Zimbabwe treason trialists released on bail

By Ken Olende
from Socialist Worker UK

A Zimbabwean judge yesterday released on bail the six socialists facing the death penalty for watching a video on the Middle East uprisings.

The judge said that the state's case might collapse as it was "not a strong one".

The release is a major step forward—since their arrest the six have been tortured, denied medical care, held in solitary confinement and forced to work.

Pressure from an international solidarity campaign has been vital in influencing Robert Mugabe's repressive government. The bail is $2,000 US dollars for each of the accused, so their supporters have had to put forward $12,000. Please keep giving to the campaign.

The strict bail terms also demand the accused reside at certain defined addresses and report to the police three times a week.

Originally 45 people were arrested when police surrounded a meeting organised by the International Socialist Organisation on 19 February. The police stormed the meeting in Zimbabwe's capital Harare after they had watched a video about the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, and were holding a discussion. Of these 39 were later released without charge.

Zimbabwe: People who make dictators tremble

By  Sherry Wolf

First published at Sherry Talks Back.

 

The regime of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is intent on putting six socialists on trial for their lives--on charges of treason that carry a death sentence.

THE SLIGHT, soft-spoken woman now enduring beatings and medical abuse in Zimbabwe's Chikurubi Maximum Security prison arrived at my doorstep more than a decade ago with a severe limp.

Tafadzwa Antonater Choto (age 36), one of the six Zimbabwean activists facing charges of treason, is being tortured and facing a potential death sentence for the "crime" of organizing a viewing and discussion of video footage of the Egyptian revolution in Harare on February 19, 2011.

Release Munyradzi Gwisai, free all 46 arrested activists!

The following message was sent today to Zimbabwe's diplomatic representative to New Zealand, based in Canberra.

We appeal to trade unionists, student organisations, human rights groups and others here in Aotearoa to also send their own messages, to zimbabwe1@iimetro.com.au.

Copy them to socialismfrombelow@gmail.com, ashley_fataar@yahoo.co.uk, shanthabloemen@gmail.com and international@socialist-alliance.org

To: Her Excellency Ms Jacqueline Zwambila, Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Australia and New Zealand

4 March, 2011

Socialist Worker-New Zealand today adds its voice to the growing international campaign for the release of Munyaradzi Gwisai and 45 other civil society activists arrested in Zimbabwe.

The 45 students, trade unionists and workers were detained along with Gwisai at a meeting in Harare on February 19 while watching videos of recent political developments in Egypt and Tunisia.

Gwisai is the director of the Labor Law Centre in Zimbabwe and a former Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) member of parliament.

All have been charged with treason, which carries a possible death penalty or a sentence of life imprisonment.

Gwisai has given testimony in court of torture that he and five other detainees suffered in a bid to extract confessions. All have been denied medical attention while in custody, including those suffering from HIV. The 46 were not given any reason for their arrest at the time they were taken into custody, rendering their arrest unlawful. Defence lawyer Alec Muchadehama states that police denied him access to the detainees prior to their first court appearance.

Socialist Worker, along with other supporters of the Workers Charter, was proud to host a meeting by Gwisai at Auckland's Trades Hall in 2007. The visit strengthened ties between civil society groups in New Zealand and Zimbabwe forged during the long struggle against apartheid in Southern Africa.

We echo the condemnation by Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International Deputy Director for Africa, of the torture and ill-treatment inflicted by the Law and Order Section at Harare Central Police Station.

Gwisai, a lecturer in law at the University of Zimbabwe, has told the court that meeting was to discuss constitutionalism, democracy and good governance. We urge respect for this expression academic freedom in Zimbabwe.

We are concerned at reports that the presiding magistrate in the case, Munamato Mutevedzi, was summoned on February 28 to meet with Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, a former Attorney General in Robert Mugabe's government. Any political interference in the case will further undermine the tarnished international reputation of Zimbabwe's judicial system.

We support the statement by Bongani Masuku, International Relations Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, that the allegations against the detainees are baseless.

We repeat the call by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay that all those being held in custody illegally should be released without delay.

We further demand that the rights contained in Articles XII and XIX of the Global Political Agreement, signed by Zimbabwean Prime Minister Robert Mugabe on 15 September 2008, must be upheld now and in the future, namely:

* Freedoms of assembly and association.
* Freedom of expression.

The Zimbabwean government, its ministers and agents should be aware that the world is watching.

Central committee, Socialist Worker-New Zealand

Zimbabwe: 46 arrested activists charged with treason, tortured

 
Munyaradzi Gwisai, who spoke in Auckland in April 2007.

25 February, 2011

It has now been confirmed that detained labour movement activist and leading member of the International Socialist Organization Zimbabwe Munyaradzi Gwisai (pictured) and 45 other activists detained by the Zimbabwe state on February 19 have been charged with treason.

If found guilty of treason, the activists risk a sentence of death or life imprisonment. They are being tortured to extract bogus confessions.

The arrests followed a raid on a closed meeting that was discussing the implications of the revolutions in the Arab world.

Gwisai is director of the Labor Law Centre and former Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) MP.

We call on all readers, to urgently send protest messages calling for the dropping of all charges and the immediate release of the comrades. We also call on you to contact trade unions and unionists, human rights groups and members, and anyone else who can send such messages.

Please send statements of protest to socialismfrombelow@gmail.com and copy to ashley_fataar@yahoo.co.uk and shanthabloemen@gmail.com.

See below for a selection of protest statements.

You can also email protest letters to the Zimbabwe embassy in Australia [which also covers New Zealand].

People can also call the following numbers to exert pressure – at least to let the powers that be know that people are aware of what is going on.

