Of Malema and The Death of Revolutionary Parties

Distraught: Julius Malema

South Africa's ANC today suspended its controversial Youth League leader Julius Malema after he was found guilty of provoking divisions within the ruling party and bringing the party into disrepute.

The news has been greeted with mixed feelings, some are happy that Malema is gone, at the same time hoping that his ideas of nationalising South Africa's mines go with him, whilst others see his suspension as nothing but a political move by President Zuma to counter Malema's growing power.

I do not grieve for Malema but neither do I rejoice- his ideas of nationalisation were not bad but the way he put them forward left a lot to be desired. On top of that he was frequently accused of racism, looting, insulting people and all sorts of unbecoming behaviour for a leader.

Instead I weep for Africa's youth and how they are being pulled down every time they try to ascend the ladders of power. It is very unfortunate that African youths are being deprived of leadership opportunities- ironically by people who liberated countries when they were youths!

Malema's case is just the latest in a long history of powerful leaders clipping the wings of those they viewed as threats. It has happened all over Africa, young people have risen against oppressive governments and systems only for them to cling to their positions in the name of defending the revolution.

The likes of Gaddafi, Nkrumah and others who were "deposed" by the West were also responsible for their own downfalls. However well one rules, however prosperous a nation is, leadership needs to be changed for the good of the nation and promotion of democracy.

The inability of African revolutionary parties to accept this naked truth will no doubt prove to be their undoing. The death of revolutionary parties is inextricably linked to their reluctance to accept change.

comments

In memory of.........ZINASU and Student Activism.

ZINASU at its peak

Last night on its show, Melting Pot, ZBC interviewed Pride "Obama" Mkono who claims to be President of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU). To say the least I was shocked by his preposterous claims, ZINASU does not have any national leadership and Pride Mkono is just another card carrying member of the Union.

The confusion within the Union goes back several years and its causes are many and varied including handling by politicians and political parties, avarice, corruption and cowardice. That a card carrying member can made president of the Union by two people on the internet is loud and clear testimony of its weakness. In a way I admire Pride's cunningness and opportunism, after all there is always something to be gained from chaos.

Even more worrying are the reports of thousands of dollars that went missing during a female students summit that was held in Gweru two weeks ago. The female students summit is one which I, and every other true ZINASU member, would want to quickly forget for it was an especially dark hour in this very dark night of student activism. What really took place in Gweru might never be known but from the scores of stories that were floating around I gathered that some individuals wanted to turn the summit into a national congress. They failed and instead appointed and announced a new "national" leadership on Facebook several days later.

In this age where being Arabic is associated with AK 47s and terrorism, ZINASU is now synonymous with violence, looting, thuggery, disorder and  graffiti.Whilst my comrades will excuse graffiti as a way of sending revolutionary messages, there is no excuse whatsoever for any form of internal or external violence and  looting. As if their shame was not enough some members ( including the newly elected president) of the Union went on to engage in gratuitous violence at Meikles hotel in full view of local journalists. Whatever little credibility we still had was obviously swept away then.

What then has happened to the spirit of yesteryear, the spirit of genuine and true student representation? Are there any true and resolute cadres who can rise above the rest, above the rubble of confusion that the Student Movement has become? Some argue that ever since the government stopped giving out loans and grants Universities have become more elitist, admitting mostly the rich and therefore soft, whose only fights in life are the fights for more expensive Christmas presents. Whilst not entirely true, one cannot help wondering whether tertiary institutions are indeed admitting the rich at the expense of the able. It is also a fact that the current crop students is docile and ostensibly 'cool' with the way things are.

The death of ZINASU is a frightening prospect, even more frightening because it is insidious and being caused by seemingly unconnected and innocuous events. Without a unified and powerful student voice the government and university authorities will trample on our rights without thinking or fear of the consequences. It is especially worrisome considering that they are doing just that today, but then again, ZINASU is at its weakest since its formation. Better to fight with a poor weapon than no weapon at all.

So is there no option, is the situation incorrigible? Actually there are other Unions, the most notable being ZICOSU which is held in contempt by most students who accuse it of being an  appendage of ZANU PF and therefore unable to act against the party and government. Surprisingly very few complain when ZINASU is accused of being an affiliate of the MDC. Then there is ASAZ, Amalgamated Students Association of Zimbabwe which is to be launched this weekend. Putting my trust in it is a bit like counting my chicks before they are hatched, the launch might fail after all. Besides we don't know which political party it is affiliated to yet- it might turn out to be NAG or Mavambo or worse still Mthakawazi! That is what Zimbabwean Students have become, mouthpieces of politicians and their parties.

The death knell of ZINASU is sounding and the onus is upon us to prevent its death. Obviously the best time for that is several years ago, before these cantankerous and bellicose activists- but the next best time is now.    

comments