prison for his involvement in politics. This led him to ensure that young Maponga stayed out of politics and followed him to his service in the church, and as such, Maponga junior has been a pastor in the seventh day Adventist church for so many years and his passion for the gospel endeared him to the congregation.
He enjoyed a wide followership and as time passed by, his impactful ministering caught the attention of senior church ministers, who later ordained him a bishop of the Pentecostal and evangelical community. He continued to make an impact within the church and created his own approach to preaching the gospel.
Maponga’s infectious oratory teachings about Pan-Africanism, the flow, the rhythm and his level of dedication to Pan-African ideals can only be equated to those of his forefathers in the movement, the likes of Martin Luther Jr, Malcolm X, Khalid Mohamad, Julius Nyerere, Nelson Mandela, Patrice Lumumba to mention but a few.
Maponga also took a swipe at those destroying mother nature, equating them to fools. “If you still need to be told to protect nature and environment as an African, then you’re a fool, because we’re the food we eat, the grass we eat, the water we drink, the forests that give us oxygen and form rainfalls for fauna and flora to flourish, so how can you be too foolish to destroy yourself,” Maponga said. His statements are timely, because they come just a few days after Nema had destroyed hundreds of families in the lubigi wetland area.
