History is littered with popular struggles hijacked by elements antithetical to the interests of those struggles. The most recent manifestations of this are currently playing themselves out in Libya, Egypt and Syria.
In South Africa, the latest instalment of this attempt by political elites to capture state power has seen Julius Malema launch his Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). By virtue of his seemingly unstinted support among young people, this initiative poses a real possibility of not only weakening the support base of the dominant ANC but also of turning the struggles of people living in poverty into a stepping stone for Malema's own political and economic ambitions.
Recognising this potential, Andile Mngxitama recently wrote that he and his organisation, the September National Imbizo, are considering engaging with the EFF on the basis of "public service, a radically redistributive economic policy and substantive democracy" ("Juju's party offers hope of a new dawn", July 12).
The initiative by Malema has been described as an opportunistic attempt to harness the real frustrations and legitimate demands of people living in poverty, and his utterances of economic equality have been rendered hypocritical by the exposure of his lifestyle and the extent of his accumulated wealth. To objective observers, the collection of vested interests coalescing within the EFF is representative of an elite attempt to regain access to economic rents.
To do this, the EFF and Malema have embarked on a campaign of shameless opportunism by inserting themselves in legitimate struggles. We saw how Malema inserted himself into the situation that unfolded after Marikana and he has regularly emerged at protests, often providing impromptu speeches claiming allegiance to those struggles.
The question, then, for those who are engaged in grass-roots struggles and are eager to build broad coalitions of the exploited, is: Should the legitimate struggles of the marginalised and dispossessed be sacrificed at the altar of a contrived unity – Christopher Rutledge
I watched with interest as Malema officially launched his political organisation, the EFF. The mushrooming of such parties is always a good thing in a democratic society such as South Africa. It is encouraging to see that people with different views to those in authority have the space to express themselves and be heard by society.
Yet, in his speech, Malema made references to Zimbabwe's economic empowerment efforts, as though they are the ideal example. This compels me to respond. Zimbabwe's land redistribution programme was chaotic and violent. Powerful people grabbed the most productive farms. Instead of continuing farming, some auctioned the equipment. Production stopped. Hundreds of farmworkers lost their jobs and moved to towns. The country now imports food from countries that it used to feed.
It is interesting that the EFF also wants to nationalise the mines. Zimbabwe did not nationalise them as such, but it requires mines and foreign-owned companies to cede 51% ownership to indigenous people. I have yet to see any ordinary people benefiting from this; there are thousands of unemployed graduates roaming the streets.
For Malema to say Zimbabwe has been ready to "take the pain" of revolution is to misrepresent the feelings of the people. Has he asked why millions of Zimbabweans have migrated to other counties in the region and all over the world These young Zimbabweans would be much happier if they had proper jobs in their own country.
Many Africans respect Robert Mugabe for his bold stand against the West. He is anti-Western, certainly, but not anti-capitalist. Otherwise he would not have allowed an elite minority in Zanu-PF to replace the white minority kicked out of Zimbabwe by his policies. A few well-connected individuals now own the means of production in Zimbabwe. They are the new capitalists: partners with Chinese imperialists.
Malema should understand that not all Zimbabweans are happy with the way Zimbabwe is now. Not all Zimbabweans embrace and glorify mediocrity. – Barnabas Ticha Muvhuti