Written By: - Date published: 6:36 am, June 25th, 2008 - 77 comments
Categories: International -
Tags: defence, Unions, zimbabwe
There is no longer any hope the union-led Movement for Democratic Change can remove Mugabe from power peacefully. Now, his thugs are killing MDC supporters, union leaders have been arrested, and the regime is moving to break the organised labour. This is typical behaviour of a regime moving into totalitarianism the unions represent the largest political organisations outside of the State, as such, they are a barrier to absolute State power and must be eliminated. Things are shaping up to get much worse in Zimbabwe if Mugabe stays in power.
Military action seems to be the only option left. A smart campaign could be conducted relatively bloodlessly but it would have to be led by South Africa, the only country in the region with the standing and the military might to carry out such an action. And South Africa is showing no will to act.
A third of Zimbabwe’s population has left for South Africa, creating social unrest. South Africa’s unions have stood by the people of Zimbabwe against Mugabe; South African workers have refused to unload a shipment of Chinese arms bound for Mugabe’s regime. Yet, the South African government continues to protect Mugabe and refuses to act against him. The ANC is still unwilling to turn against a man who led an African freedom movement against white oppression.
It is time for South Africa’s leaders to face the face that their old ally has become the enemy they once fought against. It’s time for South Africa to remove him from power, and New Zealand should offer its support.
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Scoopit!
Tane: As a socialist I do not support Mugabe’s regime as capable of winning economic independence and meeting the needs of the people.
It has a proven record of selling out to the British, and of trying to solve its internal problems by repressive use of state force.
Nor do I support the MDC which is a stooge of Western Imperialism (the so-called international community)which in the event it won power would soon re-open Zimbabwe up to the IMF and international capital so it would end up like South Africa.
In the immediate situation I support the right of the people to vote for any party of their choice and not be exposed to state repression.
But any real change can only come from the independent actions of the poor workers and farmers of Zimbabwe, as against every faction of nationalist leaders who have, continue and will in the future, be subordinate to imperialism.
That is why I oppose the intervention of the West (which is the ultimate cause of the current problems) to ‘solve’ the situation. It is a sick joke to expect the West to create conditions for ‘democracy’ and ‘civil society’ in Zimbabwe. Despite all its shortcomings I support the ZANU-PF against attempts to destroy the economy by sanctions and blockades, and in the face of military intervention.
These general points are made clearly enough in Gowan’s many articles on his blog and they are a standard international socialist position which puts the international working class at the centre of making progressive changes.
rave: “I support the ZANU-PF”
Says it all, really.
L
No Lew it doesn’t say it all the sentence below is required.
Rave you are a deluded moron.
This deserves Godwin’s. Anyone care to phrase it?
rave. Without conceding the premeses of your argument when you say “Zimbabwe … would end up like South Africa.” are you talking about the South Africa that a third of Zimbabwe’s population has fled to in a bid to escape starvation, economic collapse, and state terrorism at home?
rave. The working class, the unions, have been the leaders of opposition to Mugabe and it is the unions, not the capitialists in SA who have prevented arms shipments getting to his regime.
“Zimbabwe’s neighbours aren’t likely to intervene because that would create a precedent which would cause sleepless nights in many a presidential palace. Nor could they accept intervention by a Western-backed UN force because that would smack of re-colonisation.”
A good discussion piece.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/466/story.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10520007&pnum=0