• Patrick Chinamasa (minister of “justice”): 263 4 860 006 (home)
• President’s Office: +263 4 252 440 or +263 4 700 071
• Police Commisioner Augustine Chihuri: +263 4 250 008 (office) or +263 11 808 290 (mobile)
• Home Affairs (police) Minister Kembo Mohadi: +263 11 605 424 (mobile) or +263 4 794628 (office)
• State Security (CIO) Minister Didymus Mutasa: +263 11 200 532 (mobile) or 263 4 774189 (office)
• Wayne Bvudzijena (police spokesman): +263 11 801 172 (mobile)
• Happyton Bonyongwe (director of the Central Intelligence Organisation): +263 4 497 849 (home)
• In Australia (and New Zealand) please send an urgent e-mail to Zimbabwean officials calling for the activists and socialists to be released immediately and unharmed to zimbabwe1@iimetro.com.au.

Zimbabwe Leads the World!

by Auckland union activist 2 May 2009 Zimbabwe is truly a world leader. Mugabe's government, which followed the IMF and World Bank's neo liberal plans for their economy to the letter, showed us all where these policies will get you. The austerity medicine prescribed for Zimbabwe by the World Bank, included oppressive and harsh debt repayment, funded by massive privatisation of virtually every public service and national asset. The mantra was "free enterprise knows best". Now the whole world is learning the harsh lesson that the people of Zimbabwe know only too well. As one commentator once said: "free enterprise means free foxes in a free chicken run". It seems that most government's, including president Obama's and our own, instead of getting their shotgun like any sensible farmer would do, is instead feeding the fox more chickens in the hope that this will make him satisfied. See What comes after a trillion? [23 April 2009] a NZ Sunday Star article on the failed Zimbabwe economy.

Zimbabwe: Vote Mugabe or else!

A one candidate presidential election was held in Zimbabwe on 27 June. Vote Mugabe or else was the non-alternative for people. Below is article from Ken Olende for British Socialist Worker written prior to the "election". See also Zimbabwe election not 'illegitimate', says UN Security Council from the NZ Herald (28 June). The Left in New Zealand needs to be thinking about how we can give practical support to the brave democracy fighters in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe cracks down on opposition by Ken Olende 24 June 2008 The situation in Zimbabwe continued to deteriorate as Socialist Worker went to press. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai had sought refuge in the Dutch embassy, while the government crackdown on opposition supporters continued. This followed the opposition’s withdrawal from the presidential run-off election, due to take place on Friday of this week, in the face of intimidation from Robert Mugabe’s governing Zanu-PF party. More than 80 MDC activists have been killed during the campaign. There have been arbitrary arrests of civic leaders.

Continue

Sports boycott of Zimbabwe deserves government support

Global Peace & Justice Auckland media release www.gpja.pl.net 25 June 2008 The New Zealand government must move on from condemnation of the brutal Mugabe regime to take some simple steps to put real pressure on the dictator. If we have learnt anything from the regime to date it is that Mugabe takes notice of actions – not words. It is encouraging to see international cricketers taking the lead. Governments must now take effective action to support work for the total sporting isolation of Zimbabwe. In New Zealand’s case it means ending the proposed black caps tour to Zimbabwe next year. More than anything else actions such as these can psychologically undermine those supporting tyrannical regimes far more effectively than finding new ways to describe the megalomaniac Mugabe. In 2005 New Zealand had the opportunity to put intense pressure on Mugabe by cancelling the New Zealand cricket tour to Zimbabwe. Despite appeals from democratic forces inside Zimbabwe and around the world, such as those from Zimbabwean cricketer Henry Olongo and human rights campaigner Judith Todd, the New Zealand cricketers toured Zimbabwe after the our government refused to even formally request the team to call off the tour. The bluff and bluster from the then Foreign Minister Phil Goff and Prime Minister Helen Clark let Mugabe off the hook and helped deepen the crisis for Zimbabwe’s people. Concerted action then could have increased international pressure and could well have ended the regime before now. Our government can take the initiative now to actively promote a total boycott of the regime through the Commonwealth and United Nations. A good place to start is cricket. John Minto Spokesperson Ph (09) 8463173 (09) 8469496 jbminto@xtra.co.nz

Zimbabwe ISO on the political crisis in their country

20 June 2008 Precarious security situation – Reign of Terror As the nation gears up for the presidential run off on June 27, the Mugabe regime has unleashed a reign of terror across the country. The levels of violence and political intimidation now far exceed those ahead of the 2000 elections. The economic collapse is severe and unprecedented. Gono’s floating of the dollar has led to its collapse to $1USA to ZW$6 billion and inflation is now over 2 million percent, with prices going up twice a week. The people are truly suffering.

Continue

South African activists call for solidarity against attacks on migrants

Zimbabwean refugees want solidarity in the struggle against Mugabe not racist attacks and xenophobia encouraged by South Africa's ruling elites

by Ken Olende
from British Socialist Worker
20 May 2008

A series of brutal attacks on migrant workers in South Africa in the last two weeks has left dozens dead and forced thousands to flee.

At least 22 people had been killed as Socialist Worker went to press. The mobs carrying out the assaults accuse migrants of taking jobs from local people and causing crime.

Activists in Johannesburg have called a solidarity march to build unity between South African workers and migrants.

The Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF) issued a statement against the attacks. “Some 40 percent of all South African citizens are unemployed and this has been the case for many years,” it read.

“This is not the result of immigrants from other countries coming to South Africa but rather, the result of the anti-poor, profit-seeking policies of the government and the behaviour of the capitalist class.”

It also pointed out that “the South African government’s approach to the crisis in Zimbabwe has further contributed to the mass migration of Zimbabweans to South Africa”.

The majority of the migrants have arrived from neighbouring Zimbabwe since the collapse of its economy.

The APF is urgently building this Saturday’s solidarity march against the attacks. Claire Ceruti, editor of the Socialism from Below publication, spoke to Socialist Worker: “Migrant workers are sheltering in police stations, which is ironic since police arrested 1,500 of them in a raid at the end of January.

