By the* International Socialist Organisation of Zimbabwe*
* * *
June 23, 2008 -- After the publication of the original article (see
below), Movement for Democratic Change presidential candidate Morgan
Tsvangirai held a press conference at which he issued a statement to the
effect that the MDC is pulling out of the presidential run-off election
because conditions for a free and fair election do not exist, [due to
the] the massive violence against his party and civic society. The press
conference followed the disruption of his final rally in Harare by
ZANU-PF vigilantes on June 22. Tsvangirai stated that the MDC was to
carry out further consultations and would announce the details of the
way forward.
We welcome the position taken by the MDC, and initial re****ts indicate
that this position has been accepted by MDC and civic society activists
and sup****ters.
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 [in the earlier article below]. We are [aware] that sections
of the bourgeoisie, the Rhodesian right wing and the imperialist West
will not be happy with this decision, seeing it as a premature surrender
and may even put pressure on the MDC to rescind the decision.
Taking advantage of the USAs presidency of the UN Security Council this
month, they might want to see a few more bodies in the streets ahead of
the election to justify their likely escalation of siege of the Mugabe
regime. But the MDC must resist this. Its activists and sup****ters, as
well as those in civic society, desperately need breathing space to
retreat in order, reorganise and begin the fightback. To wait for a sure
defeat come June 27 will make it that much more difficult to mobilise
the necessary program of civil disobedience, mass action and
delegitimisation 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 big business escalate pressure on the regime, economically
and politically, to force it into a neoliberal power-sharing government
of national unity (GNU) deal with the opposition.
This has put the regime in a quagmire but it is likely to continue with
its sham election to gain legitimacy. Legally, it may invoke provisions
of the electoral laws which stipulate that withdrawal can be no later
than 21 days before the election 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 program of
delegitimisation of the run-off election, locally, regionally and
internationally.
Regroupment of civic groups and the establishment of the united front of
resistance of the opposition and civic society has therefore now assumed
paramount im****tance. This is more so because of the massive likely
pressure on the MDC to now enter negotiations for a government of
national unity from South African president Thabo Mbeki, the Southern
African Development Community (SADC), the UN and the capitalist and
imperialist forces. This is no solution for working people and must be
resolutely rejected.But given the MDCs history of prevarication and the
strong influence of capitalist elites within its leader****p, it may not
surprise if it ends up capitulating again. The lessons from Kenya are
that united, resolute and autonomous activities and mobilisation 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.
Full: http://links.org.au/node/489
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--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop
uk
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