Comrades
I have to say I've come to regard the Party leadership (especially between the
years 1978 and 1985) with great respect for their valiant efforts to sustain
the PAC's Mission in Exile and to maintain the continued recognition by the
OAU, the UN and other world bodies when the Charterists, with their super-power
backup, campaigned for sole representative of the aspirations of the people of
South Africa. The entire liberation movement and its various schools of
thought were required to genuflect at the altar of the Lusaka head office of
the African National Congress. This battle which was lost in the corridors of
the diplomacy was later translated into blood flowing in the streets of the
townships where their satellites enforced sole recognition by decimating their
own compatriots. The crux of this story has not been effectively told, but it
is an important element in the conspiracy of devious forces that suppress -
time and time again - the rise of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania.
Whatever individual weaknesses that Vusi Make, David Sibeko and Elias Ntloedibe
may have had, their victory after mobilizing the international community goes a
long way. Achieving that small victory goes a long way in the struggle against
an imposed hegemony.
Advisers of the Charterist leadership have consistently driven for the
achievement of this strategic goal to this day. From this point of view, the
centenary celebrations in 2012 have become a cog in the wheels of this
stratagem. They promote the notion that the ANC have monopolized the history
of the liberation struggle and that their track record of scoring significant
achievements have greater political power than those with less outstanding
records. People are duped to associate with their movement, to hero worship
their leaders, and to interact with their programmes, with the hope that by
association they will improve their circumstances and derive a better life
sometime in the future.
We have been inundated a year long with ululations for the generation of
cap-in-hand deputations to King George in Britain, the puppets who sat in dummy
institutions like Malan's Advisory Councils, colonial chiefs in the Old Guard
leadership and turn-coats like Dr James Moroka. The celebrants went on, using
government resources like the SABC, to attempt to fool the public into
believing that their history is of a continuing glorious performance. What
exposes them - despite all the resources and propaganda efforts - is the
internal quandary about the leadership qualities of Jacob Zuma, and the ongoing
struggles of the masses such as that which led to the Marikana killing fields.
The centenary celebrations is underscored by this political irony.
Theoretically the strategy is best characterized as the Matthew Effect
phenomenon: the belief that success as a source of power and influence breeds
further success. It is derived from Matthew chapter 25 verse 29. "Unto
everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance - but from him
that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath." The Matthew Effect
is basically the concept that the rich get richer and poor get poorer, which is
effectively what the ANC stands for. Academics explain the phenomenon as an
exercise of the kingpin getting disproportionately great credit and attention
for the contribution of many others who are less known, basking in the glory of
their achievements and taking them as his own. The kingpin would be the hyped
Nelson Mandela image. He smartly tried to deny that his individual
contribution does not overshadow that of his own comrades. However, he made the
deal with the Nats on his own. he also said that when he gets to heaven he'll
first ask for branch offices of the African National Congress. Theologians and
the clergy, in all faiths, failed to debunk this theory of a sectarian heaven,
and kept quite like Egyptian mummies. The media fixation with the African
National Congress helped to sanitize the position that South African history of
liberation struggle is the epic narrative of the African National Congress
alone. This is a cheap falsehood.
I do not undermine the impact of the Matthew Effect. Those who are brainwashed
believe in the invincibility of the rich and powerful. They murmur their
protest on the sides away from any eavesdropping but sheepishly sing the
praises of the kingpins in the open. An unbridled capitalist social order
concentrates wealth in the hands of the few. The productive forces are
sidelined from enjoying the fruits of their work. Instead the oligarchy
associated with power are exclusively wealthy, and they buy and influence their
own branches of political parties. There is no genuine debate and discussions
on priority matters of the day, and the plight of the masses is treated
contemptuously and often scorned upon. What rules is the effective influence
of the rich, who stole from poor. I however believe in the determined effect
of the collective struggle and the objectives of the African revolution, and
that despite the long road the masses will ultimately win. I'd wish for those
who collude with the status quo, consciously or otherwise, to spend a moment
reflecting on their roles in the further decline of the Pan Africanist Congress
of Azania. As activists we must do something.
The PAC is guided by revolutionary Pan Africanism. Early political theorists
of the Party conducted themselves like Spartans. They adopted a rigidly
puritanical lifestyle and held faith in the palms of their hands. Faith in the
African people, that is. They espoused virtues of simplicity, hard work,
honesty, moral rigour, uprightness and an undying love of the masses. AP Mda,
a highly qualified lawyer, lived in the deep rural areas of Lesotho and served
those who cannot afford the high costs of legal fees. His son, Zakes Mda,
could not bear to live like this and bolted against him. Uncle Zeph, also
highly qualified, dedicated his entire life to the African cause at the expense
of the suffering of his family members and his son who suffered glaucoma and
eventually went blind. Pan Africanists do not have the Matthew Effect. The
authentic PAC cannot be bamboozled by the Matthew Effect.
By the bye, I am aware that my good old friend Matthew Phosa is the ANC's
treasurer general. He is also a very wealthy man. Leina lebe seromo.
Izwe lethu iAfurika
Jaki
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