Tau tša tlhoka seboka di šitoa ke Nare e hlotša, is a Northern Sesotho idiom loosely translated; a pride of hunting lions with no unity will not even catch a limping Buffalo. That’s how the wisdom of our forebears has established the importance of unity in order to achieve objective goals as a people.
This wisdom went further to say; Šhako la tlhoka thobela ke mojano. Loosely translates; a nation without leadership is bound for a disaster.
Therefore, at all material times in our quest for total emancipation against neocolonialism and imperialism, we should be mindful of this wisdom.
In 1961, within a broad continental struggle for liberation discourse, emerged a strong idea that Africans must unite if we were to achieve total liberation. In line with wisdom of our forebears this idea was sacrosanct amongst oppressed Africans. They stunned the world that couldn’t believe the possibility of a unity of Africa and her indigenous people. But they were determined to forge ahead to emerge with a united front.
Hot on the heels, they were hit by divergent views on the “how” part. Subsequently two leading groups emerged; the Casablanca and the Monrovia groups.
The Monrovia Group argued for a looser alliance based on gradual economic cooperation, while the Casablanca Group argued for a deeper politically, economically and militarily united federation of African state. The latter lost the argument and Monrovia group emerged.
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I offer this historical background as basis for analysis of the intra-debate of the left progressive forces in South Africa. In particular in relation to recent developments in which former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Chairperson, Cde Dali Mpofu, resigned to join uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). He in a nutshell argued that he left in pursuant of unity of an entire left progressive forces in one umbrella body to challenge the establishment.
In response to these developments, the Commander in Chief (CIC) of the EFF, Cde Julius Malema, offered a glimpse of how these developments took place behind the scenes leading to formation of MKP and disagreement on the matter.
Taking from these two Cdes interviews, their comments corroborate each other on chain of events, to an extent. As such it gives a glimpse into this matter especially for outsiders.
Reports on Former State President Jacob Zuma meeting with leaders of other political parties were made in the media leading to the formation of MKP and the general elections in may 2024. It wasn’t reported widely hence many people seem not to remember these reports.
This initiative was as noble as the idea of a United Africa going as far back as 1961. Particularly because the imperial forces forged their unity through what they called Moonshot Pact and it had failed even before elections could take place. Cde Mpofu says it was his and Cde Zuma’s idea that they should galvanise for this united front of the left forces with not much success.
Like the Casablanca group, Cde Mpofu’s idea of fully collapsing all formations into one vehicle led by Cde Zuma fell through. A loose alliance and collaboration of formation of the left forces was forged with a Progressive Caucus in the parliament’s National Assembly.
I’m of the view that as noble as the idea of absolute dissolution of all formations is, the practicality of it requires more thought than a quest for unity. As such I sympathies with political parties who couldn’t agree. I also believe you can’t form a strong left forces alliance while leaving behind COSATU, SAFTU, AMCU, SACP and SANCO.
This alliance should be galvanised around a leader who isn’t in a leadership position of any of the formations. For example, if you were to approach all the forces with someone like the leader of ATM, Cde Vuyolwethu Zungula, you would easily get acceptance from COSATU et al. The same can’t be easy with Cde Zuma and Cde Malema.
The imperial forces had the same challenge in which others refused to be led by DA’s leader John Steenhuisen. So, leadership challenges are inherent in these kind of endeavours.
In pursuit for this noble idea, I hope all interested parties would devise a plan to galvanise everyone openly. An open process would take the society into confidence as they would’ve been part of the process.
We shouldn’t be shy to approach even formations outside the ideological framework of the left – as long as they are Africans. We should strive for this idea, inspired by wisdom of our forebears, because the unity of indigenous African people is sacrosanct.
written by TT Maenetša: Race, Culture and Socioeconomic Commentator.
