CORRECTED COSATU Today, Thursday 3 July 2008

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has begun mobilizing its foot soldiers for the provincial electricity and food prices strikes which will culminate in a national strike action on 6th August 2008.

As part of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) ’s programme of action against rising food prices and soaring electricity tariffs, the NUM, COSATU ‘s largest affiliate has begun the mobilization process that will see its 320 000 members strike on August 06.

“We want to send a very strong message that the poor are part of this society which puts electricity, food and everything beyond its reach” says Frans Baleni, the NUM General Secretary.

Fuel costs have skyrocketed making it difficult for workers to move from the mines to see their families; rate hikes make life unbearable for ordinary poor workers driving thousands into shack life as they can no longer afford their houses while the price of basic food is unaffordable sending millions into starvation.

“The NUM believes that the time to act is NOW and calls on all its members to be fully behind the strike” argues Baleni.

Thousands of members have already shown their intention to support the strike actions taking place provincially and nationally.

The strike actions will take place as follows:

Dates	Provinces
9 July 2008	Kwazulu Natal Province
9 July 2008	Western Cape Province
9 July 2008	Eastern Cape Province

16 July 2008	Mpumalanga Province
16 July 2008	Northern Cape Province
16 July 2008	Free State Province

23 July 2008	Limpopo Province
23 July 2008	North West Province
23 July 2008	Gauteng Province

6 August 2008	National Strike Day

Lesiba Seshoka (NUM National Spokesperson) - 082 803 6719

1.2 Strike action on 9th July 2008

Irvin Jim, 2 July 2008

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa in the Eastern Cape call on its members and the broader society to join a COSATU strike scheduled to take place on the 9th of July 2008.

We are calling on our members in Auto, Tyre, Engineering and Motor to join the strike action of the 9th July 2008 organized by our federation, COSATU to protest and reject the current continuous increase of food prices, petrol hikes, and continuous increase of interest rate by the Reserve Bank.

NUMSA as a union is extremely angered by the fact that our members had to bare the brunt of these conditions, our members in the past six months had to face short time in car manufactures like VWSA, Schnellecke SA, Kromberg and Schubert, General Motors SA, and many companies in the component sector are affected by this situation.

The recent drop in the car sales is directly linked to this high interest rate, and in one way or another, NUMSA Eastern Cape is of the view TITO MBOWENI and those who are responsible for messing up fiscal and monetary policy, chasing inflation targeting must take full responsibility for this problem.

NUMSA Eastern Cape reject the opportunistic stance taken by companies like GENERAL MOTORS SA, this company has served our union with section 189A wanting to retrench +500 workers.

This American company has become so notorious and cruel, just last year it retrenched +200 workers and when the union proposed a better package to be offered to workers on voluntary basis this company refused and went clandestine to make an empty package to our members who are now suffering in the township

It has now once more served us with another section 189A to retrench +500 workers.

We think this is a notorious plan to close the plant in Kempton Road, and we would need an explanation from this company when we meet in the consultation process, because we have witnessed that this company has built a big warehouse which is the size of about 62 stadiums at Markman.

We think that they want to stop production in South Africa and just import cars using us as a dumping ground and NUMSA will do whatever it takes to fight such an agenda and in our view this matter of General Motors will be at the core of the extension of the MIDP.

NUMSA think that some of these companies are manipulative for instance these companies are the beneficiaries of the MIDP, they generate a lot of money through rebate incentives, and they also transfer credit certificates from catalytic converters to import and export cars generating a lot of profits for themselves.

They are using the current environment to justify the retrenchment of workers for the sole purpose of maximization of profits. NUMSA Eastern Cape call on its members to stand up rise and reject these conditions that are created by neo-liberal policies of the current government, and through our strike action next week we are communicating one message to the bosses that your greed of profits its rejected.

Its time for the bosses to share their mega profits with poor suffering workers who take care of many thousands of the unemployed who are languishing in squalor and abject poverty and every suffering that accompanies unemployment.

The strike action of COSATU next week on the 9th July 2008 is about saying no to the current deepening inequalities, that is why we calling on all our members and the broader community to join this protected strike action of workers.

COSATU will have three marches on the 9th July 2008; these will be in East London, Port Elizabeth, and Queenstown. This coming Saturday, 5 July 2008 COSATU will have a shop steward council in East London to do final preparations for the strike of the 9th July 2008.

We are calling on all our members that it is time to make history in that we cannot fold arms and do nothing when our jobs and our life is made so unbearable by both the state and the capitalist class in their advancement of the society of greed, its time to stand up and fight for the future of our families.

