21 August 2014
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press Statement
Solidarity with Comrades from the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Abahlali baseMjondolo General meeting last weekend was attended by eight comrades from the DRC lead by Pastor Raphael. The General Meeting discussed various ways of working in solidarity with the Congolese comrades.
The comrades from the DRC who are here in South Africa made a shocking presentation on the history of the Congo from the year 1887 which led to the genocide that they are now facing. Devastating photos were shown and spoke volumes to the narrated story.
Questions and answers were held followed by a tense conversation about what needs to be done thereafter. All of us were deeply touched and felt helpless. Comrades asked about the role of South African government and its troops in DRC. We asked the role of the African Union and the South African Human Rights Commission and of course the role of civil society and the UN and the US. Some of the answers were that genocides continue in the presence of more than 4 000 South African deployed troops in the DRC. There were also claims that Khulubuse Zuma, who we all know is related to our President Jacob Zuma, has shares in some companies in the DRC. Noted was also the role of neighbouring countries such as Uganda and Ruanda. Also noted is that DRC remains colonized. It is clear that foreign companies and their government are working with governments of neighbouring countries to oppress the Congolese people in the most horrific way to steal the mineral resources of Congo. We must ask serious questions about the role of the governments of Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, South Africa and the US in the DRC.
This meeting with the Congolese comrades and our commitment to take on solidarity work with them on an ongoing basis comes after some long conversation held by few Abahlali delegates who have travelled in Europe, and even did some solidarity work with comrades abroad, but with the exception of Zimbabwe, failed to make links to struggles in the region. At times we felt embarrassed by failing to make alliances and links with other African grassroots struggles. We have received a lot of international solidarity and wish to extend the same to struggles our region too.
We note that many ordinary South Africans have no idea about what is happening in the region. We are quite well informed about what is happening in Palestine which is good but we are not well informed at all about what is happening in the DRC. We have therefore committed to working to ensure that we can inform ourselves about this situation. A solidarity march with Congolese to the DRC Embassy in South Africa has also been proposed.
If South Africans had a proper understanding of the situation in countries like the DRC we are sure that there would be no discrimination against our fellow Africans brothers and sisters who need our love, support and solidarity. Abahlali is determined to open this conversation and to continue it to a point that our common enemy is identified.
The war in the DRC must end. The right of the Congolese people to full economic and political sovereignty must be respected. All the capitalist forces and governments that are profiting from the war in the DRC and the exploitation of the resources of the country must be opposed. The crisis in the DRC needs to be put on the agenda of all progressive forces in South Africa and internationally in the same way that the oppression of the Palestinian people has successfully been put on the agenda in South Africa and internationally.
Contact :
Pastor Raphael DRC Solidarity Coordinator: 072 8500124
Ndabo Mzimela Abahlali General Secretary: 079 3556758
Zandile Nsibande Abahlali Women’s League: 074 7675706
S’bu Zikode Abahlali President: 083 5470474