The myth about the revolutionary character of the Economic Freedom Fighters

Few years ago our country witnessed the birth of a new movement within the South African political landscape. The Economic Freedom Fighters has grown to be a political animal to reckon with in the corridors of power relations of our society.

The phenomenal growth of the new born baby from the womb of the mother has distinguished itself to be amongst the most vibrant political movements of our time. Its caricature has become a paradox wave of a new momentum to our historical realities.

At the same time the improved new conditions of our transition to democracy necessitate a complete metamorphosis of a new path. The history of our struggle reckons that a revolution cannot be led by the unled.

The parade of events of our transition require a deeper analysis of the balance of forces and the extent they impact on the pace of our struggle for socio economic transformation. This is the barometer to measure the qualitative leaps of our struggle to democracy.

The question we ask is whether the EFF is indeed a revolutionary movement or just an anarchist pseudo revolutionary movement. Whether is indeed an independent militant movement with its own agenda or just a mere copycat or a faction of rebels without a coarse from the giant liberation movement the ANC.

The founding manifesto of the EFF defines its political character and posture as a Marxist, Leninist and Fanonian movement. This is an ardent philosophic chapter presenting the movement as a militant, radical, fearless, and a fervent opponent of the world imperialism.

Throughout the world Marxism Leninism and idealism are the only distinct theories for transformation of society. These are the only two world theoretical outlooks which define the two worlds of capitalism and communism.

The dialectical theory of Marxism Leninism upholds the communist party to be the only standard bearer of the struggle of the working class. This is the common feature which defines the character of the communist movement throughout the world.

In other words there is no a worldwide movement which carries the political interests of the working class called the EFF. Its theory is not the most advanced to guide the worldwide struggle of our transition from capitalism into socialism.

Therefore throughout the world there is only one communist party. From the East to the West, from the South to the North, there is only one communist party of South Africa, China, Cuba, Vietnam, Russia, Britain, Nicaragua, India, USA, Venezuela, Bolivia,Cuba, etc.

There is no a movement called the EFF which has occupied the central stage to lead the worldwide struggle of the working class. Therefore the EFF cannot declare itself to be the heartbeat of the unity of the struggle of the people of our country.

We all need to understand that the entire history of Marxism Leninism is marked by the emergence of its opposite, which is opportunism. Vladimir Lenin wrote that" the doctrine of Marxism had to fight at every step in its coarse, one battle after another, battle after another against political stupidity, vulgarity and opportunism".

Therefore the struggle between Marxism Leninism and opportunism has been a struggle between those who want to defend the unity of the working class and those who want to sow the seeds of division. The struggle between revolutionary forces and forces of counter revolution.

 The manifesto of the Communist party states that those who believe in the theory of Marxism Leninism do not form separate parties opposed to other working class parties. It further states that they do not set up any sectarian principles of their own, by which to shape and mound the movement of the working class.

The EFF has an ambiguous theoretical posture reminiscent of an amorphous pseudo revolutionary movement of the 21th century. Its core theory is the main characteristic feature of a fascist movement deriving its existence from the crisis of our modern capitalism.

What is boggling the mind is the high speed chase of the movement to plant the seeds of counter revolution in our country. Its rank and file has been transformed into an opium of praise singers of left wing communism and infantile disorder.

A daunting task before us is to liberate society from the consciousness of personality cult. Our foremost task is the collective wisdom of our people to illuminates hope to the future generations of man to come.

Few years ago, it was painful to witness the ugly hand of those entrusted with the responsibility to lead our people turning the province of Limpopo into an amphitheater of corruption. Their quest was to transform the provincial administration into a milking cow for corruption and money laundering.

The core nucleus of the nest of the looters are the ones masquerading before the masses of our people as modern day revolutionaries of the EFF. History does not repeat itself.

Our country cannot be led by a anarchist movement which its birthmarks are the bloodbath of the sufferings, hunger and poverty of our people. It is untold that the a movement of fugitives from the law can led the struggle of the working class of our country.

Since the launch of the Economic Freedom Fighters there has been an increased momentum of violent demonstrations in our country. The rampant scales of communities burning and destroying public property has reached alarming proportions.

It is therefore not far fetched to insinuate that the EFF is behind the spate of violent acts of demonstrations throughout our country. This is demonstrated by its principal strategy of violence and anarchy as a tool for mobilization.

This culture of anarchy is so endemic that we see episodes where people burn schools in their demand for the building of new clinics, community centers and job creation projects. What we are witnessing are unprecedented acts of anarchy which were never there in the history of the struggle of our people.

At the same time we must dare not to forget the determination by the monopolies to hold political and economic power in many of the former colonies and semi colonies. Imperialism is imposing a new strategy of bankrolling fascist movements to undermine the sovereignty and self determination of the developing nations

Through opportunists movements like the EFF, imperialism seeks to obliterate from the minds of young people the history and political leadership role of liberation movements in their struggle for freedom and democracy. Therefore the EFF is just the component part of the world counter revolutionary movement.

In the year 1905 the congress of the Bolshevik party held at Tammersfors in Finland adopted a historic revolutionary principle of democratic centralism. Few amongst the delegates at the presidium of the congress opposed to this theoretical concept was Joseph Stalin.

He was highly convinced that instead of the leadership elected on the basis of the will of the majority, a vanguard party should be led by a permanent staff of group of leaders who could not be subjected to the periodic demands of hazardous elections.
His argument was that commanders cannot be elected from the army during the war.

In his response to the political arguments from Stalin during the proceedings of the plenary of the congress, the leader of the Russian revolution Vladimir Lenin had to say the following profound preposition"

there is nothing to be done about it, the new circumstances call for the new forms, after all nothing has changed, the rulers are those who rule and not those who vote, and it depends on those who rule to see to it that they are always elected"

At the end of the congress the majority of delegates unanimously supported the view that a vanguard party should be organized in accordance with the principle of democratic centralism. This was the basis to distinguish Bolshevism from Menshevism.

The Tammersfors congress elucidated the resolution on democratic centralism in the following way"

recognizing as indisputable the principle of democratic centralism, the conference considers the broad implementation of the elective principles necessary, and, while granting elected centers full powers in matters of ideological and practical leadership, they are at the same time subject to a recall, their actions are given broad publicity, and they are to be strictly accountable to the activities of the party".

I have elected to refer myself to this historic episode to bring to the fore the fact that the EFF is nothing else but a toxic faction from our national liberation movement. It has broken ranks from our revolutionary movement on the basis that they could not respect the principle of democratic centralism which is about the views of the majority and organizational discipline.

Phatse Justice Piitso is the former Ambassador to the republic of Cuba and the former provincial secretary of the SACP writing this article on his personal capacity.