Irvin Jim, NUMSA Eastern Cape Regional Secretary, 041 363 1010

1.3 A revolution from below is now an exigency

Benzi Ka-Soko, 2 July 2008

We are victims of petrol’s yoyo game. The ever-rising petrol price has now become an albatross around the necks of human beings especially the poor working class people of the world. Our dependence on this commodity has turned us into slaves and we seem to be unable to come out of this quagmire unless we challenge the current economic policies which are engineered by greedy speculators somewhere in their dark boardrooms.

The current policies governing our existence are an onslaught to the poor simply because they further condemn us to live our lives in accordance with the dictates of the super rich. The exorbitant prices on food, diesel, petrol and other commodities are tantamount to a death penalty to those who cannot afford.

COSATU is preparing to mobilize workers and the working class generally to embark on a massive campaign through marches and demonstrations aimed at voicing our anger towards skyrocketing food prices countrywide. We cannot continue to be victimized by these price increases as if there is nothing we can do. We demand government to set up measures for food price regulation.

Workers have the power to bargain and it should be unleashed to challenge the current statusquo. Employers are always adamant to make serious material changes in favour of workers in order for them to be able to participate in the economic mainstream. Therefore it is logical that workers should use their labour power to level the playing field.

SA is one of the highly unequal societies in the world and the Trade Union Movement should intensify its struggle against unemployment, poverty, privatization of medical care, the stinking wage gap and other ills prevailing in the current economic set-up.

THIS SECOND DECADE OF OUR FREEDOM BELONGS TO THE WORKING CLASS. THIS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.

There is great need to call the masses to hit the streets of SA. There is a greater need for the masses of this country to demand quality service delivery. There is even a greater need to call on the masses to claim a sizeable stake in the economic mainstream of the land.

These revolutionary calls are made in the light of the skyrocketing food prices and other basic commodities that are critical for human sustenance. In the very recent past, we have experienced a number of economic frustrations as a result of Capitalist policies of fiscal discipline. First, we woke up one day to newspaper headlines shouting ‘Bread-price fixing exposed’. This exposure indicated that there was empirical evidence suggesting that bread-baking companies have always been involved in this commercial crime.

Adding pepper to the bleeding wound, we have also recently been told that milk-prices were also fixed. We are being told of these crimes against the poor amid the continuously increasing fuel prices that seem to have become ordinary daily occurrences in this country. Still reeling from these shocking developments, the SA public has become regular victims of power cuts as a result of ESKOM failure to provide electricity, euphemistically called ‘load shedding’. How do we expect the poor to pay the 53% hike?

The SA public cannot continue to sit and do nothing about these rip-offs. We need to rise and rebel. We are paying highly exorbitant taxes in this country and these taxes should be making our lives better. These exorbitant taxes are supposed to improve our lives and if that is not happening, which country are we making better in paying these taxes.

We really cannot continue to live in misery and in abject poverty while the lives of the super-rich continue to nutritiously and economically blossom. The citizens of this country should begin playing their revolutionary role in the shaping of pro-poor policies for the upliftment of the plight of the downtrodden.

Benzi ka-Soko is POPCRU National Spokesperson, 011 242 4600; 082 732 6324

1.4 Safety leaders gather at NUM safety indaba

Eric Gcilitshana, Lesiba Seshoka, 2 July 2008

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will hold a Safety Indaba from the 03rd to the 4th July at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg. Participants will range from Safety Shaft stewards from various mines across the country to regional and national leadership of the NUM.

The Chief Inspector of Mines, Thabo Gazi will speak on “The state of Health and Safety in the mines in South Africa” while the Acting Chief Inspector at the Department of Labour will address the audience on “The state of Health and Safety in the construction and Energy sectors”.

The NUM Safety Indaba is a build-up to the National Tripartite Safety Indaba between the Industry, the government as well as labour scheduled to take place later this year.

The Indaba will afford the Safety Stewards an opportunity to share experiences of the various workplaces and forge a common understanding of the deaths and accidents bedeviling the industry. It will also allow the organization to forge strategies on the way forward in terms of dealing with the problems of safety at the workplace.

“We are serious about safety. We want to ensure that our safety stewards are sensitized on the seriousness in which we value human life in order to exercise their right to refuse to do dangerous jobs” says Eric Gcilitshana, the NUM‘s National Secretary for Health And Safety.

“We are going to push for safety at all costs” he says.