“The whole police operation suggested that migrants were to blame. It acted as a prologue to the current problems.”

People have been taken by surprise at the level of violence, she adds. “I live in Yeoville, which is normally a vibrant suburb, but is now silent. No kids are out playing, no one is walking on the street. People are just too scared to show their faces.

“But one small example shows the potential for solidarity. In inner city Johannesburg several residential buildings have been organising against evictions by the city government.

“The majority of people in one of the buildings are from Zimbabwe and came under attack over the weekend. But the advice centre that coordinates the anti-eviction campaign mobilised the other blocks, which are almost all South African. The attackers were driven off.

“This issue can still go both ways. The next days will be crucial in ensuring the success of the solidarity march and giving people who oppose the attacks the confidence to come out on to the streets.”

See LINKS for more information on this important struggle.

Zimbabwe ISO condemns arrest of union leaders

Zimbabwe congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Lovemore Matombo

ZCTU Secretary General Wellington Chibhebhe

ISO Zimbabwe
Press release, 13 May 2008

The International Socialist Organization (Zimbabwe) condems the arrest and detention of Zimbabwe congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Lovemore Matombo and Secretary General Wellington Chibhebhe on the 8th of May 2008. They are being held for stirring people to rise against the government and for allegedly reporting falsehoods on innocent people being killed by ZANU PF supporters across the country.

The arrest of these 2 workers leaders is unlawful as it is one amongst a hodgepodge of other dirty tactics that Zanu PF is blatantly using to intimidate workers and the ordinary people as we wait for the announcement of date for presidential run-off.

Matombo and Chibhebhe did not incite anyone into violence but rather it is Zanu PF, which has unleashed violence and torture on the ordinary citizens of Zimbabwe and some leaders. Since March 29 50 people have so far been killed, more than 4 000 people displaced and some have had their homes burnt to ashes.

On the other hand, the economic situation has steeply deteriorated, hitting alarming levels. The situation promises to be much worse in the near future as the regime has adopted a full fledged neo-liberal economic line.

Mugabe who all along had fervently resisted pressure from the neo-liberal hardliners within ZANU PF to open up the market and remove all restrictions on foreign exchange rates has finally succumbed to pressure and has allowed Gono to do what ever he sees as fit to repair the already patched economy. This has impacted negatively on the livelihoods of the ordinary people as already we have seen prices of commodities skyrocketing beyond what ordinary people who are earning less that $5 billion yet they need $50 billion to survive.

As a gesture to its commitment to paying their odious debts, and against of all this suffering Zimbabwe has paid back US $700 million to the African Development Bank.

As workers and ordinary people we say no to this payment of foreign debits. Instead the money should be used towards health, education and meeting of other basic necessities of ordinary people.

ZCTU leaders should be released now and we call for mass actions to demand:

• The release of detained MDC parliamentarians.
• An end to further politically motivated violence.
• A minimum wage non-taxable that is linked to inflation.

Contact Mike Sambo, National Coordinator, ISO Zimbabwe sambo.mike@gmail.com

South African dockers refuse to unload guns from China bound for the Mugabe regime

A rally of MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) supporters in Zimbabwe. The actions of the South African dock workers helps their struggle.

South African dock workers have defied the South African government and refused to unload the Chinese arms ship bound for Zimbabwe. The ship has been sent packing into the Indian Ocean looking for another port to unload its cargo.

The Mbeki government, who has maintained a close relationship with Mugabe, was politically embarrassed by these workers.

Randall Howard, general secretary of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), to which the Durban dockers belong, had given this staunch warning: “If they the Mbeki government bring replacement labour to do the work, our members will not stand and look at them and smile."

The Zimbabwe ISO, who’ve been throwing their energies into the democratic movement against the brutal Mugabe regime, “salutes what the South African workers have done. If similar actions can be done globally in solidarity with the working people of Zimbabwe, Mugabe will be removed.”

“Mugabe’s intentions to import arms shows how prepared he is to cling to power by hook or crook. These days armed police and military are found everywhere on the streets of Zimbabwe, whilst they've initiated a terror campaign in most rural areas. People are being killed and some tortured”, says the Zimbabwe ISO.

The Maritime Union of NZ has sent a message of solidarity to the dockers’ union in South Africa, passing on the full support of New Zealand maritime workers for their principled stand.

UNITYblog has previously featured an appeal for the Zimbabwe ISO, who are doing great work under extremely difficult circumstances. $1000 dollars has been sent already.

If you would like to donate money to help comrades in Zimbabwe as they struggle for democracy email grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz

NZ Labour - a party without principle

A recent headline in The Guardian (18 April) reads: ‘Chinese ship carries arms cargo to Mugabe regime’. Here we have a ship full of arms for Robert Mugabe so he can repress the democratic revolt in Zimbabwe, supplied by the same Chinese regime which the Labour government in New Zealand has embraced in a free trade deal, held up by a dockers’ strike in South Africa which, if done in New Zealand, would be illegal under the Employment Relations Act passed by Helen Clark's administration in 2000. Makes you think doesn’t it? This series of events on the on other side of the world highlights just how far Labour is from a progressive politics grounded in basic human rights. It’s all about the almighty dollar, and to hang with basic principles like democracy and workers’ right to strike. To secure a free trade agreement with China that will boost the profits of Fonterra and other NZ companies, Labour is willing to turn a blind eye to human rights abuses in China. And what chance that Helen Clark is going to loudly condemn gun-running by China to help a despotic Zimbabwe regime crush a broad based democratic movement? Not likely. This is the tangled world of pro-corporate profit driven politics without principle that the Labour Party has embraced. The party is no longer a progressive force in New Zealand.

