Volume 10, No.2 - March 2001

We're part of the union

Cuba

A memorable visit to Cuba: Important lessons learnt

By Florinah Koko, COSATU International Relations Department

In November 2000 COSATU sent a delegation to Havana, Cuba, for a second bilateral meeting with the CTC trade union federation. The delegation was led by COSATU President, Comrade Willie Madisha, and General Secretary, Comrade Zwelinzima Vavi, and comprised leadership from almost all COSATU affiliates, who were to meet with Cuban unions organised in the same sector.

We flew to Cuba via Spain, as there is no direct flight. From the air, Madrid is beautiful but I was soon to discover that the people are not as nice.

We only spent a few hours in Madrid but what surprised me was that although we were in transit and would not be leaving the airport, whilst the people walking ahead of us (who happened to be white) were not asked for passports, they were demanded from us. We arrived in Havana, Cuba the next day and were given VIP treatment. Instead of going through immigration, we were sent into the Protocol lounge, reserved for very important people.

We were welcomed by the General Secretary of the CTC and joined by the South African Ambassador to Cuba, who despite being ill at the time, made it a point to welcome us into Cuba personally. Sadly, this was the only time we got to see our ambassador who passed away during our stay in Havana.

Whilst we were enjoying drinks after a long flight from Spain, our passports were collected and our immigration processed Although the primary reason for the trip was to attend the bilateral meeting, a series of activities were organised to enable the delegation to learn as much as they could about the country.

I was quite honoured to be part of the delegation that got meet with a member of the Communist Party Politburo, Jose Ramon Balaguer, whose high position I came to comprehend when he was asked to take a call from Fidel Castro himself!

It was quite interesting to learn from him that there is a good relationship between the Communist Party, CTC and government, which is maintained through discussion and negotiation on major policy issues like possible retrenchments, etc. What was more impressive was the level of involvement of the Cuban people in the governing of their country, with all major laws including the Constitution, endorsed following engagement with workers.

A better example would what happened after the collapse of the Soviet Union, which was Cuba's major trading partner. The Cuban people became more exposed to the impact of the United States economic blockade and production at factories was only 50% of the usual, because with no major trading partner, the supply no longer tallied with the demand. But the government and CTC agreed there would be no retrenchments but that workers would be paid their salaries, or at least a percentage.

The collapse of the Soviet Union did not just threaten workers' employment but the survival of the population itself. There was suddenly no oil supply, or even powdered milk. Without oil there could be no electricity or even travel by car or bus. People were forced to become more self-reliant and now Cuba produces about 70% of the oil for its electricity supply. The Chinese donated about two million bicycles.

To be able to purchase necessary items like medicines from other countries, the government had to increase its revenue and proposals were made for individual salary taxation. This was however rejected by the workers and instead a price increase on luxury items such as cigarettes and alcohol was implemented.

There are currently 22 medical schools and about 62 000 doctors in Cuba, with about 4 500 in Latin America and Africa. Education and culture play a very central role in the lives of the Cubans. Both are used to teach, politicise and keep people mobilised. On numerous occasions during our visit in Havana we saw groups of school children visiting monuments and museums, which is a regular practice as it enables them not only to learn, but provides a clearer understanding of all the issues taught in school.

A rally against the US blockade on Cuba is held every Saturday in a different area. With everybody having been raised into this culture, it is not strange to have a rally with an attendance of about 800 000 people.

The commitment of the Cuban people towards maintaining their way of life is quite remarkable. Evidence of this commitment is the running of the rum-producing factory over weekends by volunteers who understand that with rum being one of Cuba's principal exports, the more rum produced means more revenue for the country, to be spent on the social well-being of the people.

Cuba is a holiday paradise, surrounded by the sea! Imagine the feeling you get when, opening your bedroom window in the morning, the first thing you see is the sea! Most of the buildings in Havana are old but this only enhances the beauty of the city, and with old cars still being driven because of the inability to get too many new models, one feels suspended somewhere in history

The standard of living for Cubans has quite improvement since independence. Despite the difficulties brought about by the blockade, literacy is at 95%. The crime rate is very low, with no serious violent crimes committed.

80% of people in Cuba own the houses they live in, with most houses electrified. The government provides 800 litres of free water per household per month, with people only paying for excess water used.

Infant mortality rate is at an all time low, with the state providing a litre of milk per day for all children under seven. Unemployment is at a low of about 6%, compared to 30% in South Africa. With such a good, free education and health system, the HIV/AIDS infection rate is the lowest in the world, with only 3 000-4000 people out of a population of twelve million infected.

The COSATU delegation, coming from a newly-democratic country, were obviously interested in the level of involvement of the citizenry in running the country. To ensure the population has a say, leadership is elected from grassroots level in their areas (what are referred to as cells - be something like street committees).

From this level they are elected to the Municipal Assembly, which is divided into constituencies. Although the Communist Party nominates those elected into the Assembly, their election is conducted without interference from the Party, which only helps regulate the process of election. In this way, from the level at which there is political representation, everybody has a say.

From the time spent in Cuba, and all the lessons learnt from the Cuban way of life, it was impressed upon the delegation that socialism is indeed an attainable ideal and actually a good system that ensures that not only the few reap the benefits of the country's wealth, but the general population.

Cubans might not have the imported luxury cars and all other luxuries, but everybody is happy; there are no street children or beggars at almost every corner of the street, which is a regular feature in countries that are far more economically developed. South Africans have a lot to learn from these people - the culture of not thinking for the individual but for the good of the collective.

For South Africans and Africans in general, Cuba has played a very important role in the liberation of the continent. Cubans sacrificed enormously, with hundreds having joined the armies to liberate the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Namibia and South Africa.

During our stay, Comrades Vavi, Madisha and myself - got to visit the flat of the CTC General Secretary, Pedro Ross Leal. In his lounge he has his 'African Corner', where he keeps all his souvenirs from Africa, some he collected himself during expeditions in Africa and some brought by delegations from Africa. What I learnt during this visit was an invaluable lesson in self-sacrifice for a larger good.

We were shown picture albums of Pedro Ross during the wars to liberate Angola and were introduced to his wife and son, who had also been in Africa, the son fighting alongside his father and the wife tending to the wounded - all at the risk of losing their lives trying to assist in the liberation of some far off land in Africa.

All these struggles waged by Cubans alongside Africans were done out of good human values, without any expectation.

Southern Africa and South Africa owe their liberation to the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale , which saw UNITA and the South African Defence Force defeated on the border of Angola and Namibia, leading to the United Nations resolution that led to the democratic elections in Namibia.

These acts of internationalism continue even today, with about a thousand Cuban doctors currently working in some rural areas in South Africa, where there was previously a shortage of medical personnel.

South Africans from previously disadvantaged communities are currently studying medicine and engineering in Cuba, paid for in full by the Cuban government.

Anti-socialist theories had predicted that with the fall of the Soviet Union, socialism in Cuba would not last. Yet this system has survived for 40 years, despite all the economic repression that the Cubans have been subjected to, through the economic blockade imposed by the United States and its cronies.

This blockade is meant to bring Cuba to its knees and do away with the socialist ideology. But despite the shortages in medications and other more advanced technology, the Cubans have stuck to their beliefs and know that no other system will enable their children to be well fed, educated and healthy. Socialism is indeed an attainable ideal for those who are committed to its cause.

Viva Cuba! Viva Socialismo!