SACP Statement on the latest developments in Zimbabwe
Malesela Maleka
SACP Statement on the latest developments in Zimbabwe
The SACP is extremely concerned at, and disturbed by, the latest
developments in Zimbabwe, including the increase in violence directed
at opposition members and supporters, the arbitrary arrest of
opposition leaders, the trade union movement, and other sections of
civil society, now culminating in the withdrawal of the MDC from the
Presidential run-off.
The SACP strongly condemns the decision by the Zimbabwean government
to proceed with the elections this coming Friday under these
conditions. Such a decision can only create further chaos and
instability and it is not in the interests of the Zimbabwean people.
The SACP therefore calls upon SADC to make an urgent intervention to
create conditions for a free and fair election, including urgent
measures to speedily adopt a new constitution, putting an end to
politically orcherstrated and all other forms of violence, and end the
use of state security organs to serve the electoral and political
interests of the ruling party.
It is for these reasons that the SACP pledges its continued solidarity
with the struggles of ordinary Zimbabwean workers and the poor for
democracy and the reconstruction of the economy of that country. It is
not for us to choose which party must rule Zimbabwe, but we are in
solidarity with the struggle for conditions to be created for the
people of Zimbabwe to freely exercise their choice.
The SACP has over the recent years consistently pointed out and warned
at the deteriorating situation in the country, and called for the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene and insist
on the strict observance of its own protocols on free, fair and
democratic elections.
At the heart of the crisis in Zimbabwe has been, a degenerating
ZANU-PF, characterised by use of the state as a means to accumulation
by elites located in the state, the consequent abuse of state
resources, gross mismanagement of the economy, thus leading to a
growing gulf between the government and the people. This has led to
the alienation of key former constituencies of ZANU-PF from this once
heroic liberation movement, culminating in the loss of elections by
ZANU-PF on 29 March 2008. Consequently, the very arms that were used
to fight a heroic and justified struggle against British colonialism
have now been turned against the people. This is the tragedy of a once
promising revolution led by ZANU-PF.
Much as imperialism will always try to undermine all progressive
revolutions in order to establish neo-colonial regimes in its former
colonies, it is disingenuous for ZANU-PF to blame all of its problems
on imperialism. How come that in the 1960s and 1970s imperialism
failed to win the majority of the Zimbabwean people onto its side, but
now, according to ZANU-PF, the people are being successfully
'manipulated' by these imperialist forces? Any revolution that begins
to turn its guns on the people is surely a revolution in deep trouble,
and requires serious self-reflection by the liberation movement
itself.
It is also a fact that during the mid-1990s the ZANU-PF government
itself colluded with the imperialist structural adjustment programmes
imposed on the people, with sections of the elite benefitting
handsomely in the privatisation and outsourcing of state services.
This was the beginning of the seeds of the destruction of the
Zimbabwean revolution.
It is clear to us that with the latest developments Zimbabwe will
never be the same again. But of serious concern to us is a danger of
Zimbabwe getting into a self-destructive and violent cul-de-sac.
The SACP strongly believes that it is Zimbabwean people themselves who
must take the lead in resolving the problems of that country. They
have tried to do so through their vote in the last elections, but this
is being deliberately undermined and frustrated by the government.
We also call for the immediate release of all opposition leaders that
are detained and for an end to the harassment of all other activists
who are targeted because they hold different views to that of
government.
The SACP will throw its weight behind the mass activities that COSATU
will be engaged in and we will intesify our solidarity work, in
collaboration with all progressive forces, in our quest to find
lasting solutions for the crisis of Zimbabwe.
Issued by the SACP.
Contact:
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson – 082 226 1802