tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35265024.post3000165811355792503..comments2023-07-29T23:57:56.634+12:00Comments on Socialist Aotearoa: Zimbabwe: Mugabe cracks down on oppositionJosephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11960995458664423354noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35265024.post-69514691758175772862008-06-25T21:05:00.000+12:002008-06-25T21:05:00.000+12:00Also ZCTU & SACP statements in comments sectionBy ...Also ZCTU & SACP statements in comments section<BR/><BR/>By the* International Socialist Organisation of Zimbabwe*<BR/><BR/>** * **<BR/><BR/>June 23, 2008 -- After the publication of the original article (see<BR/>below), Movement for Democratic Change presidential candidate Morgan<BR/>Tsvangirai held a press conference at which he issued a statement to the<BR/>effect that the MDC is pulling out of the presidential run-off election<BR/>because conditions for a free and fair election do not exist, [due to<BR/>the] the massive violence against his party and civic society. The press<BR/>conference followed the disruption of his final rally in Harare by<BR/>ZANU-PF vigilantes on June 22. Tsvangirai stated that the MDC was to<BR/>carry out further consultations and would announce the details of the<BR/>way forward.<BR/><BR/>We welcome the position taken by the MDC, and initial reports indicate<BR/>that this position has been accepted by MDC and civic society activists<BR/>and supporters.<BR/><BR/>However, this decision needs to be followed by quick and concrete steps<BR/>on the way forward, based on a united-front and mass-action strategy, as<BR/>indicated [in the earlier article below]. We are [aware] that sections<BR/>of the bourgeoisie, the Rhodesian right wing and the imperialist West<BR/>will not be happy with this decision, seeing it as a premature surrender<BR/>and may even put pressure on the MDC to rescind the decision.<BR/><BR/>Taking advantage of the USA’s presidency of the UN Security Council this<BR/>month, they might want to see a few more bodies in the streets ahead of<BR/>the election to justify their likely escalation of siege of the Mugabe<BR/>regime. But the MDC must resist this. Its activists and supporters, as<BR/>well as those in civic society, desperately need breathing space to<BR/>retreat in order, reorganise and begin the fightback. To wait for a sure<BR/>defeat come June 27 will make it that much more difficult to mobilise<BR/>the necessary program of civil disobedience, mass action and<BR/>delegitimisation of the regime. Indeed, the economic situation in the<BR/>coming few weeks is going to see us descend to the parameters of hell as<BR/>the West and big business escalate pressure on the regime, economically<BR/>and politically, to force it into a neoliberal power-sharing government<BR/>of national unity (GNU) deal with the opposition.<BR/>This has put the regime in a quagmire but it is likely to continue with<BR/>its sham election to gain legitimacy. Legally, it may invoke provisions<BR/>of the electoral laws which stipulate that withdrawal can be no later<BR/>than 21 days before the election and that in any case standing in the<BR/>run-off is by law for the top two contesting candidates. The key<BR/>therefore is to launch an immediate political program of<BR/>delegitimisation of the run-off election, locally, regionally and<BR/>internationally.<BR/>Regroupment of civic groups and the establishment of the united front of<BR/>resistance of the opposition and civic society has therefore now assumed<BR/>paramount importance. This is more so because of the massive likely<BR/>pressure on the MDC to now enter negotiations for a government of<BR/>national unity from South African president Thabo Mbeki, the Southern<BR/>African Development Community (SADC), the UN and the capitalist and<BR/>imperialist forces. This is no solution for working people and must be<BR/>resolutely rejected.But given the MDC’s history of prevarication and the<BR/>strong influence of capitalist elites within its leadership, it may not<BR/>surprise if it ends up capitulating again. The lessons from Kenya are<BR/>that united, resolute and autonomous activities and mobilisation by a<BR/>united front of civic society can stop this and embolden the more<BR/>radical sections of the opposition to fight rather than capitulate to<BR/>the regime.<BR/><BR/>Full: http://links.org.au/node/489<BR/><BR/>Subscribe free to /Links - International Journal of Socialist Renewal/ -<BR/>at http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub=343373Terry Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708814557205366852noreply@blogger.com