Eric Gcilitshana (NUM Secretary for Health and Safety) - 082 809 3105

Lesiba Seshoka (NUM National Spokesperson) - 082 803 6719; (011) 377 2042

1.5 N Cape Provincial Executive Committee decisions

William Sikali, 1 July 2008

ORGANISATIONAL

Our Second Provincial Shop Stewards Council which will be convened in Upington in the Siyanda region on 12th July 2008, will be launching in our campaigns programme which will set tone of our intended industrial action in the province.

The PEC has developed a programme which will commence from 4th of July 2008 to lay the foundation and the basis of our campaigns mobilization programme.

Amongst other things the programme is comprising of meetings with strategic formations in society like taxi associations; Ward Committees; ANC Branches, the Provincial Youth Forums, Faith Groups and so on.

GENDER AND EDUCATION

The PEC has resolved to launch the Provincial Gender Structure on the Month of August 2008 and the structure will develop a programme of gender and education.

A document has been developed for inducting our locals and this programme will commence simultaneously with the launching of locals in the Province which will commence from the 3rd week of July 2008.

GENERAL ELECTIONS 2009

The PEC in the province re-affirms the 9th National Congress Resolutions of swelling the ranks of the ANC and building the South African Communist Party. We further re-affirm our commitment in ensuring that the Alliance Functions and operates in a manner that will advance the cause of the working class and the poor.

ANC PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE

The PEC resolved to adopt preferred names for the leadership of the Province in the ANC Conference in line with the 09th National Congress resolution and 04th Central Committee Resolutions (see below).

The 52nd Conference of the ANC resolved to reconfigure the movement and to ensure that the ANC is working class biased. Polokwane has made major shifts to the left and we must defend these gains against all odds.

1. Provincial Chairperson: John Block

2. Deputy Provincial Chairperson: K. Moimang

3. Provincial Secretary: Zamani Saul

4. Deputy Secretary: Alvin Botes

5. Provincial Treasurer: Yolanda Botes

XENOPHOBIA

We reaffirm as a Province the stance of the federation on the so-called xenophobic attacks and we condemn these actions with the outmost contempt. As a Province we do not believe the motive behind these attacks is as a result of direct consequences of xenophobia but mere criminal manifestations. We will not and cannot condone these actions, not now not ever. We are calling upon SAPS to conduct through investigations of these criminal actions and all the perpetrators must be brought to book.

MEDIA ATTACKS

The PEC condemns all the media statements against the leaders of the federation in the province and nationally particularly the General Secretary of COSATU by Fezile Kies and other faceless sources in the public domain.

It is this kind of behaviour that has almost torn the alliance apart. If they and others have problems with the alliance partners we urge them to communicate with the relevant structures of the alliance.

In conclusion, COSATU is highly committed to the unity, the coercion and most importantly the success of the Alliance Partners.

Contact COSATU N Cape Provincial Secretary, William Sikali, on 082 491 1591

South Africa

2.1 Open letter to SA Human Rights Commission

Blade Nzimande, General Secretary, 2 July 2008

I am writing this letter out of concerns I have about the manner in which the Human Rights Commission (HRC) is handling the matters relating to COSATU General Secretary, Cde Zwelinzima Vavi, and ANC Youth League President, Cde Julius Malema. The aim however is not to get into the merits or demerits of the issues at hand. The two comrades have explained themselves, including the context within which these remarks were made.

We are raising these matters not as detraction from some of the very good work done by the HRC in our emerging democratic dispensation. For instance one of the most sterling pieces of work done by the HRC is that of a thorough investigation into the socio-economic conditions of farm workers in South Africa’s countryside and some of its investigations into various aspects of racism in our society. The SACP supports the existence of, and generally the work done by, the HRC. It is precisely for these reasons that we are now deeply disturbed by the recent developments and behaviour of the HRC, which threatens to undermine its track record thus far.

The manner in which the Vavi and Malema matters have been handled by the HRC is deeply worrying as it threatens to erode whatever good work this Commission has done before. In my view its handling of these matters seriously undermines its constitutional mandate to “promote the observance of, respect for and the protection of fundamental rights; to develop an awareness of fundamental rights among all people of the Republic”. In undertaking these tasks, the HRC has to be seen to be performing its duties in a fair, impartial, balanced and independent manner, without fear, prejudice or favour.

The Human Rights Commission Act, 1994, states, among other things, that “A member of the Commission or a member of the staff of the Commission shall serve impartially and independently and exercise or perform his or her powers, duties and functions in good faith and without fear, favour, bias or prejudice and subject only to the Constitution and the law”.

