COSATU Seminar on Swaziland and Zimbabwe!

Dear Cdes,

 

Please receive our sincere apologies for the oversight as regards the missing date in our previous communication on the seminar. The date is the 23rd March, 2007 (next Friday).

 

Please find attached the following details about the seminar. Please also be reminded that planning sessions for solidarity actions are on-going, we are having the next one next Monday (19th March, 2007) @ 14h00 at COSATU House, 10th floor in Braamfontein.

 

Comradely Regards,

 

 

COSATU International

 

Invites you to a

 

Seminar on Swaziland and Zimbabwe

 

The position of the Swaziland and Zimbabwean economies in the Southern African region: What should be done to intensify the struggle for democracy and fundamental social change

 

 

1. Keynote address – COSATU General Secretary – Zwelinzima Vavi

 

Speakers:

 

2.  Vincent Dlamini – General Secretary (SNACS – Public Sector Union – Swaziland)

 

3.  Brian Raftopoulous - Zimbabwean Left academic and activist

 

 

Venue: 10^th floor, COSATU House

Time: 9h00 – 15h30

Date: 23^rd March, 2007

 

 

To be followed by a planning session on processes towards solidarity action for both countries;

·       Swaziland – 12^th April, Border Blockade

·       Zimbabwe – 03 April, March to the Zimbabwean Consulate

-----Original Message-----
From: zimbabwe-fight-on-dont-mourn@googlegroups.com [mailto:zimbabwe-fight-on-dont-mourn@googlegroups.com]On Behalf Of phillan zamchiya
Sent: 15 March 2007 06:57 PM
To: zimbabwe-fight-on-dont-mourn@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Zim Fight On] Re: Seminar on Zimbabwe and Swaziland - invite

Comrade Bongani

 

Can you kindly furnish us with the date of this important seminar?

Bongani Masuku <bongani@cosatu.org.za> wrote:

 

COSATU International invites you to a seminar on Swaziland and Zimbabwe

10^th floor, COSATU House, starting @ 9h00, Braamfontein

 

The position of the Swaziland and Zimbabwean economies in the Southern African region: What should be done to intensify the struggle for democracy and fundamental social change

 

Abstract

The current conflict in Swaziland is premised on popular demands for multi-party politics, democratisation and an end to an absolute monarchy. In Southern Africa, Swaziland is the only country ruled by an absolute monarch. The country which has the longest state of emergency in the region, because since 1973 only the royal family have a right to participate in the political and economic life of the country as surrogates of British, and later elements of South African capital. It is a country structured along neo-colonial and semi-feudal lines. The monarchy is an agent of British imperialism, investing Swazi money in Crown agents in England and supported by the M16 military establishment of Britain. Key economic indicators include very high HIV/AIDS statistics, due to abuse of culture by the royal family, terrifying unemployment levels and entrenched political repression with no political activity being allowed since 1973. But, why has Swaziland escaped the international radar for so long and why is it that few know of the regular arrests of political activists, workers and generalised repression in that country. Political parties remain  banned, hence the frequent arrests of PUDEMO members.

Whilst Zimbabwe, once the shining example of progressive transformation and economic development in the region, has become a classical example of a ruined hope, skyrocketing inflation, terrifying unemployment levels and systematic political repression. What went wrong and what lessons for other countries in the region and beyond. The Zimbabwe issue has generated contentious debates about the essence and meaning of fundamental transformation and the exact meaning of anti-imperialism and its relationship with democratic and popular participation in the country's affairs. This debate about Zimbabwe has also been very intense within the ranks of the progressive alliance here in South Africa, where alliance partners do not share a common view on what should be done and what forces should be mobilised and how, to deal with the crisis there. The frequent arrests of political and worker activists is intensifying to extreme levels.

 

In the light of these developments, the seminar seek to deepen an understanding of the structure of the Southern African economy and towards that end, how do Swaziland and Zimbabwe fit into the structure. What are the core pillars sustaining the oppressive institutions in these two countries and what pressure points can be identified to make a decisive difference in our solidarity work with the comrades from these two countries. 

 

In General

What similarities and differences exist between these two countries and what experiences can be shared by the progressive forces as they take forward their struggle for democracy and fundamental social change.

 

PROGRAMME 

 

9.15           Welcome

                  2^nd Deputy President, Sidumo Dlamini

 

9.35                Keynote address and official opening of the seminar

                  Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary, COSATU

 

10.0             Presentation

·        Vincent Dlamini - General Secretary (SNACS, Public Sector Union - Swaziland)

·        Brian Raftopoulos - Zimbabwean Left academic and activist

11.00         Discussion

 

11h30      Tea Break

 

11h45       Discussion

 

13h30 Lunch

 

14h00: Planning meeting for Solidarity actions with both countries:

 

·        Swaziland Border Blockade - 12^th April, 2007l

·        Zimbabwe March to the consulate - 03 April, 2007

 

15h30: Closure

[Bongani Masuku]  </SPAN

---

Don't pick lemons.
See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos.</A

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Zimbabwe Fight On Dont mourn" group.
To post to this group, send email to zimbabwe-fight-on-dont-mourn@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to zimbabwe-fight-on-dont-mourn-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups-beta.google.com/group/zimbabwe-fight-on-dont-mourn?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Mr. Daniel Molokele
Centurion, Pretoria
South Africa
Cell. +27 72 947 4815
Tel. +27 12 657 1445
Fax. +27 86 691 6257
Website: www.danielmolokele.com

---

Don't pick lemons.
See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos.