Julius Malema’s Party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has downplayed the ongoing world-mourning of United Kingdom Queen Elizabeth II.
Through a statement issued on Friday, September 9, EFF party led by activist Malema historically recalled Queen Elizabeth’s reign and that of her predecessors.
This was in regard to the colonization of Africa and other countries around the world. The statement intimated that leaders ought not to paint a rosy picture of her reign.
“Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952, reigning for 70 years as a head of an institution built up, sustained, and living off a brutal legacy of dehumanization of millions of people across the world,” read part of the statement.
“We do not mourn the death of Elizabeth, because to us her death is a reminder of a very tragic period in this country and Africa’s history. The statement further reads.
Furthermore, EFF referred to former British colonies in Africa including South Africa claiming that according to them, the current political instability and poverty should be attributed to the colonization of Britain.
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“Britain, under the leadership of the royal family, took over control of this territory that would become South Africa in 1795 from Batavian control, and took permanent control of the territory in 1806,” read the statement.
“From that moment onwards, native people of this land have never known peace, nor have they ever enjoyed the fruits of the riches of this land, riches which were and still are utilized for the enrichment of the British royal family and those who look like them.” It further read.
Likewise, the activist group cited the actions of Sir John Cradock, Cecil John Rhodes in Zimbabwe and Zambia and the torture of Kenyan Mau Mau for their resistance to Britain’s rule during their quest for freedom.
“It was also the British royal family that sanctioned the actions of Cecil John Rhodes, who plundered this country, Zimbabwe and Zambia. In Kenya, Britain built concentration camps and suppressed with such inhumane brutality the Mau Mau rebellion, killing Dedan Kimathi on the 18th of February 1957, while Elizabeth was already Queen,” EFF stated.
EFF Statement On The Death Of Queen Elizabeth pic.twitter.com/YlBhG2uXno
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) September 8, 2022
Therefore, the Julius Malema-led party blamed the Queen for not acknowledging the atrocities claiming that she never regretted the brutality inflicted by Britain in the pre-colonial era.
“The British Royal family stands on the shoulders of millions of slaves who were shipped away from the continent to serve the interests of racist white capital accumulation, at the center of which lies the British royal family.” EFF noted.
