Statement of solidarity from our comrades in Tanzania

UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF COMRADE GEORGE BONONO AND SINKO.

The Tanzania  Socialist Forum (TASOFO)  stands in solidarity with Abahlali baseMjondolo, whose Deputy President, comrade George Mqapheli Bonono was arrested on the 4th of May for fraudulent charges.

The forum is deeply concerned with the ongoing persecution of our comrades and the movement at large.  AbM has been a progressive movement for more than ten years, providing an alternative to Shack Dwellers as they organize to improve their living conditions.  To the downtrodden of  South Africa,  the movement has been nothing but a beacon of hope after being condemned to undignified life by the historical injustices of Apartheid.  

It saddens that the said injustices have been inherited by the ANC government, which has failed to serve the poor masses and resorted to persecuting those who organize the struggles for social justice.  The current fabricated charges against comrade Bonono and other comrades are just a continuation of the long-term persecutions that Abahlali leaders and members have experienced since the organization’s inception. The coward government of ANC has for long been falsely accusing and even assassinating the brave comrades who have been working tirelessly to organize the masses for an alternative future.  A characteristic of all the sold-out revolutionary parties which have now replaced those they used to fight against. And for the ANC, it is even worse because the party had since then stroke a deal to continue working with the oppressors.

It’s a shame that decades after the so-called independence, the oppressors continue to enjoy the country’s resources while poor South Africans can hardly organize for their desired social change. The ANC government has been cleverly protecting the Apartheid beneficiaries at the expense of the poor masses and those trying to chart a different path.   It is clear that while the ANC government maintains such historical injustices and all sorts of inequality,  AbM does just the opposite. While Cyril Ramaphosa and his neoliberal government and its institutions work to maintain the status quo, comrade Bonono and other AbM members have sacrificed their own lives to build a just and equal society for all.

In the account of that noble cause, we send our revolutionary message of hope to our Comrades Mqapheli Bonono, Sinko Miya, their families and all the comrades of AbM in this moment of trial. The Tanzania socialist forum maintains that the unfounded claims in the said charges are nothing but a fabrication that is purposely meant to disrupt the good work of our comrades. It is an act of cowardice by the ANC government that is disturbed by the fact that the brave comrades of AbM have never given up despite all the persecutions.

We, therefore, condemn this injustice against the AbM members and call for an immediate and unconditional release of Comrades Mqapheli Bonono and Siniko Miya. The Tanzania Socialist Forum calls for the coward government of ANC to focus on providing a dignified life for the poor masses instead of criminalizing those who work for the same.

In the spirit of Pan-Africanism,  We reaffirm our solidarity with the movement and encourage our comrades to continue the fight. We should never apologize for being revolutionaries because of our oppressor’s fears. Instead, let’s make the oppressors feel ashamed of their cowardice.

Long live the Revolutionary spirit of our comrades.

Long live the Revolutionary work of  AbM.

Down With Imperialism.

Forward With the people’s struggles.

Tanzania Socialist Forum- Central Committee.