Chinese ship carries arms cargo to Mugabe regime by David Beresford in Johannesburg The Guardian 18 April 2008 A Chinese cargo ship believed to be carrying 77 tonnes of small arms, including more than 3m rounds of ammunition, AK47 assault rifles, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades, has docked in the South African port of Durban for transportation of the weapons to Zimbabwe, the South African government confirmed yesterday. It claimed it was powerless to intervene as long as the ship's papers were in order. Copies of the documentation for the Chinese ship, the An Yue Jiang, show that the weapons were sent from Beijing to the ministry of defence in Harare. Headed "Dangerous goods description and container packing certificate", the document was issued on April 1, three days after Zimbabwe's election. It lists the consignment as including 3.5m rounds of ammunition for AK47 assault rifles and for small arms, 1,500 40mm rockets, 2,500 mortar shells of 60mm and 81mm calibre, as well as 93 cases of mortar tubes. The carrier is listed as the Cosco shipping company in China. Continue

ZIMBABWE SOLIDARITY APPEAL

ZIMBABWE SOLIDARITY APPEAL Grant Morgan, Socialist Worker central committee member and RAM chair, has initiated an urgent appeal to help our comrades in Zimbabwe. The International Socialist Organisation (ISO) is at the cutting edge of a mass movement against the dictatorial rule of Robert Mugabe. The ISO were leading players in the recent People's Convention, whose 3,000+ delegates adopted a People's Charter, which is described as "drawing from the Workers Charter of... New Zealand". The People’s Charter is being taken out to workers, peasants and students across Zimbabwe to act as a rallying point against both Mugabe and the forces of neo-liberalism. In order to fund their important work, the poverty-stricken ISO has made an urgent international appeal for funds. Can you make a donation? Because of their very difficult situation in a dictatorial and chaotic land, the ISO say that the best way for them to receive funds is by a money gram. Grant Morgan will be organising a money gram to send to the poverty-stricken ISO. Mail cheques (made out to Grant Morgan) to 24 Church Rd, Mangere Bridge, Manukau City. Or transfer money directly into Grant's account, details are: Account name: G.C. Morgan Bank: ASB Bank Branch: Green Bay Account number: 12 3070 0123624 50 When the money is collected and sent Grant will email a statement out to all NZ donors. If you have any inquires contact Grant (09) 634 4432 (h+w), 021 2544 515 or grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz Please contribute towards this very worthwhile cause.

