COSATU Seminar on Swaziland and Zimbabwe!

Dear Cdes,

Please receive our sincere apologies for the oversight as regards the
missing date in our previous communication on the seminar. The date is the
23rd March, 2007 (next Friday).

Please find attached the following details about the seminar. Please also be
reminded that planning sessions for solidarity actions are on-going, we are
having the next one next Monday (19th March, 2007) @ 14h00 at COSATU House,
10th floor in Braamfontein.

Comradely Regards,

COSATU International

Invites you to a

Seminar on Swaziland and Zimbabwe

The position of the Swaziland and Zimbabwean economies in the Southern
African region: What should be done to intensify the struggle for democracy
and fundamental social change

1. Keynote address - COSATU General Secretary - Zwelinzima Vavi

Speakers:

2. Vincent Dlamini - General Secretary (SNACS - Public Sector Union -
Swaziland)

3. Brian Raftopoulous - Zimbabwean Left academic and activist

Venue: 10th floor, COSATU House

Time: 9h00 - 15h30

Date: 23rd March, 2007

To be followed by a planning session on processes towards solidarity action
for both countries;

* Swaziland - 12th April, Border Blockade

* Zimbabwe - 03 April, March to the Zimbabwean Consulate

-----Original Message-----
From: zimbabwe-fight-on-dont-mourn@googlegroups.com
[mailto:zimbabwe-fight-on-dont-mourn@googlegroups.com]On Behalf Of phillan
zamchiya
Sent: 15 March 2007 06:57 PM
To: zimbabwe-fight-on-dont-mourn@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Zim Fight On] Re: Seminar on Zimbabwe and Swaziland - invite

Comrade Bongani

Can you kindly furnish us with the date of this important seminar?

Bongani Masuku <bongani@cosatu.org.za> wrote:

COSATU International invites you to a seminar on Swaziland and Zimbabwe

10th floor, COSATU House, starting @ 9h00, Braamfontein

The position of the Swaziland and Zimbabwean economies in the Southern
African region: What should be done to intensify the struggle for democracy
and fundamental social change

Abstract

The current conflict in Swaziland is premised on popular demands for
multi-party politics, democratisation and an end to an absolute monarchy. In
Southern Africa, Swaziland is the only country ruled by an absolute monarch.
The country which has the longest state of emergency in the region, because
since 1973 only the royal family have a right to participate in the
political and economic life of the country as surrogates of British, and
later elements of South African capital. It is a country structured along
neo-colonial and semi-feudal lines. The monarchy is an agent of British
imperialism, investing Swazi money in Crown agents in England and supported
by the M16 military establishment of Britain. Key economic indicators
include very high HIV/AIDS statistics, due to abuse of culture by the royal
family, terrifying unemployment levels and entrenched political repression
with no political activity being allowed since 1973. But, why has Swaziland
escaped the international radar for so long and why is it that few know of
the regular arrests of political activists, workers and generalised
repression in that country. Political parties remain banned, hence the
frequent arrests of PUDEMO members.

Whilst Zimbabwe, once the shining example of progressive transformation and
economic development in the region, has become a classical example of a
ruined hope, skyrocketing inflation, terrifying unemployment levels and
systematic political repression. What went wrong and what lessons for other
countries in the region and beyond. The Zimbabwe issue has generated
contentious debates about the essence and meaning of fundamental
transformation and the exact meaning of anti-imperialism and its
relationship with democratic and popular participation in the country's
affairs. This debate about Zimbabwe has also been very intense within the
ranks of the progressive alliance here in South Africa, where alliance
partners do not share a common view on what should be done and what forces
should be mobilised and how, to deal with the crisis there. The frequent
arrests of political and worker activists is intensifying to extreme levels.

In the light of these developments, the seminar seek to deepen an
understanding of the structure of the Southern African economy and towards
that end, how do Swaziland and Zimbabwe fit into the structure. What are the
core pillars sustaining the oppressive institutions in these two countries
and what pressure points can be identified to make a decisive difference in
our solidarity work with the comrades from these two countries.

In General

What similarities and differences exist between these two countries and what
experiences can be shared by the progressive forces as they take forward
their struggle for democracy and fundamental social change.

PROGRAMME

9.15 Welcome

2nd Deputy President, Sidumo Dlamini

9.35 Keynote address and official opening of the seminar

Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary, COSATU

10.0 Presentation

* Vincent Dlamini - General Secretary (SNACS, Public Sector Union -
Swaziland)

* Brian Raftopoulos - Zimbabwean Left academic and activist

11.00 Discussion

11h30 Tea Break

11h45 Discussion

13h30 Lunch

14h00: Planning meeting for Solidarity actions with both countries:

* Swaziland Border Blockade - 12th April, 2007l

* Zimbabwe March to the consulate - 03 April, 2007

15h30: Closure

[Bongani Masuku] </SPAN

_____

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Mr. Daniel Molokele
Centurion, Pretoria
South Africa
Cell. +27 72 947 4815
Tel. +27 12 657 1445
Fax. +27 86 691 6257
Website: www.danielmolokele.com

_____

Don't pick lemons.
See all the new
<http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html;_ylc=X3oDMTE0OGRsc3F2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2B
HNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3Y2Fycw--> 2007 cars at Yahoo!
<http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html;_ylc=X3oDMTE0OGRsc3F2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2B
HNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3Y2Fycw--> Autos.