Message of support from Ms Thabitha Khumalo, Movement for Democratic Change Deputy National Spokesperson, to the South African Communist Party 2nd Special National Conference, Polokwane, South Africa
10-13 December 2009
Kindly receive our most sincere greetings!
We are eternally grateful that you have found it worthy that we be part of the celebrations of the 2nd Special National Conference.
We consciously describe this as a celebration because we know and understand that this conference is a festive of ideas in the realm of the battle ideas. It is certainly an honour for us that we will have the benefit of the discussions and the indeed the resolutions thereof.
Clearly the timing of this conference could not have been more apt. The world is gripped by the grinding of the so-called global financial crisis and there are discussions, at the highest level, on issues of climate change.
It is the working people and the poor who are most affected by these matters. It is therefore important that the vanguard party of the working people and the poor provide the road map out of the challenges, and indeed many more issues that confront humanity.
We look forward to hearing the outcomes of these deliberations. We are confident that you will be able to analyse the concrete realities and bring out concrete solutions guided always by the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of all our people.
As you are well too familiar, the major political parties in Zimbabwe, after protracted negotiations signed the Global Political Agreement on the 15th of September 2008, the basis of the present Inclusive Government. We wish to report to you that we have made some progress, particularly on the economy. It is important that we sustain the progress.
To sustain this progress all parties to the agreement must respect the agreement and implement it in full. It is with great sadness that we report that our colleagues in the Inclusive Government, ZANU PF, are seemingly contemptuous of the Global Political Agreement which we negotiated and signed under the stalwartship of you our brothers and sisters on the African continent.
This is exemplified by the continued politically motivated violence against members of the MDC, the hate speech against the leadership of the MDC in the disturbingly partisan state controlled media, harassment of human rights defenders, social and student activists.
We reassure you that we are as committed to the Global Political Agreement and consequently the Inclusive government as never before. It is however important that our brothers and sisters on the African continent insist, as we do, that ZANU PF implements the spirit and letter of the Global Political Agreement. At the moment, the Global Political Agreement is the best way to soft land the country and usher in a new dispensation.
We wish to thank the leadership of South Africa, yourselves as the Communist Party, the African National Congress, the Congress of South African Trade Union, and the Progressive Youth Alliance for all the solidarity work you have done and continue to do for and with the people of Zimbabwe. We sincerely thank you.
It remains for us to wish you well today and forever. Kindly remember at all times that the working people of the world look to your leadership, confident that an alternative world of peace, solidarity, freedom and social justice is possible.
I thank you.
