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COSATU - heroes of the 21st century
Itai Masotsha Zimunya
November 12, 2004

This article is a direct response to an article that was published in the Daily Mirror by Kuthula Matshazi

If output is any measure of input, the garbage in garbage out concept, then Zimbabwe's education sector has slumped. Reading your article, the flipside in the Daily Mirror of Friday 12 November 2004 confirms my assertion.

Fisrtly, you are based in Canada where you have all the common freedoms you used to dream of before you migrated. Yes, as was the virtues of the liberation struggle, the people of Zimbabwe need land. Yes indeed, it is the duty of any government to ensure economic development and stability by implementing egalitarian policies in the economy.

Comrade, do you know that the story of Zimbabwe's liberation is not full without the help of the frontline states, namely, Zambia, Mozambique, Angola, Botswana and Tanzania? When the leaders of the front line states, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Dr Julius Nyerere, Cde Samora Machel met in Zambia Lusaka in 1977 , they agreed that they would not rest until Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and Azania (South Africa) are liberated. It is common knowledge that most of the Southern African sub-continental states suffered socio-economically for the freedom of its people. When Mozambicans, Tanzanians and Zambians died at Nyadzonia, Chimoio and Tenbwe, were they not dying for the liberation of their fellow African brothers?

This trend proceeded after Zimbabwe's independence when the region used Mozambique and Zimbabwe to attack the leaders of apartheid South Africa?. Perhaps you were in Canada, do you remember that When South Africa got independence in 1994, and Schools closed for a day in Zimbabwe. Was Zimbabwe South African then?

Your view is that the mess in Zimbabwe is British created. That is a view from Canada. You saw the British created hunger, torture, unjust laws from Canada we understand. We celebrate your view, but the question is why then do you attack the South African workers when they just want to cross the Limpopo to interact ( as is the decades long history) with their colleagues north?

It is interesting to note how lost you are. Again in Canada, where you pay taxes to the Canadian government ( you argue that Zimbabwe is in the mess it is because it expropriated land from the whites to the blacks). That is not only missing the point but a native imperial sponsored view.

Comrade, if the governments land policy was land to the landless, why is it that prime land was taken from black farmers in the opposition and many white farmers and shared among the ZANU PF elite ?. You miss the point on the basis of race and not principle. Our argument as Zimbabwean workers who pay tax to the Zimbabwean government is that, land must go to the intended people. Elitism remains the same irrespective of colour, so we have no reason to celebrate that land is now with the people when it was taken by a few blacks whilst the majority suffer.

We note that you attribute the crisis in Zimbabwe to the British. Oh yea Comrade, that is your view, but don't you see that you are displaying your confusion by attacking COSATU_s visit. Is it not that when COSATU comes to realize that Britain is arresting Zimbabwean labour leaders, that Britain has closed private newspapers, that Britain has closed Zimbabwe's banks, that Britain has dried the skies of Zimbabwe, that Britain has corrupted Zimbabwes voters roll, that Britain has corrupted the Zimbabwe Examination Council, that Britain bombed the offices of the Daily News in 2001, the Zimbabwe government will invoke the very same Pan African solidarity and pressure Britain to liberate Zimbabwe.

I however, disagree with your assertion that the crisis in Zimbabwe is a baby of Britain. Be persuaded Comrade, to leave the luxury of Canada for Canadians and come home in the company of colleagues from South Africa and show them the British hand in Zimbabwe's mess.

Your article tries to marry COSATU to neo-liberalism. I am shocked, your email address says yahoo.co.uk, and you ran away from Zimbabwe to Canada and you want to be the messiah and spokesperson of the oppressed. Shame on you sellouts who appease your power and luxury on the blood and misery of the people. COSATU is a Pan African peoples network and they should come to Zimbabwe.

On another note, if I may ask, are you not one of the thousand economic refugees in Canada? Is not Canada part of the West. So if, you and those of your thinking are anti-west, why do you find pleasure in the West.

It is important for you to note that many Zimbabweans are crossing the border to South Africa. Unofficial statistics estimate that more than 2.5million Zimbabweans are in South Africa as socio-economic refugees. These people are enjoying the space and opportunities of South Africans. Thousand others are languishing in Botswana whilst few like you managed to go to Canada. For South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique, they have a moral legitimacy to try and solve the crisis facing their neighbors. From this, I am persuaded to argue that those that see or hear evil and act are not evil. COSATU was going to be evil if it heard evil and kept quite or entered into a dormant quite diplomacy.

The pan African agenda continues. COSATU forever! Misguided charlatans who write trash in the name of people power must be educated. Mukai-Vukani Comrade !

Viva Freedom! Viva Liberation!

*Itai Masotsha Zimunya, is the former Vice President of Zimbabwe National Students Union.

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