[WSF-Discuss] COSATU campaigns for democracy in Zimbabwe and Swaziland

[CACIM]

*COSATU campaigns for democracy in Zimbabwe and Swaziland*

@ http://www.afrol.com/articles/31098

*afrol News <http://www.afrol.com/>, 3 October *- In a bid to build on
momentum generated by recent congress of Southern African Trade Unions
(COSATU), the body along with unions and progressive organisations of civil
society from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Swaziland, have agreed to develop a
new strategy to take forward campaign for democracy in Zimbabwe and
Swaziland.

Agreement was made with ultimate goal of building a southern African
people's movement for justice and democracy.

Meeting held in Sandton in South Africa early this week agreed among other
things to convene a civil society conference on 'Zimbabwe-post-the-deal and
where to from here?' to be held inside Zimbabwe and involve whole SADC
region to assess situation and develop a common response on strengthening of
democracy and on-going transformation based on fundamental interests of
people.

Meeting agreed to intensify campaign for a 'Week of global action on
Swaziland', including non-handling of goods to Swaziland, to be held on 27
October to 1 November, 2008, in which trade unions should play a leading
role.

A statement issued by COSATU today shows that meeting also agreed to
establish a joint task team from Swazi and SA unions who will be at centre
of boycott, owing to their strategic location in economy.

Statement shows that meeting agreed to actively participate in Southern
African Social Forum in Swaziland from 16 to 18 October, to strengthen
regional people's initiatives and in solidarity with struggling people of
Swaziland, using forum as a space for raising international profile of Swazi
struggle and as an opportunity to build and strengthen their capacity to
wage a sustainable struggle for democracy and economic justice.

"It agreed to develop a code of leadership by civil society as a model for
exemplary, ethical and democratic leadership in region, particularly at
state level, to ensure credibility in political and institutional processes
of region, so they can enjoy confidence of people," it says.

Meeting further agreed to initiate a SADC transformation project to help
civil society to participate in formulation of new-look, vibrant, dynamic
and inclusive SADC structures.

"This should allow citizens of region full participation, satisfactory
representation and regular and meaningful influence in affairs of this
important regional body. It will also be a way to challenge appointment of
undemocratic leaders at helm of strategic institutions such as SADC Organ
Troika, failure of SADC to enforce compliance amongst member states on
existing agreements and protocols, and double standards, such as seen in
monitoring of elections in Swaziland recently, where the SADC observer
mission accepted an electoral outcome conducted in an environment of banned
political parties and arrests of political activists," it says.

It adds that this goes together with indecisiveness around Zimbabwe and
Swaziland for such a long time.

In summary, this project is about renewal of SADC to reflect new challenges
of regional social, political and economic configuration, statement says.

Meeting further agreed to initiate a loose network of regional activists to
build a regional movement for mass mobilisation, in form of a 'SADC People's
Justice Campaign', to develop structured and sustained solidarity focus and
support for democracy, workers' struggles, landless people's struggles,
economic justice and human rights throughout region.

This movement according to statement should be properly discussed at coming
Southern African Social Forum in Swaziland, so as to give it meaning and
clarify its purpose in more concrete terms.

Coming congress of Southern African Trade Union Co-ordination Council in
Botswana next week should be able to strengthen these initiatives, given
centrality of trade union movement in success of this very determined
regional civil society programme, statement concludes.

*By staff writer*

*(c)* afrol News
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