Why when African blacks are gunned down by Hamas operatives from Gaza, Africa ignores?
By Kenneth Moeng Mokgatlhe
I was shocked by the silence that greeted the callous executions of two young Tanzanians by Hamas. Both were kidnapped by Hamas when they started a war on 7th of October 2023 by attacking innocent and unarmed civilians in Israel.
These two young Tanzanians, Joshua Mollel and Clemence Felix Mtenga, were in Israel as part of an agricultural project to equip themselves with knowledge lacking in their communities that would allow them to contribute to the economy of their country. Death was the last thing on their mind but they were cruelly murdered by Hamas.
From Dreams to Death. Murdered by Hamas, Joshua Mollel was among 260 Tanzanians involved in an agricultural internship program sponsored by the Israeli government. (Photo: Steven Mollel/Steven Mollel, via Associated Press)
While I am cognisant of South Africa's explanation why it supports a terrorist organisation like Hamas, whose fundamental aim is to erase the State of Israel, I find it difficult to understand that there was no condemnation or messages of support by the South African government and political parties on the brutal deaths of two Africans at the hands of Hamas. I also found it morally repugnant. Why was it so difficult to send a message of condolences to Tanzania or directly to the families of the two young bright leaders who died in a foreign country?
Why?
Some naysayers are convincing themselves that the two young men should not have been in Israel in the first place. This is both a ridiculous and selfish view. People go to different countries to pursue their dreams, goals, and ambitions. The two men were not in Israel for a holiday. They were there to educate themselves in the field of agriculture so that they could return and serve their country's development agenda. They were in their own way soldiers too fighting for development and innovation but who tragically fell at the cruel hands of those whose aim is never to build and develop but to kill and destroy.
The international laws of war are clear: Civilians should be protected by all warring parties. It is important to remember that Mollel and Mtenga were Tanzanian students studying in Israel, not Israeli citizens. Mollel was sprayed with bullets from Hamas' machine guns at a very close range. This was after he appealed to them not to take his life. Hamas was merciless and did what they always do - KILL.
Gunned down by Gazan. 22-year-old agricultural intern from Tanzania Clemence Mtenga was missing for six weeks and thought to be a hostage in Gaza until on November 18, his body was identified and he was declared dead, murdered by Hamas. His sister Alphoncena Mtenga told the AP that "He wanted to start his own agri-business."
For decades, Africans have pursued studies in foreign countries, including those very countries which as colonial powers during the 'Scramble for Africa' ruthlessly exploited the African continent and contributed to its underdevelopment. So why then criticise Israel, a country that only offers to help find and provide technological and innovative solutions for Africa's multifarious challenges? It is simply hypocritical.
It is puzzling and sad that the African Union (AU) should chose to remain reticent when Africans become casualties. The AU should speak with a strong and clear voice and reprimand those who still believe that African lives are cheap. The AU should be the last line of defence for all of us in Africa. So, why are they quiet when Africans are slaughtered in Gaza?
By contrast, the efforts of the Tanzanian and Israeli governments should be applauded. They have stood with the bereaved families during these trying times. Burying a child is painful and it lives with the parent forever.
I, like many other young people from across Africa, am currently in Israel to pursue studies so that I can contribute to my own country, South Africa, when I return. Whatever skills and expertise we acquire in Israel, we will take back to improve our society and our communities in Africa. We share common goals to alleviate poverty, improve water management, reduce crime, fight diseases, and tackle underdevelopment.
As we continue to witness African countries' challenges to create jobs and business opportunities, the agricultural sector in Israel will continue to attract foreign workers from Kenya and Malawi. Growing economies in the world like Nigeria understand and acknowledge the importance of remittances as the greatest source of foreign exchange. This will be a big boost to the Kenyan and Malawian economies.
Should we prohibit Africans from working in Israel? The answer is a big NO. Much of Africa's local economies are unable to provide employment opportunities needed for its people to look after their families and boost their economies. Rather than try and prevent movement, we should be encouraging young people to visit foreign countries and expand their knowledge to develop our own country's economies.
Siding with the Killers. Ten days after the massacre that killed more Jews in one day since the Holocaust, South Africa's foreign minister, Naledi Pandor held a telephonic conversation with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to "discuss getting humanitarian aid into Palestine."
For those who compare the struggles of the African continent with that of Hamas are totally misdirected - both factually and morally. Why would South Africa's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, support organisations that do not hesitate to kill another black person, and for no reason? For me, race matters. I cannot support anyone who wishes or sees nothing wrong with brutally killing any African, who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The world fails to see Africa in its radar. It is time, we reclaim our power by restoring our lost dignity and integrity. We should condemn and call out anyone who seeks to undermine black lives. Wherever we are in the world, we should always remember how the world has not been fair and try to influence the world's treatment of black people. #BlackLivesMatter.
Even in Gaza.
Helping Israel. Several African countries are sending farm workers to help out in Israel after the Hamas claimed the lives of staff and forced many others to flee. Seen here are some of the thousands of African farm workers who have travelled to Israel to ease the labour shortage there. (Photo: Chris McCullough)
About the writer:
Mokgatlhe is a columnist and political writer based at Ben Gurion University where he is doing his Master of Arts in African Studies.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
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