Comrade The issue in my view is whether, there are any prospects for a revolutionary advance towards building a socialist order in the country, post-ANC or with the possible demise of the neo-colonialist rule under Jacob Zuma. You should admit that the situation following the negotiated settlement which rather worked not in favour of the revolutionary forces saw the left including the PAC and other socialist forces opting for legal and constitutional modes of politics and whether these can be termed revolutionary or not, the party programme before its unbanning does throw light on this. Whether the PAC parliamentary route, said to have been dictated by external factors like imperialist super-power pressure, the OAU and SADC countries at the time, would necessarily be viewed as a kind of "revolutionary" adjustment due to the shift in conditions imposed by the enemy of the Azanian revolution, that you would have to help me with your analysis. However, the objective setbacks and defeats suffered by the erstwhile Eastern socialist block and progressive forces from which the party enjoyed material and diplomatic support set in motion a process that left revolutionaries with one option of pursuing a reformist liberal bourgeois parliamentary agenda than a revolution in a classical radical Pan-Africanist liberation or socialist sense. What is revolution in the classical radical Pan Africanist sense other than that of deepening contradictions in society, with the PAC being the catalyst of a widespread revolutionary climate through actively engaging with masses, workers and tillers of the soil in increasing their political awareness, increase their outrage against this neo-colonial capitalist order and be ready for a socialist revolution. A revolution takes place in a mass revolutionary climate with the party in the vanguard of the struggles of the people on the ground. Most of these popular struggles are being waged by the new social movements, like the Anti-Privatisation, Landless People's Movement, with the SACP and Cosatu only engaged in pseudo popular struggles to close this space and to bolster ANC support instead of what is understood as revolution. The PAC since 1994, save for some shortlived Bredell land occupations, had set its eyes solely on participation in elections, in parliament and municipal councils while speaking ambiguously of the seizure of political power, or being alternative to the ANC or initially after suffering electoral defeats as a credible opposition. This reference by you to an "Azanian revolution" maybe begs a question on what do you undertand by revolution. Is there any kind of revolution we can justifiably speak of as going on, when and where in this country, that you seek to defend as being "betrayed" and hence you leaving the PAC? Perhaps you may have wanted to say the choice to form PAM was to revive the revolution which we know was pursued by the PAC before its unbanning or rather admit that major revolutionary advances are currently taking place in Latin America and in Africa, the Zimbabwe regime's land reconquest programme because of the crazed reaction of imperialist contains favourable seeds of an impending revolution in the continent. But here at home there is no revolution we can speak of except the parliamentary competitive game. Most members of the PAC fail to differentiate the party from the other opposition parties because nothing the PAC has done differently to be called a revolutionary party since 1994. The growing desire by radical Pan Africanists and other socialist tendencies to create a revolutionary climate inside the country stems from this realisation. And they recognise that process begins with the spreading of revolutionary ideas among the masses to lead to mass upheavals which could trigger a general crisis in the current state and governance. There should first be a programme of revolution, a revolutionary party, revolutionary ideology and leadership for this to happen. Was there any such programme of revolution before Letlapa got elected as president or did the party under Letlapa's leadership develop one such programme or was there any attempt by revolutionaries who operated with Letlapa to engage seriously on this and what came out of it? What in your view is betrayal of the Azanian revolution if not even such programme existed? Maybe the duty of anyone who desires a true Azanian revolution would have been to begin with that kind of programme, define the character of the PAC in revolutionary terms not as merely a parliamentary party which is guided by a revolutionary ideology and put in place a corresponding revolutionary leadership to carry out the party's revolutionary tasks. From my observation Payco, Pasma and other structures seem be in your league clamouring for a revolutionary programme, if what they say in their summit declaration is what you stand for. Maybe your idea of the revolution needs being clarified further. Izwe Lethu!! Mawande
________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chargein Mabaso Sent: 19 October 2009 10:51 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [PAYCO] Comrade Mawande You seem to suggest that those who remained within the PAC have done the noblest thing on Earth. According to you, those who left PAC and re-launched PAM have done disservice to both PAC and the African Revolution, and to be harsh, they are traitors to the African Cause. Correct me if I am wrong! Please answer the questions below to the best of your ability. Bear in mind our engagement on this matter is also intended to clear the cloud in many people's minds about the latest developments within the Pan Africanist fold. I invite other comrades to assist you to answer the questions posed to us by history. Firstly, are we not engaging ourselves in a chicken and egg situation here? What comes first, is it PAC or the African Revolution? Which one of the two is the means to an end, not an end itself? Is it PAC or the African Revolution? Is PAC the product of the African Revolution or the African Revolution the product of PAC? Remember: PAC was launched in 1959. The African Revolution was there even before the arrival of the Whiteman in Africa (That is, long before 1652). It is clear PAC is the product of Revolution. PAC is one of the means to an end (Revolution's logical conclusion). PAC is not the only mean to an end. I repeat: PAC IS NOT THE ONLY MEAN TO AN END. Before 1959 it was not even one of the means to an end Who are the traitors to the African Revolution: Those who remain on their trenches defending the PAC name while the Revolution is being betrayed in broad daylight, or those who are in mortal combat defending the African Revolution against its enemies and enemy agents? , Secondly, what counts most, the mortal body or the immortal soul of an individual or an organisation? Which one is wise and honourable to do: To fight defending the dead body (corpse) of an individual or organisation or to die defending the immortal soul of an individual or organisation? To defend PAC name or the PAC soul? Which one is more honourable to do, comrade Jack ???? Lastly, why Sobukwe and Zeph Mothopeng did not die defending the ANC name as its loyal members as many of you claim? Who, among the ANCYL leaders, did the wise and honourable thing in 1958: Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo for remaining within the ANC no matter what, or Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, Zeph Mothopeng and Potlako Leballo who broke and formed the PAC to be a pace-setter? Why Robert Mugabe left ZAPU and formed ZANU instead of dying defending AZAPU name? Why V.I Lenin left the Mensheviks and formed the Bolsheviks instead of dying defending Mensheviks name? The list is endless from the lessons of Revolution. They all left their parties to dedicate all their lives on what they believe in, not in defence of Party name? Sobukwe, Zeph, Maketu, and others went to the 1959 Launch not knowing the PAC name. \What was important to them was not the Party name, but the African Revolution which was in danger of being bertrayed. They left with the soul of ANC as cusodians of the 1949 Programme of Action. Makhe ndibe ndisima apho (temporary pause). Izwelethu! I-Africa! MCharge --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Sending your posting to [email protected] Unsubscribe by sending an email to [email protected] You can also visit http://groups.google.com/group/payco Visit our website at www.mayihlome.wordpress.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