With regard to investigations the HRC Act further states that:

“If it appears to the Commission during the course of an investigation that any person is being implicated in the matter being investigated, the Commission shall afford such person an opportunity to be heard in connection therewith by way of giving of evidence or the making of submissions and such person or his or her legal representative shall be entitled, through the Commission, to question other witnesses, determined by the Commission, who have appeared before the Commission in terms of this section”.

In both the cases referred to here it is indeed deeply disturbing that the HRC never afforded any of these comrades an opportunity to be heard. The HRC simply issued an instruction for them to apologise within 14 days, based on information exclusively gleaned from media reports. This is indeed very serious. Institutions like the HRC cannot operate by way of simply taking what is in the media, formulate an opinion without engaging the relevant persons, and make a public judgement that they are indeed already guilty! This is a very serious violation of the Constitution, laws of natural justice and the very spirit and the letter of the Act governing the HRC, and practically turns the HRC into a kangaroo court.

I am raising this matter because there is a dangerous practice that is creeping into some of our legal institutions in particular, and South African society in general, that of simply making public and judgemental statements about individuals, without these individuals being given the right to a proper hearing. This seems to be especially the case with those who occupy prominent and public offices. Some years back the former Minister of Safety and Security publicly accused some ANC leaders for planning to remove the President; followed by the infamous ‘prima-facie’ statement by a former Director of Public Prosecutions on ANC President Jacob Zuma. The manner in which the Constitutional Court has publicly pronounced itself on the allegations against Judge Hlophe also leaves a bitter after-taste; and now the behaviour of the HRC. Such actions unjustifiably unleash the always ‘battle ready’ media lynch mob, without observance of any due process as contained in our Constitution, thus severely prejudicing the individuals concerned.

For example, in its letter to the General Secretary of COSATU, Zwelinzima Vavi, the HRC, says:

“The Commission has noted reported statements and media release from COSATU yesterday. Notwithstanding that, the Commission remains concerned about your utterances, even if they were not meant literally, as they are in conflict with the values enshrined in our Constitution, including the values of equality, human dignity and advancement of Human Rights”

It is noteworthy here and indeed very disturbing that the starting point of the HRC, without any investigation or hearing already proceeds from the standpoint of ‘reported statements’. From this premise the HRC, without any hearing or investigation, proceeds to make the conclusion that:

“Having regard to the above, we remain of the view that your statement, whatever its intention, and recognising the context within which it was made, may have been and in fact has the potential of negative consequences for our society”.

Then the letter ends by saying:

“In pursuance of our constitutional mandate, the Commission is obliged to kindly request that you withdraw your statement unequivocally within fourteen days, failing which the Commission would take the matter further in line with its mandate”.

Then the HRC proceeds to publicly announce this request in the media, without any interaction whatsoever with the individual concerned. This, I would argue, constitutes a very serious violation of our Constitution and the very mandate of the HRC. In its pursuance of protecting human rights of South Africans, the HRC is also obliged to act in a manner that is in line with our supreme law and laws of natural justice.

Perhaps at the heart of the problem in the manner in which the HRC has handled these matters is that either it has no detailed procedures, policies or protocols on how it conducts investigations, OR it has never sought to engage us, as the public, on how it conducts its work. This is deeply concerning given the fact that very HRC Act states that:

“Subject to the provisions of this Act, the procedure to be followed in conducting an investigation shall be determined by the Commission with due regard to the circumstances of each case

“The Commission shall from time to time by notice in the Gazette make known the particulars of the procedure which it has determined in terms of (the above subsection)”

In both the cases referred to here the HRC has neither informed the relevant persons of the ‘procedure to be followed in conducting an investigation’, nor has it, to the best my knowledge, made it known in the Gazette ‘the procedure which it has determined’.

One is fully aware and accepts the fact that the HRC has to deal with a variety of matters, many of which are without precedent, and often require urgent intervention; but this can be no justification whatsoever for taking short-cuts on matters that the HRC itself readily admits are of fundamental importance in building a new human rights regime in a democratic South Africa. These would include due process, scrupulous adherence to the right to be heard and open, impartial and transparent processes in examining issues.

The behaviour on the part of the HRC on the cases referred to here raises some fundamental issues about the need for the HRC to engage the South African public on its policies, procedures and a protocol regarding its investigations and how it chooses the issues it takes up. For instance, on a number of occasions in the recent past where blatant threats to human rights have occurred, the HRC, and many other public commentators, have been loudly silent. These include the findings of the Public Protector about the violation of the rights of ANC President Jacob Zuma, as well as the continued threats by the IFP, as recently as last night on national television, to cause mayhem and bloodshed around the street-renaming process in Durban and similar threats and public burning of a book critical of its leader. In fact the IFP has already caused a lot of physical destruction of property in its protests against street-renaming, and where is the voice of the HRC in all this?

