Cosatu statement on SATUCC Executive Council meeting outcomes in Botswana 21-07-08

 

COSATU statement on SATUCC Executive Council meeting outcomes in Botswana

A successful Executive Council meeting of the Southern African Trade Union Co-ordination Council (SATUCC) in Botswana, over the weekend of 19-20 July 2008, discussed amongst other things, the preparations towards its Congress in October, normal trade union business and the political situation in our region, with Zimbabwe and Swaziland as the key areas of focus.

The meeting recalled and reaffirmed the last Congress resolution on Zimbabwe and Swaziland, which clearly identified them as the region’s black sheep in the region’s determined effort to advance and consolidate democracy.

They rule without a mandate from of their people. Electoral fraud, political manipulation by ruling elites, institutionalised oppression and state brutality characterise the two states. Unless we take action, this situation will never change. Workers have a moral and political duty to all the people of our region and they cannot afford the luxury of passivity on such a dire situation.

On Zimbabwe

The following were noted:

The situation since the 27 June sham election continues to pose a serious threat to regional stability, democracy and development
The economic crisis has reached desperate levels. Unless there is decisive intervention, the whole region will suffer, as has already happened with the xenophobic crisis in South Africa
The current negotiations process must be supported, but key and clear deliverables must be realised. SATUCC supports the ZCTU position that there must be an independent person to head the transitional process and prepare for proper elections
The state and its security auxiliaries continue to wage war of systematic violence against the people and workers
Trade unions continue to be denied the right to freely organise and bargain effectively

We shall continue to intensify our solidarity activities in support of the demands of the working people of Zimbabwe

On Swaziland

The meeting noted that the illegitimate royal regime has been shielded from international focus for far too long, which has allowed it to project itself as the genuine representative of the people
Swaziland has the longest state of emergency - decreed by the king in 1973 - in the whole region and, perhaps the whole continent
The Swazi royalty has not held anything close to elections since 1973, but has continued to stand tall amongst world leaders claiming legitimacy to represent the Swazi people
Trade union leaders and leaders of the banned political movements have been arrested and persecuted without any international interest

We must force international focus on Swaziland to put the abusive royal regime under the spotlight and not allow it to continue to claim legitimacy without due democratic process.

We must call for the unbanning of political parties in support of the demands of the Swazi workers and people.

Co-ordination and intensification of solidarity with fellow workers and peoples of Zimbabwe and Swaziland

The following outcomes were key:

To create a SATUCC Solidarity Committee to co-ordinate and deepen solidarity amongst and between workers of different countries in the region
To encourage trade unions throughout the region to support initiatives of SATUCC affiliates, including co-ordination of the boycott campaign for goods destined to these two countries and the refusal to serve their leaders whenever they land in our various countries
To elaborate a clear programme to work with civil society in the coming conferences, for co-ordination beyond the trade union movement
To deepen and keep our eyes on the transitional process in Zimbabwe to ensure that it is in the best interests of the poor and suffering people of that country, without ignoring the dangerous developments in Swaziland
To mobilise our international allies to support our efforts to strengthen the solidarity momentum, to ensure that the situation in these countries, with Zimbabwe, as the most immediate focus, is kept high on the radar of the global progressive movement

Finally, there was support for the COSATU scheduled activities – the Conference on Zimbabwe and Swaziland on 10-11 August 2008 and the mass rally to protest the lack of decisive action on Zimbabwe and Swaziland, scheduled for 16th August 2008 in Johannesburg, when the heads of states gather for the SADC summit.

Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)

Congress of South African Trade Unions

1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets

Braamfontein, 2017

P.O. Box 1019

Johannesburg, 2000

SOUTH AFRICA

Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24

Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667

Cell: 0828217456

E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za