Zimbabwe

Mugabe and the left

Peter Tatchell spoke on Zimbabwe at a Workers’ Liberty meeting in 2005. What he said about Robert Mugabe has remained true for the following 14 years, up to Mugabe’s death on 6 September at the age of 95. On a number of issues sections of the left have abandoned the principles of universal human rights and social justice. Over a number of years I have done solidarity work with Zimbabweans struggling for democracy, socialism and human rights. They have not had much support from the mainstream left. Why Zimbabwe? I have a copy of ZANU’s 1970s political programme: its goals were a socialist...

Mass strike wave in Zimbabwe

Police and soldiers have killed at least a dozen people, wounded scores and arrested hundreds since mass strikes and demonstrations began on 14 January against the government of Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa, a long­time sidekick of the former liberation fighter turned despot Robert Mugabe, eased the 94 ­year-­old Mugabe out of office in November 2017, but has continued a regime very like Mugabe’s corrupt and autocratic crony capitalism. The protests started with a shutdown called by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, and have escalated into a rolling wave of strikes and other action. As...

Zimbabwe: no change at the top

Emmerson Mnangagwa has been sworn in as the President of Zimbabwe, following Robert Mugabe’s on-off resignation. In his rambling inauguration speech Mnangagwa was keen to heap praise on his “father” and “mentor” which added to the heap of slogans he used in Mugabe’s praise — an attempt to rehabilitate his former boss. Zanu-PF and the new president are very clear that that Mugabe’s dismissal should not be seen as admitting that there is anything structurally wrong in the country, or inherently bad in the hucksterish way Zanu-PF has controlled Zimbabwean politics in the last thirty years. It...

Zimbabwe's power struggle: no choice for workers

The Central Committee of the Zimbabwe’s ruling party, ZANU-PF, has succeeded in removing Robert Mugabe as its leader. There were celebrations in the streets of the capital, Harare, on Tuesday 21 November, after Mugabe resigned, giving way to former Vice President Emmerson Mnagagwa to take up the post of President. The end of Mugabe’s 37-year rule follows a fortnight of events which started with Mugabe’s removal of Mnangagwa as Vice President and continued in the Zimbabwean Defence Forces taking over TV stations and government installations around the country. Mnangagwa has long been favourite...

Homophobic legacy of the Empire

Intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and beatings are hideously commonplace for LGBT people in Zimbabwe. Behind these conditions stands President Robert Mugabe, now in his 34th year as leader of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF). He continues to spearhead attacks on the rights of LGBT Zimbabweans. Any obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the rights to non-discrimination, liberty and security, privacy, freedom of expression and thought, and association and...

Zimbabwe poll rigged?

Robert Mugabe has claimed a landslide victory in elections held in Zimbabwe on 31 July for the presidency and national assembly. Yet Human Rights Watch reports that many voters were turned away and many duplicates were on the voter roll. A mole inside Mugabe’s Zanu-PF correctly predicted the alleged assassination of one MP and claimed that “disappearing ink” pens had been supplied to polling stations. In a poll last year 65% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that “fear of violence and intimidation make people vote for parties or candidates other than the ones they prefer”. Yet monitors...

Zimbabwe: “Solidarity works”

Six Zimbabwean socialists have just been convicted of “inciting public violence” for organising a meeting about the Egyptian revolution, but to general surprise were given fines and community service instead of prison sentences. Mike Sambo, National Treasurer of the International Socialist Organisation of Zimbabwe, and the defendant in another trial related to that of the six, spoke to Solidarity . From the outset it seemed that the state wanted to send the comrades to jail. When the magistrate delivered the guilty verdict, he sounded very confident. But the next day there were demonstrations...

Don't let Mugabe jail Zimbabwean socialists!

Six Zimbabwean activists arrested in February 2011 at a meeting about the Egyptian revolution face up to ten years in prison after being convicted of “inciting public violence”. They were due to be sentenced today, Tuesday 20 March: they face up to ten years in prison, or a fine of $US2000, or both. The six convicted are Munyaradzi Gwisai (a former Movement for Democratic Change MP, before the MDC purged its left wing and then entered government with Mugabe), Tafadzwa Choto, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Edson Chakuma, Hopewell Gumbo and Welcome Zimuto. They plan to appeal the verdict. Please send...

Stop the treason trial: solidarity protest at Zimbabwean embassy

Members and friends of Workers' Liberty protested outside the Zimbabwean embassy in London on 2 March against the treason trial currently being conducted in Zimbabwe. Seven socialist activists, members of the International Socialist Organisation of Zimbabwe, could face years in prison if convicted. Our comrade Janine Booth, who represents London Transport workers on the RMT trade union national executive, handed in a letter of protest to the embassy. The ISO comrades will find out the verdict on 19 March. Meanwhile please send messages of solidarity to iso.zim@gmail.com

Zimbabwean socialists face jail

The Zimbabwean state is prosecuting a group of socialist, trade union, student and human rights activists (many of them members of the International Socialist Organisation of Zimbabwe) for treason. Despite lack of evidence, the magistrate, acting as a tool of Robert Mugabe’s regime, has refused a request to dismiss the case. This means that the comrades may soon face jail. Send solidarity messages to iso.zim@gmail.com Solidarity protest: Stop the treason trial! Free the Zimbabwean socialists! 7pm, Friday 2 March Zimbabwe House, 429 Strand, London WC2R 0JR (Charing Cross rail or tube) Details...

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