PARTY

Malema in Zimbabwe: Two conflicting responses

The Zimbabwean asks if he speaks for the ANC, The Herald says he is the future of SA

JOHANNESBURG - ANCYL President Julius Malema's recent visit to Zimbabwe, where he endorsed Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF, has attracted conflicting comment in the Zimbabwean press. We publish two editorials on his visit below:

The following editorial appeared in the Zanu-PF mouthpiece, The Herald, Harare, Zimbabwe, April 8 2010

The following editorial appeared in the independent newspaper The Zimbabwean, April 8 2010


Wither rainbow nation?

WE have always thought the concept of a rainbow nation created by our neighbour South Africa is a noble concept, which will however remain hollow until the inequalities that are so glaring in their economy are dealt with.

Indeed, the world celebrated when South Africa attained democratic rule in 1994. The venerated Nelson Mandela, instead of coming out of prison speaking vengeance, emerged to declare forgiveness and reconciliation. He dreamt of one nation where different races would live together as one, celebrating their diversity.

But this seems to have been misinterpreted by the white community in that country to be a pledge not to upset the economic status quo, which heavily favours them to the disadvantage of the black majority.

Zimbabwe was seen as the bad apple in the region led by a delinquent leader because it was dealing with the historic, social and economic injustices of over 100 years of colonial rule. But now the chickens are coming home to roost for South Africa.

We are seeing an increasingly militant youth wing under the leadership of Cde Julius Malema beginning to demand their fair share of the wealth of South Africa. They are looking into the future and finding it unacceptable that they can continue to pick up the crumbs from the tables of those who were their oppressors yesterday.

Sadly, the youth wing's cry for redistribution of wealth is being myopically dismissed by the whites in South Africa as madness on the part of Cde Malema. Yet his frustrations are widely shared across South Africa.

Ominously, they point to the struggles for the control of resources that will soon be visiting that country. Racism is rife and cannot be swept under the carpet anymore. The killing of rightwing AWB leader Eugene Terre'blanche in a wage dispute is just one of many incidents, which will continue to rock that country until it confronts the racial inequalities head-on.

We are not suggesting they should deal with them the Zimbabwean way. Each country has its own peculiarities. But one way or the other they have to deal with them and the sooner the better.

Their Rural Development Minister, Gugile Nkwinti, has proposed a three-tier land ownership system involving state-owned land that will not be sold but leased; freehold with a limited extent; and foreign ownership with a precarious tenure (conditions attached to it). As a sovereign country they have chosen to address the inequalities in that country using that approach and they should be respected for it.

The point is that if South Africans want peace they will have to work for justice - social and economic justice. The fruits of Zimbabwe's land reform programme are beginning to be seen. The huge payouts that new tobacco farmers are getting from the auction floors are transforming their lives.

In a few years time Zimbabwe will be a shining example of black economic empowerment and their brothers in the south will notice it.

Wisdom should have convinced the white community in South Africa that they need to co-operate with the South African government to address the inequalities prevalent in that country.

In the same way that Zimbabweans got frustrated with the willing buyer-willing seller approach, the South Africans will also begin to take what is rightfully theirs by force if they see no progress in land redistribution. Their patience is wearing thin with each passing year.

Source: www.herald.co.zw/


Does Malema speak for the ANC?

Statements made in Zimbabwe at the weekend by the ANC's youth league chairman, Julius Malema, seriously undermine South African President Jacob Zuma's mediation efforts.

Malema, predictably, came out strongly in favour of Zanu (PF) and condemned and vilified the MDC. He is an office bearer in the same party as Zuma - who has been entrusted by the entire region to fulfil the role of even-handed mediator between the  parties in the Government of National Unity.

Is what Malema said a true reflection of the ANC position on Zimbabwe - or was he speaking out of turn? If the latter, can we expect a statement from the ANC  disassociating itself from his comments?

At the time of going to press [Wednesday] there was still nothing but deafening silence from the ANC and Zuma's office. Are we therefore to infer that the ANC's policy on Zimbabwe has not changed since the days of Thabo Mbeki - when the party openly sided with Mugabe and Zanu (PF)?

During his visit, Malema accused the MDC of fanning violence during previous elections - he gave no examples, neither did he name any individual perpetrators of this alleged violence. His pronouncements are contrary to overwhelming evidence that has been gathered, documented and is available from numerous reliable organisations.

Violence has been a feature of Zimbabwean elections long before the MDC was formed. And the only common denominator in all reports is Zanu (PF). The victims are always people who dare to oppose Zanu (PF).

Malema praised Mugabe for the chaotic land invasions that have brought misery, poverty and hunger to millions of Zimbabweans. He said he would like South African's to emulate the Zimbabwean "model".

We believe that the ANC leadership is more level-headed than Malema, and sensible enough to know that such action would irrevocably de-stabilise South Africa's economy. The resultant employment would undoubtedly lead to massive disaffection towards the ANC and subsequent political turmoil.

Source: http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

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