Francophone Africa still colonized, worshiping symbols of France – Julius Malema

• Maverick South African politician says Francophone Africa needs to leave French culture behind

• Malema is of the view that France still has a strong influence over its former colonies

• He has been a strong advocate of a rotational presidency for AU Pan-African Parliament, a move opposed by French West African countries

Leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF, Julius Malema has hit out at Francophone African countries accusing them of still holding on to colonial mentality.

Malema was speaking over fracas that marred leadership elections for the African Union’s Pan-African parliament late last week into this week.

“The Francophonies are still admiring their colonizers, they are worship the symbols of France. Actually they see themselves as French and we have to do away with that.

“And we can’t do away with it by being pretentious… they see us as enemies but we don’t see them like that. That is why throughout we have been electing them. We have never had a problem with them occupying leadership positions.

“Because it is not about who speaks French or English, we cannot be divided over a colonizer’s language,” he stressed.

"But they seem to be thinking that because of the numbers of their countries, they must have dominance over us and they must serve in the best interest of what France requires them mto do, so we are not going to accept that," he added.

The chaos that rocked the Parliament which is located in South Africa was occasioned by a disagreement between West and Central African countries and a block of states from southern Africa over whether the presidency of the legislative body should be decided on a rotational basis.

Those for rotation pointed out that the last two presidents of the Pan-African Parliament have been from West Africa, and that not a single president of the African Union institution had originated from a Southern African country, since its creation in 2004.

The AU Commission chair lamented the incident and tasked lawmakers to do all it takes to redeem the image of the body. The elections were subsequently suspended.