BNFYL solidarity message to the young communist league in S.A
Correspondent | Thursday December 18, 2014 12:44
We greet you and deliver this solidarity message on behalf of President of the Botswana National Front Comrade, Duma Boko, who is also the leader of opposition in Parliament and the entire leadership of the party. We are delegated by the BNFYL, led by Comrade Makatane, who is here present.
One may wonder why leaders of the BNFYL travel over 2,200kms to deliver a solidarity message to the YCLSA. The relationship between BNF and SACP is grounded on two premises. Firstly, the two parties are historical fraternal partners. The historical relationship was itself based on the commonality of ideological perspectives. It is for these reasons, comrades, that we find ourselves here today in Cape Town delivering a solidarity message as part of our internationalist objective.
The BNFYL is deeply worried by the seemingly lack of contestation of political ideas from left forces to counter and challenge the mysteries and contradictions of capitalism. It is for this reason that we find it appropriate for the YCLSA to have come up with a theme,’ intensifying youth mobilisation for socialism’. There is need for a clearer understanding of the role of contemporary socialism and communism in an era of neo- liberal intoxication by the masses of our people.
It is gatherings like these where revolutionary organisationss such as the YCL, seek to achieve ideological clarity and purity. As the BNFYL, we have no doubt that the YCLSA have both the capacity and capability to achieve such and all set objectives of this congress.
The nature of socialism we espouse.
Comrades must be reminded that socialism and communism is not all about reciting and memorising theoretical frameworks of great Marxist writers, but to critically engage society and analyse its problems in a dialectical approach. That is scientific socialism which I believe the BNFYL and YCL subscribe to, as opposed to utopian and metaphysical socialism. Utopian socialism is reactionary in nature as it attempts to cure society ills by addressing symptoms and not the cause. Ideological purity and clarity amounts to proper interpretation of leftist literature to address societal problems.
We must ask ourselves as revolutionary cadres the following question: What form, shape or content will the socialism we aspire to take? Is this socialism transitional or not? Many Marxist scholars have agreed that socialism is but a phase towards the realisation of a class-less communist society. We gather here today, faced by a more dangerous and aggressive global capitalism.
Capitalism which kills for oil and profits, capitalism which rents mercenaries to effect foreign sponsored regime changes in some parts of Africa; Capitalism, which has no morals and regard for international law. At first, capitalism used religion as a soft tool to subjugate and brainwash our people. Presently, as capitalism fails nations, its handlers are using military force as a tool to achieve narrow political ends. As young communists, we must be alive to these changing dynamics of the enemies of socialism and communism.
The status of Botswana:
narrowing of democratic space
Our people in Botswana are at the mercy of a reactionary BDP led minority government and the Khama dynasty. The ruling party is in minority or the simple reason that they have been elected by 47 percent of the popular vote. It is worrying that in Botswana, apartheid and colonial laws, such as sedition, are still in place and used to intimidate media practitioners. A malicious charge of sedition has resulted in South Africa welcoming the first political refugee from Botswana who is a journalist.
He feared for his life after publishing a series of articles concerning the first citizen of Botswana. His name is Edgar Tsimane. A newspaper editor was also detained for the same alleged offence. His name is Outsa Mokone. Generally, there has been a consistent erosion and deterioration of civil liberties in Botswana after the ascendance of President Khama.
Socio- economic rights in Botswana
Education, healthcare, water, sanitation, social security are not rights in Botswana. They remain services provided at the whim and caprices of the ruling party. Our bill of rights excludes socio-economic rights. Liberalism at its best. This is worrisome comrades. As the BNFYL, we believe that citizens must all enjoy the freedom from hunger and poverty. Socio- economic rights are essential towards the realisation of a socialist state.
The plight of the khoi-San (Basarwa):
the need for international solidarity
The khoi-San are Botswana’s Palestine community. As the BNFYL, we continue to champion the struggle of the first inhabitants of present day Botswana. The khoi-San are deemed as poachers and forcefully removed from their ancestral land for profit accumulation by the ruling elites. It disturbs us that senior figures within the ruling party in Botswana have direct economic interest in the land dispossessed from the Khoi- San. One international human rights watchdog has recently come with a conclusion that the ruling BDP is using water as a weapon to force the Khoi- San into submission. The Khoi San are thirsty and landless as a result of failed policy by government to force them to subscribe to western civilisation which erodes their culture and identity in the name of modernisation. We call upon the YCL to fight in the corner of the Khoi- San to restore their dignity and humanity. The difference between the struggle of the Khoi- San in Botswana and the people of Palestine is that the former is not bombarded or under an illegal occupation of some external power. We call upon the YCLSA to support activities of the BNFYL to organise the Khoi- San and advance their struggle. Their struggle is your struggle comrades. Recently a British attorney representing the Khoi- San was denied a visa and placed under strict visa restrictions in the marathon case against government. Socialism and communism teaches us to love, share, empathy and more importantly solidarity with the oppressed people of the world.
What needs to be done?
The BNFYL lobby the YCLSA to play a unifying role within the tripartite alliance and unite the working class because it is the YCLSA which is endowed with analytical tools and ideological clarity to understand the complex power relations and problems besieging the labor movement in South Africa and abroad. Labor aristocrats, who believe that they are bigger than the struggle must be rehabilitated, but if needs be, weeded out as they delay the national democratic revolution. Such leaders must be guarded closely lest they pollute the working class for their selfish and personal political interests. The labor movement in Botswana is also faced with similar challenges with the labor movement in South Africa.
The BNFYL indulges the YCLSA to lobby government to recognise the state of Palestine. It will go a long way in contributing to the struggle of the freedom of Palestine from the yoke of suffering at the hands of a Zionist regime called Israel.
The YCL should continue to be the champion of the down trodden not only in South Africa but the entire African continent by reason that the SACP is in a position to influence policy at government level. The YCL is invited to assist the BNFYL in organizing and mobilising the Khoi- San in defence of their land and rights. We hope the YCLSA will continue assisting the BNFYL in various aspects to unite Botswana’s opposition parties to unseat the useless BDP government. As the BNFYL, we wish the YCLSA a successful congress with collective resolutions which speaks to the daily challenges of our people. The struggle continues....Amandla!
Comrade Kemmonye Makatane, Comrade Kago Mokotedi
BNFYL president