https://en.sputniknews.africa/20260703/africas-borders-still-serve-colonial-interests-zimbabwean-scholar-says-1087135963.html
Africa’s Borders Still Serve Colonial Interests, Zimbabwean Scholar Says
Africa’s Borders Still Serve Colonial Interests, Zimbabwean Scholar Says
Sputnik Africa
More than a century after Africa’s borders were drawn, questions remained over who benefited from the systems governing trade across them. As the continent... 03.07.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-07-03T11:00+0200
2026-07-03T11:00+0200
2026-07-03T12:40+0200
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Africa’s Borders Still Serve Colonial Interests, Zimbabwean Scholar Says
Sputnik Africa
More than a century after Africa’s borders were drawn, questions remained over who benefited from the systems governing trade across them. As the continent pursued deeper regional integration, scholars argued that many border policies still reflected colonial-era priorities rather than the economic realities and aspirations of ordinary Africans.
Global South Pole engaged Innocent Moyo, a professor of Human Geography at the University of Zululand in South Africa, to discuss how colonial border systems continued to shape trade, economic governance, and regional integration across Africa and what a more people-centered approach could mean for the continent’s future.Moyo argued that many of Africa’s cross-border governance policies primarily recognized formal businesses, many of which were multinational companies, while informal cross-border traders were often criminalized or overlooked despite sustaining livelihoods for ordinary Africans. He said greater recognition and support for informal cross-border trade were essential if regional integration initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area were to benefit the ordinary person.To listen to the whole discussion, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict, Overcast, and Mave Stream.► Check out all the episodes of Global South Pole
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podcasts, south africa, africa, border security, border, neocolonialism, colonialism, british colonialism, exploitation, economy, security, trade, african continental free trade area (afcfta), migrants, migration, аудио, free trade agreement
podcasts, south africa, africa, border security, border, neocolonialism, colonialism, british colonialism, exploitation, economy, security, trade, african continental free trade area (afcfta), migrants, migration, аудио, free trade agreement
Africa’s Borders Still Serve Colonial Interests, Zimbabwean Scholar Says
Aliyu Bello
Correspondent, Podcast Host
More than a century after Africa’s borders were drawn, questions remained over who benefited from the systems governing trade across them. As the continent pursued deeper regional integration, scholars argued that many border policies still reflected colonial-era priorities rather than the economic realities and aspirations of ordinary Africans.
Global South Pole engaged Innocent Moyo, a professor of Human Geography at the University of Zululand in South Africa, to discuss how colonial border systems continued to shape trade, economic governance, and regional integration across Africa and what a more people-centered approach could mean for the continent’s future.
Moyo argued that many of Africa’s cross-border governance policies primarily recognized formal businesses, many of which were multinational companies, while informal cross-border traders were often criminalized or overlooked despite sustaining livelihoods for ordinary Africans. He said greater recognition and support for informal cross-border trade were essential if regional integration initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area were to benefit the ordinary person.
“It is fair to say there is a coloniality in borders that benefit big multinational European companies at the expense of the ordinary people on the ground,” Moyo said. “We should come to a point whereby there is no need for the securitization of borders. […] We owe it to the drive towards Agenda 2063, a united, borderless Africa. So, in our march towards that, there is a need to undo the Berlin borders and move away from border thinking. […] Border thinking is retrogressing. Border thinking is un-developmental. It compromises human potential, prosperity, integration, and inclusive development. […] Borderless doesn’t mean erasing the lines on the map. It’s about how we govern and manage borders for the benefit of people, for the benefit of Africa, the integration of Africa, and the unity of Africa,” he concluded.
To listen to the whole discussion, tune in to the
Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by
Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of Global South Pole 
