LUSAKA, Zambia (PANA)�A day after African leaders ended the 37th OAU summit in Lusaka, the independent Post newspaper of Zambia July 12 hailed Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gadhafi�s spirit of freeing Africa from backwardness and balkanization.

"In 1968, the whole world knew him as Col. Muammar Gadhafi, but he is still the same man in 2001, the same focus, the same presence, the same ideals for humanity, Africa and Libya," the paper says in an editorial.

"After Col. Gadhafi�s speech at the closing of the Organization of African Unity summit in Lusaka Wednesday (July 11) who could be insensitive to Libya�s position in Africa?"

The Post observes that Col. Gadhafi�s speech "once again promotes reflection on the national liberation of our peoples, chained by backwardness and balkanization."

"And generally speaking," it adds, Col. Gadhafi�s speech "revealed that relations with our former colonizers are still distant, formal and filled with rhetoric."

The paper warns, "our struggle is a very serious one, which most Europeans don�t take very seriously. Africa is preparing for battles that aren�t at all like children�s games or that eyesore that was the Berlin Wall."

"Recent events in Africa show, for the first time, that democracy without social justice is worth no more than our devalued currencies. Political democracy is an empty formality if not accompanied by economic democracy," the paper continues.

It quotes Col. Gadhafi, saying, "our lands, where imperialism has vented its cruelty without worrying over much about cosmetics, contain the weakest links in the chain of oppression."

According to the paper, African revolutionaries now have the historic possibility of acting on their own, free of all extra-regional political influences.

The paper agrees with Col. Gadhafi that African revolutionaries should reaffirm principles that some consider outdated but which remain in effect because the causes that gave rise to them haven�t disappeared.

It picks at anti-imperialism, which some "revolutionaries" with unprecedented naivet�, to be charitable, have denied, saying "our revolutionaries shouldn�t limit their actions to seeking, if possible, a less cruel, fairer form of imperialism. Their historic role should continue to be to put an end to that system, which is inhuman in essence."

African revolutionaries would do well to reflect on the dangers that frighten them and other essential matters rather than concentrate on obtaining a new image, the Post suggests.

"They need to stand firm as Libyan revolutionaries are doing," it adds.

Meanwhile, OAU/AU�s new Secretary General Amara Essy July 11 quashed divisive allegations by journalists that Col. Gadhafi was out to dominate the continent.

Mr. Essy stated that in any revolution there is always a driving force that galvanizes the rest to greater action, citing it was primarily because of Col. Gadhafi�s vision and determination that the African Union is a reality.

In his maiden news conference after the closure of the 37th annual heads of state summit in the Zambian capital, he described Col. Gadhafi as "a driving force" in Africa.

"In any measure of this kind you always need heavy weights to push things forward," Mr. Essy said, referring to Col. Gadhafi�s energetic drive to create the African Union.

Photo: Col. Muammar Gadhafi arrives in Zambia where he is received by President Chiluba of Zambia.