It is for the above reasons that the HRC needs to engage the South African public on its policies and protocols, otherwise it runs the risk of being seen as selective and conveniently cherry-picking instances of human rights abuses. It is this selectivity that has bedevilled and threatens to erode the confidence of the majority of our people in some of the institutions of the criminal justice system, notably the Scorpions and the National Prosecuting Authority.

Let the HRC guard against this danger! Failure to adhere to the basic principles of natural justice also runs the risk of reducing the HRC into an institution that is biased towards elites, who happen to have access to the media as well as legal resources.

Asikhulume!!

2.2 We are prepared to die in defense of Kabelo Thibedi

Castro Ngobese, 2 July 2008

The Young Communist League [YCL] and the Justice For Kabelo Trust [JFKT] calls on all victims of Home Affairs; all those who have had bad experiences; those who have problems in relation to ID Documents; we call on such victims to join Kabelo Thibedi when he appears in Court tomorrow, 03 July 2008, Johannesburg Magistrate Court, Piliso [formerly West] Street.

We call on the working class and the poor youth to join Thibedi en masse when he appears in court. We should all be guided by our preparedness to die and defend Thibedi against an unjust incarceration; similarly we are guided by our love for him and millions of South Africans who are without ID's and deprived of governments services.

Thibedi will be accompanied by the National Secretary of the YCL Buti Manamela and members of the YCL and the progressive youth formations when he appears in Court tomorrow.

Thibedi is a young man who was deprived of his right to have an Identity Document in order to further his studies. His ordeal went on for more than two [2] years, like many South Africans who continue to bottle the frustrations imposed upon them by the poor services of the Department of Home Affairs.

He decided to take action. A few years ago, his frustrations led him to purchase a toy gun. He storm into the Department of Home Affairs offices in Market Street, Johannesburg and held one bureaucrat hostage, demanding his ID.

Thibedi was sentenced for five [5] years imprisonment and is currently out of prison pending his appeal. Thibedi is currently employed as National Campaigns Officer of the Young Communist League.

The details of Kabelo Thibedi’s court appearance are as follows:

Date: Thursday 03 July 2008

Time: 09h00

Venue: JHB Magistrate Court, Piliso [formerly West] Street

Issued by YCL

Contact Castro Ngobese, YCL National Spokesperson – 082 567 3557 / 083 670 1105

2.3 Passing away of Joe Nhlanhla

Jessie Duarte, Donovan Cloete, Vuyisa Manyandela, 2 July 2008

It is with great sadness that we, the African National Congress announce the passing away of Joe Nhlanhla.

He passed away after spending four weeks at Milpark Hospital, in a coma.

Joe Nhlanhla has dedicated his life to the struggle for a non-racial, non-sexist democratic South Africa. It is through the contribution of his extraordinary capacity of intelligence and militancy that today South Africans enjoy the benefits of a peaceful democratic country. His commitment to the struggle will always be honored and remembered by the ANC and the rest of the country.

Joseph (Joe) Mbuku Nhlanhla was born on 4 December 1936 in Sophiatown. He was one of the five children of Christina Toli (born Buhali) and Samuel Nhlanhla. Both parents were originally from the Free State Province (formerly known as Orange Free State). His father left Free State as he refused to be under the oppressive racist rules of the area he lived in and the family settled in Sophiatown.

A victim of the infamous Sophiatown forceful removals, the Nhlanhla family settled in Alexandra township. He attended school at the local primary school named, Ikage Primary School. He enrolled at Kilnerton High School, where he matriculated in 1956.

As a person who always had an interest in politics, he finally joined the African National Congress (ANC), and was an active member of the ANC Youth League. During this period, he served as the secretary of the Alexandra Youth League and was a member of the Transvaal Executive Committee of the ANC Youth League. His love for his people saw Joe getting involved in the anti-pass campaign as well as the 1957 bus and potato boycotts. He was among the first people to be arrested during the 1960 state of emergency and was detained on 28 March that year. On his release a few days before the lifting of the emergency, he was 'restricted' and confined to the magisterial area of Johannesburg.

In 1964, Nhlanhla left South Africa for Tanzania after which he was selected by the ANC to study Economics at the Plekhanov Institute in Moscow. After completing his studies in 1969, he returned to Tanzania to serve as head of the ANC's youth and student structures.