Zimbabwe ISO on the political crisis in their country

20 June 2008 Precarious security situation – Reign of Terror As the nation gears up for the presidential run off on June 27, the Mugabe regime has unleashed a reign of terror across the country. The levels of violence and political intimidation now far exceed those ahead of the 2000 elections. The economic collapse is severe and unprecedented. Gono’s floating of the dollar has led to its collapse to $1USA to ZW$6 billion and inflation is now over 2 million percent, with prices going up twice a week. The people are truly suffering. Since May 1 there have been arbitrary arrests of civic leaders starting with the two weeks detention of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union president and secretary general. Fourteen WOZA leaders were detained for nearly a month for protesting the delay in releasing the election results. Two of their leaders, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu remain detained at Chikurubi Prison. Also arrested and harassed are church, student and NGO leaders and teachers. NGOs and movements have effectively been closed down by the regime, despite assertions to the contrary. Over the past week state agents have moved door to door in NGOs offices forcing them to close or confiscating computers and files, including the raid on offices of ZimRights, NCA, ZINASU, Padare, Bulawayo Agenda, Crisis Coalition, CHRA and ISO. Humanitarian NGOs providing food relief, drugs and support to AIDS/HIV patients have been particularly hit. Bases have been set up in townships where Movement for Demoocratic Change (MDC) and civic groups activists are being forced to attend night vigils and/or assaulted. Several of our ISO members from Mbare, Sunningdale, Epworth and Chitungwiza have had their houses raided forcing them to flee whilst others have been brutally assaulted. Tec Bara, the ISO Harare gender co-ordinator and Zimbabwe Social Forum national deputy convenor for gender is currently hospitalized after being brutally assaulted at her home Friday night. Three of our Mutare comrades were also assaulted and brutalized. A hostel in Kambuzuma housing fleeing women and their children by the Women Coalition was raided and people forced to flee. Budiriro the national deputy of the war veterans, J. Chinotimba has turned an AIDS/HIV clinic into a war chamber. The MDC is receiving the brunt of the attacks. Tsvangirai has been repeatedly arrested, his rallies banned and campaign busses and vehicles impounded. MDC is totally blacked-out from the state controlled daily newspapers, radios and TV whilst under Operation Dzikisai Madhishi, people are being forced to remove their satellite dishes. Detained MDC secretary general Tendai Biti faces treason charges, carrying the death penalty. This past week in Harare, the wife of the MDC Harare Mayor-Elect was abducted and killed, houses in townships fire-bombed with four people killed and twenty houses in the Chipinge rural village of NCA chairperson L Madhuku torched. The Attorney General has said no bail will be granted to those facing political violence charges (virtually all from the opposition) whilst Patrick Chinamasa, the Minister of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, said he will be declaring a general amnesty for all petty criminals to create room for the political prisoners. Zanu PF has virtually closed off the rural areas from the opposition under Operation MakaVhoterapi (Operation Where Did You Vote). As presidential spokesman, G.Charamba put it in his latest Nathaniel Manheru column – “Fundamentally, MDC cannot win the runoff; will not win it…Unlike in March, rural Zimbabwe is now another country for MDC…and hey Tsvangirai will be lucky to find even election agents. In towns yes, but nowhere else. From end of 1976, l saw war and the making of structures that nourish it. There are many in Tsvangirai’s camp old enough to interpret the times for him. I am sure they have seen what is happening in the country side, watched and correctly read the furrowed foreheads of those who will take the necessary decisions should and when that becomes necessary. Enough hints have been dropped regarding what will wash and will not wash come the morning after June 27. A mere twiddle by a blunt pen cannot return this country to bondage ” Why do we see this? There are three basic objectives behind the regime’s crack-down. Firstly, for Zanu PF to win the crucial presidential elections by any means necessary. As we previously argued in September 2007 - “the chances of an opposition victory are slim… as in 2002 and 2005, the opposition is deluding itself. The playing field is so stacked against them and they have very little counter measures to these, as Zanu PF itself for instance had in 1980. The entire state machinery, including the media, is being mobilized to ensure a Zanu PF victory by hook or crook… war veterans and chiefs are being mobilized to make the rural areas a no-go area for the opposition…” Will Zanu PF’s strategy work? Increasingly over the last few weeks an election that MDC was clearly poised to win has turned and a Mugabe “victory” is now the most likely result as MDC structures are decimated and the rural population bludgeoned and starved into submission. Peasants are correctly aware that the ward-based system of voting will make it easy for Zanu PF to identify villages that vote against them and exert revenge. Various reports indicate the game plan. Known MDC activists will be forced to plead illiteracy and be accompanied by senior Zanu PF village leaders, who will “assist” them in voting. The day after elections, all villagers have been ordered to assemble near counting stations and await results so that it can be confirmed that people have truly repented. This is exactly what Charamba means, when he says the structures of war have now been resuscitated in the country-side. The crack-down is also designed to neutralize any potential centres of resistance to a Mugabe “victory,” which this time will be quickly announced following on Kibaki in Kenya. MDC and civic society are paying a heavy price for failing to heed warnings not to take the elections route as their principal strategy for achieving change but instead to take a central strategy of mass action centred around a fighting united front of the opposition, civic society and labour demanding a new democratic constitution before any elections. ZAPU was only able to withstand Gukurahundi because of such rooted structures based on a committed core of cadres and not protest voters. At best elections should only have been used as a secondary tactic to mobilize people for the central strategy of mass action. Capitalist elites who used their money to commodify our struggles and worm up their way into leadership positions in the opposition and civic society stopped this and built false illusions around the elections and marginalized the activists who built the party and are today sorely needed. Even if Zanu PF loses, Mugabe has declared that he will not hand over power to MDC but rather go to war - Hatingaregi nyika yakauya neropa ichitorwa ne penzura, tinoda kuona kuti chakasimba chii gidi kana penzura (we can not let go a country that we won through the barrel of a gun by a simple vote –we will see which is stronger – the gun or a pencil.) A radio report on Power FM quoted Mugabe declaring at a rally - “If you thought Hitler is gone, then you are mistaken, because Hitler is not only back but back here in Zimbabwe.” The second objective is to recapture the parliamentary majority for Zanu PF by convicting MDC-Elect MPs or forcing them to flee. As Charamba says - “They are on the run, but will not run much longer. That may mean several by-elections which (Tsvangirai) knows he will not win.” Indeed it is likely that by the time Parliament convenes, enough opposition MPs will either be in detention or have fled to give Zanu PF the majority to elect both the Speaker of the House of Assembly and President of Senate despite being the minority party. The third objective is preparation for a Zanu PF dominated but neo-liberal and pro-business Government of National Unity with MDC after the elections. In our September 2007 Perspective we stated that because of the imploding economic crisis and “despite his rhetoric, Mugabe is now ready to capitulate and enter into an elitist compromise deal with the MDC, the west and business. But only after the 2008 elections, which he hopes to use to legitimize his party’s claim to being the senior player in such alliance, deal with his party’s succession problem as well as protect his legacy, person and family besides his little burial plot at Heroes Acre.” Many of his top officials have indeed been quoted suggesting the GNU as an indispensable option to deal with the Zimbabwean crisis. The crack-down is designed to force MDC into such GNU and pre-empty any potential resistance from its radicals or civic society. This is worsened by power struggles we hear in the opposition ahead of congress next year. Today many of the cowardly elites who have wormed their way to the top in the opposition, will, as we have been warning for over two years, gladly accept the GNU, with the support of business, Mbeki, SADC and most of the west, fearful of the further radicalization of the Zimbabwean crisis. Zanu PF tactics are thus working. Already MDC is now totally silent even in its urban township strongholds, as Zanu PF holds sway. As one comrade said – “ve MDC tapeta miswe.” (MDC has put its tail behind its legs.). Even civic groups that have not been raided are now stampeding to close down offices. Fear stalks the nation one week before the elections. Way forward : Mobilise for United Front Rally for Democracy and mass action The first and most important thing is to confront the veil of fear that threatens to suffocate us. The defiance of the closure of offices by several NGOs is correct. Even if the regime closes our offices we must not allow it to close down our movements – underground alternatives must be urgently built. But no-one group can withstand this pressure alone. We need united collective response. This is why for the last three years and at the Peoples Convention we were calling for the need to build a radical united front of civic groups, labour and the