and Ainsley Dentin IN ZIMBABWE the violent faction fighting between the two wings of the liberation movement, ZAPU and ZANU, has reached serious proportions.
The fact that the liberation war. atter so much suffering by the people of Zimbabwe, has given way fighting between the two parties which led the struggle must give rise to much bitterness and misery.
HOW nave people been drawn into such a conflict? Ine nature or lie political parties involved and the conditions left by the Lancaster House settlement do much to explain why. to the violent confrontation Edgar Tekere, who is currentand minister Enos Nkala been surring up about the pace of "Africanisaorder themselves a popular base. set in- the situation by addressing a rally in Bulawayo, traditionally a ZAPU stronghold, the theme of building a one-party state. all, Black nationalism but kind which has nothing to do socialism al C popular interests is becoming like the vehicle of a pseudo-left ZANU guerillas and Nkomo (top right): the possibility of finance directv to the most have outbreak of violence.
discontent ing with fighting dience at the stadium where build spoke, developed into a pitched bat out to inflame ZANLA armed encampments in the Bulawayo townships. while demned the violence, of he deflected the attacks Nkomo, the leader of ZAPU genuine who is minister of home affairs. perty has been raided by the police knowledge provocation ZANU security The ZAPU, ship to alternative its rival Led a stronger, LUIS Weaker The rally in Bulawayo led Beginn- those of principle aunumerically. conflict Neither ZIPRA an‹ Mugabe has con- although The has programmatic Nkomo's personal pro- ple paying a heavy price.
WILFOUR his prior The a considerable their lives since the police are unaer Inkomo s ministry.
In the past few days, the than has escalated the political sillahon by using tne spectal Branch to arrest nine ZAPU officials, including an MP. they are victimisation of . however unjustified, has enabled the ZAPU leader- alisation, itself DI COCHI to ZANU, although it has no more to offer in the in terms of programme than felt.
ZAPU has always adoptvocal position against tribalism and weapons racism. It argued in favour of une parties standing Jolly as the Patriotic Front in the elec- them, parties For the ZAPU leadership, these positions were dictated as much by considerations of opportunly guerillas, who laid on the line to fight for hberation. are entitled to expect more of independence be sent back to the bush with no economic or future. The Lancaster House agreement did not provide for them, and an embartassment to the regime Indignant at their marginLine guchlilas demanded to be moved out of their remote assembly points bush, into the towns where their wresence can o Maintained on pocket money and alcohol, their only source of self-respect is their They have successfully disarm but their frustration is The possibility of violent confrontations between the horrifying taker proportions. In the absence of any real democratic prowithin native to the sectarianism, factionalism and tunism which is increasingly characterising nationalist politics Zimbabwe, the situation is likely to worsen.
Statute The fact that the ZAPU officials now in detention are being held without trial suggests there are precious lev civil liberties in Zimbabwe to protect people trom political repression Much of the legislation on the statute book has been carried over the Smith regime, and Mugabe governs under emergency provisions Independence has no brought the benefits of full democratic rights to the people of Zimbabwe, despite other gains that have been made Socialists in Zimbabwe and their supporters in Britain should advance the demand that the Mugabe government party caucisilp not only denounce the inter-party faction fighting, but take steps to prevent it Only the unity masses behind a genuinely socialist programme, • ea on popular demands, can pose a real alternative the present crisis. To towards this socialists must also fight for the extension of basic democratic rights in Zimbabwe.
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Main Speaker: Sam Nujoma, President ZANU, or of a socialist alter