Thatcher Adopts Labour' Reactionary Plan for Zimbabwe

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basis for the political survival of entire working class in defence such as Mugabe and Nkomo are of their own interests can the their extensive contacts within grip of capitalist oppression be the frontline states, the United forever removed and the way Nations, the imperialists and the opened up for socialist deformed workers states. Zimbabwe.

The "Marxist" regimes in Mozambique and Angola are no less keen to see an enforced settlement which could end the war than are their frontline partners-Zambia, Botswana and Tanzania.

Besides depending on capitalist multi-nationals (some South African based) for her mining and oil operations, Angola's vital transport system remains acutely vulnerable to attacks and disruption from UNITA, the substantially South African-financed guerrilla movement.

The economy of Mozambique, facing mounting Rhodesian inspired sabotage, is heavily dependent on the South African economy-well over a hundred thousand workers from the north of Mozambique earn vital revenue on South African mines, The problems posed by the lack of economic development in Tanzania are currently acutely exacerbated by the lack of foreign exchange (promoted by the costs of the invasion of Uganda) and a developing food shortage which threatens to unleash a wave of opposițion to Nyerere.

or .. going attempts by the imperialists to force a neocolonial solution on the workers and peasants of The agreement by the 39 nations of the Commonwealth to initiate negotiations for a new constitution and election was born out of the escalating pressures enveloping capitalism in Southern Africa and internationally.

The civil war in Zimbabwe is causing severe economic dislocation and political instability throughout Southern and Central Africa.

The prospect of the dragging on of the war is one that is causing increasing alarm amongst the petty bourgeois leadership of the 'frontline states" • and forces them to make common cause with imperialism and its staunchest defender in the area, the South African state.

This, coupled with the diplomatic hostility orchestrated against Nyerere by Nigeria and Kenya in particular, means that a diplomatic "success" for home consumption, particularly one which would bring with it some relief to the food shortage by easing trade channels with the South, is desperately being sought by Nyerere.

Commodities

Zambia is heavily dependent on South Africa for crucial commodities-and at the present time faces the threat of a massive crop failure if it does not receive South African fertilizer supplied through The ruling clique around ECO DITI ether with £2.70 to Folrose Br uth Park Hill, London NW5 1HR Kaunda is particularly concerned at the consequences of harbouring thousands of refugees and guerrillas at a time when economic crisis is being reflected in escalating struggle inside Zambia.

The continuing dependence of the frontline states on imperialism-despite the differing types of "socialism" to which they claim to adhere-means that they are now alt forced to back the Thatcher version of the Owen-Young plan, in a desperate effort to restore political stability under the dominance of imperialism.

And whatever Thatcher may have wished, the continuing level of struggle inside Zimbabwe has made it clear that a simple British recognition and lifting of sanctions would be insufficient to restore stability.

Muzorewa's, inability to alleviate the poverty and ultraexploitation of urban and rural workers serves daily to undermine the support he could once muster.

The possibility of a dramatic growth of industrial unrest in the crucial urban areas remains ever present.

PHOTO: Derek Spiers, IFL Owen Thatcher-last While white emigration escalates and the war claims more and more victims, the Muzorewa-Smith security forces have had to shoot scores of members of the armed gangs, loyal to rival 'internal' leaders, who have turned from intimidating political opponents to robbery and murder.

As Socialist Press has pointed out, the elections from the Smith/Muzorewa internal settlement were designed to provide Britain with conditions more favourable to securing a neo-colonial solution.

Capitalising on the zig-zags and equivocation of the Patriotic Front, and their failure , to pose any political alternative based on the mobilisation of the masses in pursuit of their own interests, Smith/Muzorewa were able to use intimidation to ensure a large electoral turn-out.

Thatcher has now been able to make much use of this "new situation"' of a "black majority vote" government in her efforts to win the public endorsement of the frontline presidents for the imperialist "solution".

Thus for their separate but equally pressing reasons Thatcher, Nyerere and company are now forced to make common alliance.

Using the groundwork prepared by Owen and Callaghan in secret collusion with the frontline states, the Tories are well able with these and their more traditional right wing allies, to make an effective intervention in the affairs of By focussing all criticism of the Muzorewa/Smith regime on purely constitutional grounds, everyone has been able to claim personal diplomatic victories for home consumption.

Exploitation

Thus there was no mention of the system of ultra-exploitation that has reduced the workers and peasants to the most abject poverty, a system that will not be altered by giving the black petty bourgeoisie proportionately more power. rango in Lusaka with Kaunda As long as the struggle of the Zimbabwean: workers and peasants remains suffocated by the treacherous Patriotic Front leadership, such political chicanery and secret diplomacy will continue to play this dominant role.

An important part of the /vkomo The Patriotic Front bureaucrats have in common with these reactionary forces the desire to deflect the Zimbabwean working class from acting in their independent interests.

Left-wing militants of the Patriotic Front, whether in ZANU or ZAPU, perpetuate a dependency on this opportunist leadership by pursuing rigidly guerrillaist strategies.

Clients

Seeking victory through military means, they not only become the political clients of those who supply the weapons, but are also unable to take forward the political struggle.

Militants are unable i to defend and extend the interests of the working class while they are isolated from them inside Zambia or Mozambique-many of those who have tried have been imprisoned.

Reforms

Armed struggle in isofation can only place pressure on the state for reforms, which, in the case of Zimbabwe, will be carried through under imperialist supervision.

If the Commonwealth agreèment is able to remove their military basis, the Patriotic Front left-wing will be without any, political base within the working class to take the struggle forward.

Under such conditions the continuation .of guerrillaism would meet with crushing defeat.

Zimbabwean militants and workers must break with the generals, lawyers and bankers of the Commonwealth Conference, and expose the betrayals of the Mugabe/Nkomo misleaders of the Zimbabwean people.

Only by mobilising Carrington

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