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Cosatu 'not quiet diplomats'
05/11/2004 13:45 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Cosatu vowed on Friday to push ahead with a campaign to support workers' rights in Zimbabwe despite the tensions it is causing with the governing African National Congress.
President Robert Mugabe's government last week deported a 13-member fact-finding mission from Cosatu, saying it was pursuing a "political agenda" after it arranged to meet with civic groups.
"The mission's short visit proved beyond doubt that this is a society where people's human rights and civil liberties are being crushed," wrote Zwelinzima Viva, Cosatu's secretary general in the Mail and Guardian.
Cosatu, which is a member of a tripartite alliance with the ANC, made it clear that it was not ready to support President Thabo Mbeki's "quiet diplomacy" toward Zimbabwe that has shied away from confronting Mugabe publicly.
Diplomatic breakthrough
"A diplomatic breakthrough can only happen when Mugabe is forced to change by a mass movement from below, by the Zimbabwean people, assisted by a campaign of international solidarity action, to compel him to restore human rights, repeal repressive laws and allow free and fair elections," wrote Viva.
The commentary was pointedly entitled "We are not quiet diplomats."
Viva said that the political crisis in Zimbabwe had "opened up a debate in Cosatu as to whether that country does not now represent a typical example of a derailed revolution."
Mugabe, in power since independence in Zimbabwe in 1980, has been accused of rigging elections and cracking down on the opposition, the media and civic groups to maintain his Zimbabwe African National Union, the Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF)'s hold on government.
Border protests
Viva said Cosatu is considering holding protests at border posts and "other, harsher forms of solidary action."
"For this, we need no permission from our government," he said.
The commentary came two days after the South African cabinet issued a statement emphasizing that South Africa "remains firmly convinced" that disputes over the upcoming elections in March "and other issues are best handled by Zimbabweans themselves."
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