anti-capitalist movement, autonomous from MDC, even if working with it. One capable of initiating united front based mass actions without necessarily being subordinated to MDC. And one based on a pro-working people and anti-neoliberal/capitalist ideology. At the Convention we unfortunately allowed our tactical differences on whether to support or boycott the March Elections, to divide us and stop us from the bigger project of building such united front. Today we all pay a heavy price. But it is not too late to regroup, re-organise and offer leadership in action along with MDC. Even under this crack-down we can regroup, initially on a defensive program of solidarity for those under attack and self-defence and counter-attacks where necessary. Most urgently we call for a Summit of Leaders of the Opposition and Civic Society to set up a united front of resistance. We believe that such united front must be totally rooted in and around the bread and butter concerns of working people including peasants and the unemployed as opposed to the wealthy capitalist elites in business, locally and internationally. Indeed the very origins of MDC (and similar movements in the Global South) lie in the massive protests of the late 1990s against poverty induced by the Mugabe regime’s neoliberal capitalist programme of ESAP. A new and powerful aspect of MDC’s campaign in the March elections was emphasis on such bread and butter issues of the ordinary people. Any struggle against the regime that fails to do this will be outflanked on its left by this crafty regime, which has shown, most powerfully around the land question, strong capacity to cynically manipulate the poor’s concerns to remain in power and demonise the opposition as a stooge of the west and the business class. Without such a united front and a pro-poor, pro-working people and anti-capitalist ideology we shall not prevail against this regime. The Peoples Charter of the Peoples Convention offers a powerful starting point. One of the first things to do being to convene a massive united front Rally for Democracy in the centre of Harare a few days before the elections or the week after to be convened by the opposition led by MDC, civic groups, trade unions and churches. If possible the unions must call for all workers in Harare not to go to work but to attend the Rally. The purpose of the Rally is first to fight the veil of fear and rebuild confidence in our movements. Secondly to send a message to the dictatorship that we will not be cowered; that we demand an immediate cessation of the reign of terror, compensation of all victims; immediate release of all political prisoners; and send a warning to the regime that the people will not accept its 27 June circus and that the struggle will only accelerate after June 27 including general strikes, stayaways, class boycotts and civil disobedience. Secondly on the elections, our preferred position as ISO has been to boycott any fake elections done without a new constitution and deny the regime’s elections any legitimacy. In the alternative for a regrouped united front of civic society and the opposition to launch a serious and determined programme of civil disobedience and mass action supported by regional and international solidarity from working peoples and progressive movements. Indeed over the next week the MDC leadership have a huge decision to make on whether to continue participating in a sham election designed to clothes legitimacy to a dictatorship or withdraw, regroup and lead a fight –back of mass action and civil disobedience. However, if MDC still decides to continue running. The ISO, in view of MDC’s massive performance in the March elections and desire of many to vote, has now modified its position to call for unconditional but fraternally critical support to Tsvangirai. Our criticism is what we perceive as the increasing domination of the party leadership by capitalist and western elites and the marginalization of workers and radicals. This will lead to its likely pursing a neoliberal capitalist agenda if it assumes power to the detriment of working people. And secondly its disastrous strategy of relying on the electoral route rather than mass action. But the Mugabe regime is driving us into hell and the people need some breathing space in order to re-organise and resume our battle for real democracy and against the capitalist and imperialist bloodsuckers. We therefore urge all our members, supporters, allies and working people in general to defy the regime’ intimidation and go out and vote in the elections for Tsvangirai. However voting must only be seen as a tactic to keep the flames of the movement alive and to use the space to organize and mobilize for all out people’s mass action before and after June 27, and not as the central strategy for change. The defeat of Zanu PF in March shows how much the masses now want change. Even today in the midst of the onslaught, opposition activists at local levels have organized themselves and are fighting back in places like Epworth, Bikita, Zaka, Chimanimani. But these are isolated actions, easily crushed unless more central leadership is offered. The spirit to fight in civic society is still there. Indeed when an ISO delegation visited the imprisoned WOZA leaders this week, we were impressed by their high spirits despite the very harsh conditions of their incase ration including being denied jerseys in this biting winter. Or the many maimed and displaced MDC activists who are vowing that despite all they are still going to vote against the regime come 27 June. At the same time under no circumstances must we agree to the GNU sell out idea. There can be no marriage with such a murderous regime MDC – we must consign it to its true destiny – the dustbin of history. The GNU is a project for the dictatorship to perpetuate itself and for the capitalist and the imperialist elites, to ensure that the poverty that the capitalist Zanu PF government started with its ESAP is perpetuated forever but now buttressed by a working – people supported MDC. It’s time we allow the ordinary people to take charge of the struggle that is rightfully theirs and ensure an outcome that achieves real democracy, economically and politically, for th emajority and not just political and capitalist elites as we have so many times seen in recent history in the region and internationally in Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Eastern Europe. As our brothers and sisters in Latin America are pushing we say no to capitalism and yes to international socialism as the way forward for humanity. Finally ISO wishes to express our utmost gratitude to all those who have send solidarity messages and donations to us and other organizations and still make a further urgent appeal for assistance. To send solidarity messages, receive updates or make a donation please mail us at the address below. Shinga Murombo! Jambanja Ndizvo! Smash the Dictatorship! Viva Socialism! International Socialist Organisation – Zimbabwe : iso.zim@gmail.com Post-Script: 23 June 2008 Following the publication of this update, Morgan Tsvangirai held a press conference where he issued a statement to the effect that MDC is pulling out of the run-off because conditions for a free and fair election do not exist. And the massive violence against his party and civic society. The conference followed the dispruption of his final star rally in Harare by Zanu PF vigilantes on Sunday 22nd June. He stated that MDC was still going to carry out further consultations and would announce the details of the way forward this coming Wednesday. We welcome the position taken by MDC and initial reports indicate that this position has been accepted by MDC and civic society activists and supporters. However, this decision needs to be followed by quick and concrete steps on the way forward, based on a united front and mass action strategy as indicated above. We are well that sections of the bourgeoisie, Rhodesian right – wing and imperialist west will not be happy with this decision seeing it as premature surrender and may even put pressure on MDC to rescind the decision. Taking advantage of the USA presidency of the UN Security Council this month they might want to see a few more bodies in the streets ahead of the elections to justify their likely escalation of siege on the regime. But MDC must resist this. Its activists and supporters as well as those in civic society desperately need breathing space to retreat in order, re-organise and begin the fightback. To wait for a sure defeat come 27 June will make it that much more difficulty to mobilize the necessary programme of civil disobedience, mass action and de-legitimisation of the regime. Indeed the economic situation in the coming few weeks is going to see us descend to the parameters of hell as the west and business escalate pressure on the regime, economic and politically to force it into a neo-liberal power-sharing GNU deal with the opposition. The move has put the regime in a quagmire but it is likely to continue with its sham elections to gain legitimacy. Legally it may invoke provisions of the electoral laws which stipulate that withdrawal can only be before 21 days before the elections and that in any case standing in the run-off is by law for the top two contesting candidates. The key therefore is to launch an immediate political programme of de-legitimisation of the run-off, locally, regionally and internationally. Re-groupement of civic groups and establishing of the united front of resistance of the opposition and civic society has therefore now assumed paramount importance. This is moreso because of the massive likely pressure on MDC to now enter into negotiations for a government of GNU from Mbeki, SADC, UN and the capitalist and imperialist forces. This is no solution for working people and must be resolutely rejected as we will detail in our next update. But given MDC’s history of prevarications and the strong influence of capitalist elites within its leadership, it may not surprise if it ends up capitulating again. The lessons from Kenya are that united, resolute and autonomous activities and mobilization by a united front of civic society can stop this and embolden the more radical sections of the opposition to fight rather than capitulate to the regime.

