Editor,

RE: "Blacks must work to take their seat at the table” (The New Times, January 16).

Great ideas! As rightly stated, we have to strive for our dignity and total emancipation. We need to learn from history. African nations and other colonised countries did not gain independence out of pity. They fought for it and many people lost their lives. There were sacrifices.

If neo-colonialism is more complex and harder to fight, we should not expect to earn our dignity and "love" on a silver platter. Sacrifice must be more than what was given during the fight for independence.

 The African young generation and the elite tend to think that the fight against exploitative nature of neo-colonialism is a duty of the political class only. The struggle to make black lives better is for everyone. Aluta continua!

 Gerald Mbanda