SEVEN YEARS AGO, when the Heath government was trying to legitimize its sell-out plan for Zimbabwe via the Pearce Commission, tens of thousands of people mobilised in protest through initiatives launched by the Anti-Apartheid Movement Since then Zimbabwe solidarily has laken hard times. Under Wilson and Callaghan the Labour left MPs wouldn't rock the boat by criticising Owen's pro-imperialist manoeuAnd the Anti-Apartheid Movement in turn, by the munist Party and strategy of alliance these lefts, adopted a 'low profile attitude to work on Zimbabwe.
For a time most solidarity work was carried out by various groups of sectarian Maoists. little Anti-Apartheid did was marred by favouritism towards ZAPU again because of the CP's links with the ZAPU leadership and Moscow's hostility to ZANU.
The deepening of the Zimbabwe crisis thus found the solidarity movement il-prepared spond. The low turn-out on the demonstration June alarmed Anti-Apar The Zimbabwe Emergency Campaign Committee Anti-Apartheid in an attempt out activity on Zimbabwe. This has functioned in a commendably open manner, with reasonably. democratic decision-making structures. A wide range of organisations are involved, including both ZANU and ZAPU.
ZECC has taken some important notably the picket of the London conference on 10 September and the solidarity demonstration for November.
The question is where it goes from here.
The first thing to stress is the need to develop the wass or a commuus mass action campaign within all such initiatives. Support must be won different sectors.
For instance, the pro ject of launching an appeal for a direct action boycott of trade with Zimbabwe if Thatcher lifts sanctions on the Muzorewa government which must be vigorously taken up in the labour movement. Particular attention also needs drawing youth into the campaign, and to approaching black for their support.
Secondly, the committee needs to develop greater clarity which political issue it aims to make ine main focus or ls mobilisation. Socialist Challenge belieyes that the main thing which needs saying now that. the Limbabwean people have the right to determine their own future, and tha Britain has no right to intervent there. Self-determination for the Limbabwean people Hands off Zimbabwe!
Thatcher hopes to imHe see "solution' on the Zimbabwean people that protects British imperialist economic and political interests. troops have already been trained to go in and consolidate such a settlement as part of a peace-keeping force.
Tory manoeuvres include trying draw section of the Patriotic Front leadership into deal and making more and more concessions to Muzorewa including the possible easing of sanctions.
The kind of movement that needs to be built is one consistently opposes every attempt by the to dictate to the Zimbabwean people. United action not merely the best way of aiding the Zimbabwean revolution. It is also a very practical way of limiting the Tories' rOOM for manoeuvre Lastly, the ZECC must be built as an autonomous campaign. This building ZECC groups sponsored by laborganiHUTCHICH sations, and paving the way for a national organisation fully independent of Anti-Apartheid, capable taking its own deci sions, and eventually hay. ing own newspaper, full-time werkers and so on.
By building ZECC we have a chance to develop a campaign which can really assist the struggle Zimbabwe. Let's not blow it!
Socialist Challenge 6 September 1979 Page S
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