In 1973, he was appointed as the ANC's Chief Representative in Egypt and the Middle East during which time he represented the ANC on the Afro- Asian People's Solidarity Organisation, the forerunner of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Nhlanhla, a long-serving member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC, served on the National Preparatory Committee which prepared for the return of the ANC to South Africa. He was part of the ANC delegation at the Groote Schuur talks in May 1990, which opened negotiations with the South African Government.

During the Convention for a Democratic South Africa negotiations, Nhlanhla played a key role in smoothing over difficulties relating to the interim Government and the future of the intelligence services. Nhlanhla was elected as Member of Parliament in the first democratic Parliament in 1994 and was appointed Deputy Minister for Intelligence Services in February 1995. In 1999, he was appointed by President Thabo Mbeki as Minister for Intelligence Services, a position he held until he was no longer able to due to ill health.

Nhlanhla's life speaks of his dedication to the cause of freedom of his people. He pursued the challenge of creating a better life for all South Africans, both Black and White, through his unwavering commitment of over half a century to advancing the climate for negotiations and peace.

We dip our revolutionary banner in remembrance of Joe Nhlanhla and wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the family and relatives.

Issued by, Jessie Duarte, ANC Spokesperson

For more information contact Donovan Cloete, 082 773 1013 or Vuyisa Manyandela, 011 376 1052

International

3.1 Re African Union Resolution on Zimbabwe

Nqobizitha Mlilo, George Sibotshiwe, Nelson Chamisa, 2 July 2008

The Movement for Democratic Change acknowledges the concern about the Zimbabwe crisis expressed in the resolution adopted at the 11th Ordinary Session of the African Union General Assembly.

The MDC would like to thank those African leaders who have joined the global chorus by standing on the side of the Zimbabwean people and advocating that their voices be heard.

The MDC would like to thank the Pan African Parliament, SADC and AU observer missions for acknowledging the reality and pervasiveness of the violence in Zimbabwe and refusing to give the June 27th election any credibility or legitimacy.

The common conclusions of all three reports were:

A – the violence negated the credibility of the June 27 elections

B – the election did not reflect the will of the people

C – consequently the outcome is not legitimate.

If the African Union acknowledged thier reports, then we in the MDC feel that their own resolution should have been consistent with them. Unfortunately, this was not the case. The MDC is concerned that:

The resolution does not adequately deal with the ongoing violence in Zimbabwe. Since the June 27 sham election, 9 MDC supporters have been murdered, hundreds more beaten and forced to leave their homes. In Manicaland alone, since the weekend, five hundred MDC supporters and families have been forced to flee their homes and are now seeking refuge at the party's headquarters in Mutare. Therefore the MDC reiterates its call for peace in the country.

In addition, the resolution does not recognize the illegitimacy of the June 27 elections and the fact that most African leaders refuses to recognize Mugabe as the Head of State.

Finally, the resolution endorses the concept of a Government of National Unity without acknowledging that the MDC, as the winner of the last credible elections on 29th March 2008, should be recognized as the legitimate government of Zimbabwe. A GNU does not address the problems facing Zimbabwe or acknowledge the will of the Zimbabwean people.

While the MDC remains committed to negotiations these must be based on the 29th March results and must move towards a transitional agreement. Our commitment to a negotiated settlement is not about power-sharing or power deals but about democracy, freedom and justice. Our struggle is not about power but about democracy.

Significantly, the conditions prevailing in Zimbabwe today are not conducive to negotiations. If dialogue is to be initiated, it is essential that Zanu PF stops the violence, halts the persecution of MDC leaders and supporters, releases all political prisoners, disbands the militia bases and torture camps and that the security services halt their partisan operations.

The MDC's reservations about the mediation process under President Mbeki are well known. It is our position that unless the mediation team is expanded to include at least one permanent representative from the African Union, and the mediation mechanism is changed, no meaningful progress can be made towards resolving the Zimbabwean crisis. If this does not happen then the MDC will not be part of such a mediation process.

The crisis in Zimbabwe requires urgent action. The violence, intimidation, hunger and suffering must be addressed as soon as possible. Zimbabweans cannot afford any more confusion or delays. Zimbabweans can no longer afford to listen to words that are not reinforced by action.

The past two weeks have illustrated just how much support the people of Zimbabwe have on the continent and across the world. The MDC will continue to work towards resolving the crisis which is worsening daily.

Zimbabweans, let me take this opportunity to assure you are not alone. As your leaders, we will never stop struggling on your behalf for a new Zimbabwe that offers hope, prosperity and freedom. We will never compromise betray these ideals.

I thank you.