Zimbabwe: Mugabe cracks down on opposition

by Ken Olende from British Socialist Worker 24 June 2008 The situation in Zimbabwe continued to deteriorate as Socialist Worker went to press. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai had sought refuge in the Dutch embassy, while the government crackdown on opposition supporters continued. This followed the opposition’s withdrawal from the presidential run-off election, due to take place on Friday of this week, in the face of intimidation from Robert Mugabe’s governing Zanu-PF party. More than 80 MDC activists have been killed during the campaign. There have been arbitrary arrests of civic leaders. Fourteen leaders of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) opposition group were detained for nearly a month for protesting at the delay in releasing the election results. Two of their leaders are still in detention. NGOs have effectively been closed down by the regime – those providing food relief, drugs and support to Aids/HIV patients have been particularly hit. But the MDC has borne the brunt of the attacks. Tsvangirai has been repeatedly arrested, his rallies banned and campaign buses impounded. The state-controlled media is ignoring the MDC, while people are being forced to remove satellite dishes to prevent them from viewing media independent of the state. Detained MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti faces treason charges, which carries the death penalty. In the face of the crisis, some in the Western media have called for military intervention. Such intervention is extremely unlikely as military leaders are aware that Western troops would face mass hostility – not just from people in Zimbabwe but from all surrounding countries. As Britain is the former colonial power, any British troops would be viewed as imperial invaders. Hardship Zimbabweans are suffering terrible hardship, not just from repression, but also from economic collapse. But they are only too aware that it was Western-imposed structural adjustment programmes that began the country’s economic crisis in the 1990s. No African Union or regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) negotiators would consider military intervention. Their preferred solution is the establishment of a government of national unity, which would include Mugabe, his supporters and the MDC. They point to Kenya, where violence has subsided following the recent election crisis after the appointment of a government with both the sitting president and the opposition. But rather than end political violence, a government of national unity would integrate it into the political structure. The relative support for each party would not affect its representation. All trade unions and left organisations reject the call for a government of national unity, arguing that it would benefit the elite and further distance the country from any real democracy. It also disarms any mass action that could challenge the corruption at the top. It is a tragedy that the general strike it called in April against the fixing of the election results collapsed within a day. The workers of Zimbabwe are still enormously powerful and mass action would be the most effective way to challenge Mugabe. However the movement faces a real problem of direction. It is no small thing to go out on strike against a repressive regime in a time of severe hardship. The leadership offered by the MDC was at best vacillating, and often non-existent. Since the MDC was founded it has steadily moved away from its trade union roots to embrace neoliberalism. It is hardly a surprise that workers do not see the party as a reliable leadership. Fought Repression has been stepped up since the failure of the strike. But Zanu-PF has not had everything its own way. Groups of opposition supporters have fought them on the street in areas like Epworth, Bikita, Zaka and Chimanimani. But these were isolated actions, with no central leadership. The International Socialist Organisation of Zimbabwe commented that, “the alternative is a regrouped united front of civic society and the opposition to launch a serious and determined programme of civil disobedience and mass action. “Any struggle that fails to do this will be outflanked on its left by this crafty regime, which has shown strong capacity to cynically manipulate the poor’s concerns and demonise the opposition as a stooge of the West. “Without such a united front and a pro-poor, pro-working people and anti-capitalist ideology we shall not prevail against this regime.”

NZ Labour - a party without principle

A recent headline in The Guardian (18 April) reads: ‘Chinese ship carries arms cargo to Mugabe regime’. Here we have a ship full of arms for Robert Mugabe so he can repress the democratic revolt in Zimbabwe, supplied by the same Chinese regime which the Labour government in New Zealand has embraced in a free trade deal, held up by a dockers’ strike in South Africa which, if done in New Zealand, would be illegal under the Employment Relations Act passed by Helen Clark's administration in 2000. Makes you think doesn’t it? This series of events on the on other side of the world highlights just how far Labour is from a progressive politics grounded in basic human rights. It’s all about the almighty dollar, and to hang with basic principles like democracy and workers’ right to strike. To secure a free trade agreement with China that will boost the profits of Fonterra and other NZ companies, Labour is willing to turn a blind eye to human rights abuses in China. And what chance that Helen Clark is going to loudly condemn gun-running by China to help a despotic Zimbabwe regime crush a broad based democratic movement? Not likely. This is the tangled world of pro-corporate profit driven politics without principle that the Labour Party has embraced. The party is no longer a progressive force in New Zealand.

