Africans in S. Africa march against slave trade

JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Africans marched in the South African capital, Tshwane on Tuesday in protest over slave trade reported in Libya.

The march was organized by the African Diaspora Forum (ADF) which is an organization based in South Africa comprising of members from 35 African countries. It was attended by the civil society organizations, churches, trade unions and traditional leaders. Speaking to Xinhua on the side-lines of the march, Marc Gbaffou, African Diaspora Forum chairperson expressed shock over the slave trade.

"We were shocked to hear that in some parts of the continent some of the Africans are sold to other people. It's shocking that human beings have a price and they auctioned to big business. We did not know that some still practice in the 21 century. This brings bad memory of the old horrible slave trade. We want this not to happen again even to the next generations," said Gbaffou.

A memorandum was handed over to the South African presidency, Libyan embassy to South Africa, African Union, Pan-African Parliament, United Nations and European Union. Gbaffou said they want South Africa who is influential in the continent to help end slave trade in Libya and anywhere else.

He said, "We want the Libyan embassy to communicate with his country to immediately stop slave trade. We also want the AU to quickly conduct an investigation and ensure the perpetrators are arrested and jailed. We want AU to also discourage other countries from doing slave trade."

Gbaffou said Africans should immediately hold a meeting with Libya to solve the slave trade. Gbaffou said they want the EU to stop encouraging corrupt African leaders to sell other human beings. They called on the EU to enforce democracy and good governance.

He lamented that many people are dying in the Mediterranean Sea seeking greener pastures in Europe. Gbaffou said Africans are risking their lives to Europe with a hope for a better life.

Ngqabutho Mabhena, chairperson of Zimbabwe Community in South African echoed Gbaffou's word that they want slave trade to be stopped immediately.

He said, "We are marching to raise awareness to communities about the evil happening in Libya where people are sold into slavery. We are also seeking the international bodies like the AU and UN to intervene and end slavery."

We want African economies to be developed so that Africans will not go to Europe seeking greener pastures. Mabhena said Africa is endowed with natural resources to take care of its own people if managed well.

A South African traditional leader, Chief Bungani also criticized the slave trade. Addressing the gathering in Pretoria he called on traditional leadership to put pressure on governments to stop slave trade. He said, "This slave trade must come to an end. Africans have to unite and fight slavery."

Those marching "down with slavery down" and "we are not for sale". Some carried placards with different messages like "no to slavery."

South African Federation of Trade Unions general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi also called on African countries to unite to fight the slave trade. He said African leaders should address push factors which force Africans to risk their lives crossing into Europe and end up being enslaved. Enditem