For more information please call MDC on (South Africa) Nqobizitha Mlilo 0835274650 or George Sibotshiwe 0766330314 or (Zimbabwe) Nelson Chamisa 0912940489

3.2 We demand a democratic solution to Zimbabwe crisis

Patrick Craven, 2 July 2008

The Congress of South African Trade Unions believes that the situation in Zimbabwe is at a critical stage, and it demands decisive action from the leaders of all African states to uphold the democratic principles of the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

COSATU appreciates the role that President Thabo Mbeki has been playing as a mediator and the constraints that this imposes on his public statements, since a mediator must not be perceived to be aligned with one or another of the contending parties.

COSATU feels however that it is now time for the government of South Africa to speak out, on behalf of all the people of South Africa, in defence of democracy and human rights.

The SADC protocols governing the conduct of elections were clearly breached in Zimbabwe before and during the ‘election’ held on 27 June 2008. The observer teams of the AU, SADC and the African Parliament have confirmed that the elections were not free and fair and we urge the South African government to add its voice to theirs to state publicly that it cannot accept the outcome of the ‘elections’.

If we are to maintain the credibility of the AU, NEPAD and the SADC, it is essential that all African leaders condemn and disown:

· The state-sponsored harassment, beatings, torture and murder, of opposition leaders, member and supporters;

· The displacement of thousands of people from their homes which prevented them from voting;

· The threats of further such violence against voters who refused to vote for the incumbent president;

· The banning of opposition election rallies and other forms of campaigning, and forcing people to attend pro-government rallies;

· The removal of the usual polling officers, i.e. teachers and civil servants, in favour of ruling party supporters;

· Statements by President Mugabe that he would not accept defeat even if he lost the elections.

· The complete black-out of the opposition in the public media.

· It would be a disaster for Africa if its highest representative bodies, AU and SADC, were to recognise the outcome of such an ‘election’ and the Mugabe government as legitimate. We urge the government not to recognise the government and cancel all invitations to it to attend continental and international meetings.

While the elections held on 29 March 2008 were less than fully democratic, they were relatively free and fair and produced a partially accurate reflection of the will of the people. COSATU therefore supports the proposal for SADC and the AU to sponsor a transitional administration, in which all the contending political parties will be represented, in proportion to the votes cast on 29 March.

The sole mandate of this transitional administration has to be organising free and fair elections a soon as possible, monitored by an increased number of domestic and African observers, so that democracy can be restored, human rights protected and the will of the people reigns supreme.

COSATU is mobilising its members, civil society and Zimbabweans living in South Africa in solidarity with our fellow trade unions and the people of Zimbabwe, beginning with a demonstration and border blockade at the Beit Bridge border post, on Saturday 5 July 2008.

The federation reiterates its call on the workers in South Africa, SADC, Africa and the world over, as well as all progressive citizens of the world, to work towards a total isolation of Mugabe and his government. We are calling on all our unions and those around the world to make sure that they never ever serve Mugabe anywhere, including at airports, restaurants, shops, etc. Further we call on all workers and citizens of the world never to allow Mugabe to set foot in their countries.

COSATU also appeals to all governments and employers to support the application that has been submitted by labour under Article 26 of the ILO Constitution against the Zimbabwe government for non-observance of the ILO’s Convention 87 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise) and Convention 98 (Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining) respectively.

Patrick Craven, COSATU Spokesperson, 011 339 4911/24; 082 821 7456; pat...@cosatu.org.za

3.3 Text of AU Summit Resolution on Zimbabwe

AU in Sharm El Sheikh, 1 July 2008

The African Union Assembly, meeting in its 11th Ordinary Session held on June 30 to July 1, 2008 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt,

DEEPLY CONCERNED with the prevailing situation in Zimbabwe;

DEEPLY CONCERNED with the negative reports of SADC, the African Union and the Pan-African Parliament observers on the Zimbabwean Presidential run-off election held on June 27, 2008;

DEEPLY CONCERNED about the violence and the loss of life that has occurred in Zimbabwe.