Chinese ship carries arms cargo to Mugabe regime David Beresford in Johannesburg The Guardian 18 April 2008 A Chinese cargo ship believed to be carrying 77 tonnes of small arms, including more than 3m rounds of ammunition, AK47 assault rifles, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades, has docked in the South African port of Durban for transportation of the weapons to Zimbabwe, the South African government confirmed yesterday. It claimed it was powerless to intervene as long as the ship's papers were in order. Copies of the documentation for the Chinese ship, the An Yue Jiang, show that the weapons were sent from Beijing to the ministry of defence in Harare. Headed "Dangerous goods description and container packing certificate", the document was issued on April 1, three days after Zimbabwe's election. It lists the consignment as including 3.5m rounds of ammunition for AK47 assault rifles and for small arms, 1,500 40mm rockets, 2,500 mortar shells of 60mm and 81mm calibre, as well as 93 cases of mortar tubes. The carrier is listed as the Cosco shipping company in China. South Africa's national conventional arms control committee issued a permit on Monday for the trans-shipment of the cargo from Durban to Harare. The head of government information in South Africa, Themba Maseko, said yesterday: "We are not in a position to act unilaterally and interfere in a trade deal between two countries." South Africa had to "tread very carefully", given the complexity of the situation in Zimbabwe, Maseko said. South Africa was not encouraging the purchase of weapons by Zimbabwe, he said, pointing out that there was no UN trade embargo against that country. But Tony Leon, the South African opposition foreign affairs spokesman, said the shipment was tantamount to "putting a fuse in a powder keg". Dockers in Durban were refusing last night to unload the ship. The SA Transport and Allied Workers Union's general secretary, Randall Howard, said: "Satawu does not agree with the position of the government not to intervene with this shipment of weapons. Our members will not unload this cargo, neither will any of our members in the truck-driving sector move this cargo by road." Despite international criticism, the Chinese government has been a longstanding backer of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe's authoritarian regime, supplying it with jet fighters, military vehicles and guns. China, or Chinese businesses, are reported to have sold radio-jamming devices to prevent independent stations from contradicting the state-controlled media, and have signed vital agriculture deals. Even the blue tiles on Mugabe's latest 25-bedroom mansion, reminiscent of Beijing's Forbidden City, were a gift from China. China has in the past used its veto at the UN security council to prevent the Zimbabwe issue from being raised, on the grounds that the country's problems were an internal matter. In Britain, William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, said last night: "The international community must speak with one voice on Zimbabwe. We call on China, as part of that community, to suspend arms sales to Zimbabwe. "The Mugabe regime continues to deny the right of the people of Zimbabwe to choose their leaders. To supply arms to it at time when opposition activists are being intimidated and attacked, not only sends the wrong signal, but will harm the reputation of China. "In addition, it is time that neighbouring states like South Africa made clear that such shipments are not welcome." The Foreign Office was more cautious. A spokeswoman said that Britain backed an EU ban on arms sales to Zimbabwe and was encouraging other governments to do the same. The FO said it was monitoring the situation and seeking to verify reports about the ship's cargo. A spokesman for China's foreign ministry said it was aware of the reports about the shipment, but needed more time to look into the matter. The disclosure about the ship's cargo follows claims by an official from the Zimbabwe opposition Movement for Democratic Change that Chinese soldiers had been seen in the country. There were some signs yesterday that South Africa may at last be bending under international pressure, when the cabinet joined calls for the release of Zimbabwe's election results. Zimbabwe's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, called on South Africa's president, Thabo Mbeki, to stand down as the chief mediator in the country's election crisis, as the US criticised African governments for lack of action on the issue. "It is time for Africa to step up," the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, said. Tsvangirai told a news conference in Johannesburg: "President Mbeki needs to be relieved from his duty." Mbeki, is also under pressure from Jacob Zuma, the leader of the ruling African National Congress. Zuma has adopted a more hostile attitude towards Mugabe, saying that "the region cannot afford a deepening crisis in Zimbabwe".

Munya on National Radio New Zealand

Munya interview on Radio NZ

Here above is Munya on Radio NZ, speaking for the resistance in Zimbabwe to both Mugabe's dictatorship and the neo-liberal offensive.

Brother Gwisai made a deep impression on the comrades in Aotearoa, and we dedicate this Bob Marley song to him and all the comrades eating the tear gas in the new Chimeranga!  

Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny,  
And in this judgement there is no partiality.  
So arm in arms, with arms, we'll fight this little struggle,  
'Cause that's the only way we can overcome our little trouble.  
Brother, you're right, you're right,  
You're right, you're right, you're so right!
We gon' fight (we gon' fight), we'll have to fight (we gon' fight),  
We gonna fight (we gon' fight), fight for our rights!  
Natty Dread it in-a (Zimbabwe); Set it up in (Zimbabwe);
Mash it up-a in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);  
Africans a-liberate (Zimbabwe), yeah.  
No more internal power struggle;  
We come together to overcome the little trouble.  
Soon we'll find out who is the real revolutionary,  
'Cause I don't want my people to be contrary.  
And, brother, you're right, you're right,  
You're right, you're right, you're so right!  
We'll 'ave to fight (we gon' fight), we gonna fight (we gon' fight)
We'll 'ave to fight (we gon' fight), fighting for our rights!  
Mash it up in-a (Zimbabwe);  
Natty trash it in-a (Zimbabwe);  
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);  
I'n'I a-liberate Zimbabwe.  
(Brother, you're right,) you're right,  
You're right, you're right, you're so right!  
We gon' fight (we gon' fight), we'll 'ave to fight (we gon' fight),  
We gonna fight (we gon' fight), fighting for our rights!  
To divide and rule could only tear us apart;  
In everyman chest, mm - there beats a heart.  
So soon we'll find out who is the real revolutionaries;
And I don't want my people to be tricked by mercenaries.  
Brother, you're right, you're right,  
You're right, you're right, you're so right!  
We'll 'ave to fight (we gon' fight), we gonna fight (we gon' fight),  
We'll 'ave to fight (we gon' fight), fighting for our rights!
Natty trash it in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);  
Mash it up in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);  
Set it up in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);  
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);  
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);  
Natty dub it in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe).  
Set it up in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);  
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);  
Every man got a right to decide his own destiny.