CONSIDERING the urgent need to prevent further worsening of the situation and with a view to avoid spread of conflict with the consequential negative impact on the country and the sub-region;

FURTHER CONSIDERING the need to create an environment conducive for democracy, as well as the development of the people of Zimbabwe;

EXPRESSING its appreciation to SADC, and its Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, as well as the Facilitator of the intra-Zimbabwe dialogue, His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa, and His Excellency Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission for the ongoing work aimed at reconciling the political parties;

RECOGNISING the complexity of the situation in Zimbabwe;

NOTING the willingness of the political leaders of Zimbabwe to enter into negotiations to establish a Government of National Unity;

NOTING FURTHER the preparatory discussions on this matter had already started, under SADC facilitation;

Hereby decide:

1. TO ENCOURAGE President Robert Mugabe and the leader of the MDC Party Mr Morgan Tsvangirai to honour their commitment to initiate dialogue with a view to promoting peace, stability, democracy and the reconciliation of the Zimbabwean people;

2. TO SUPPORT the call, for the creation of a Government of National Unity;

3. TO SUPPORT the SADC Facilitation, and to recommend that SADC mediation efforts should be continued in order to resolve the problems they are facing. In this regard SADC should establish a mechanism on the ground in order to seize the momentum for a negotiated solution;

4. TO APPEAL to states and all parties concerned to refrain from any action that may negatively impact on the climate of dialogue;

5. In the spirit of all SADC initiatives, the AU remains convinced that the people of Zimbabwe will be able to resolve their differences and work together once again as one Nation, provided they receive undivided support from SADC, the AU and the world at large.

3.4 Take strong action against the ZANU-PF

Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, ITUC-Africa, I July 2008

The international Trade Union Confederation – African Regional Organisation (ITUC-Africa) representing 16 million members in 46 African countries is dismayed by the sham run-off elections in Zimbabwe which were held on June 27 in an atmosphere of violence and intimidation by ZANU-PF under the leadership of President Robert Mugabe. The organized violence and intimidation which prevailed throughout the country made it impossible for the MDC to participate in the so-called run-off election resulting in a sham victory after which Mr. Mugabe was installed as president for another five year-term.

Furthermore, the intimidation and violence orchestrated by the ZANU-PF militia and state security agents have led to interference in the work of the trade union movement and its leadership:

1. The ZCTU district chairperson for Chivhu, Tinashe Murau, was seriously beaten up by Zanu PF militia just before the 27 June Presidential Runoff and has had his hand broken and is currently seeking medical attention. He was beaten after the militia questioned why he wears ZCTU t-shirts and attends ZCTU meetings.

2. Forty-six (46) members of the General Agriculture Plantation Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ), an affiliate of the ZCTU, have sought shelter in Harare after being harassed and beaten up by youth militia. The members include men, women and children. The ZCTU and GAPWUZ are currently providing them with food. Indications are that more farm workers will be displaced.

3. The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), also an affiliate of the ZCTU, has closed its office after its officials have been harassed by unknown people since the start of the Presidential Run Off. Two cars (registration Numbers ABD8989 and AAC5574) visited PTUZ general secretary, Raymond Majongwe, but fortunately he was not at his home. At the same time, other cars with unknown people visited the PTUZ treasurer’s wife claiming that they wanted to take her for ‘a funeral’.

4. A ZCTU councilor, Rebecca Butau, based in Chegutu was also seriously beaten and had to seek medical attention. Those who beat her-up said they were looking for David Zunde, another union official from the food industry. Currently Zunde is on the run.

The ITUC-Africa condemns ZANU-PF government in strong terms for the brutal attacks on the Zimbabwe trade union movement, the continual intimidation and harassment of some of its leaders. We further condemn the whole manner in which the run-off elections of June 27 were conducted by ZANU-PF leading to the withdrawal of the MDC and its candidate from elections.

It is obvious to many that the run-off elections were neither free nor fair and have only contributed to subvert the will of the Zimbabwean people.

We call on the AU Summit in session in Sham el Sheikh, Egypt, to take strong action against the ZANU-PF Government in Zimbabwe in order to ensure that peace, democracy and good governance prevail in the country to allow the MDC, trade unions and the members of the civil society to play their part in overcoming the crisis in Zimbabwe.

ITUC-Africa was founded on November 27, 2007. It represents 16 million workers in 46 African

countries and has 87 national affiliates.

For more information you may contact Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, General Secretary, ITUC-Africa, P O Box 67273 -00200, Nairobi, Kenya ; Tel:(+254 – 20) 34 00 46/27 103 10/27 173 08/27 173 24; Fax: (+254 – 20) 221 50 72/27 103 02; in...@ituc-africa.org

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.4.2/1523 - Release Date: 2008/06/28 07:00 AM

image024.gif

image033.gif

image034.png

image035.jpg

image036.jpg

image037.jpg

image038.jpg

image039.jpg

image040.png

image041.jpg

image042.gif

image025.jpg

image043.png

image044.gif

image045.jpg

image046.jpg

image026.png

image027.gif

image028.jpg

image029.jpg

image030.png

image031.jpg

image032.png

Reply all

Reply to author

Forward

0 new messages