[Marxism] Mbeki denounces CP, CP leader for seeing rupture in once-common "socialist imperative"

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mbeki slams 'arrogant' Nzimande
08/10/2006 20:26  - (SA) 

Carol Hills

Johannesburg - President Thabo Mbeki has accused SA Communist Party 
general secretary Blade Nzimande of "extraordinary arrogance", it 
emerged on Sunday.

It was this which had led him to "openly despise" the African National 
Congress, Mbeki noted in his political overview to an ANC national 
executive committee (NEC) meeting held at the weekend.

Nzimande clearly did not respect the spirit and intent of the approach 
towards fraternal organisation as laid down in the SACP constitution, 
Mbeki told the meeting.

His notes were circulated to the media at ANC headquarters in 
Johannesburg on Sunday, during a press conference on the outcome of the 
NEC's regular, scheduled meeting in Kempton Park on Friday and Saturday.

Quoting from addresses by Nzimande, Mbeki wrote that he had spoken of a 
"strategic rupture" in the national democratic revolution's (NDR) shared

perspective around a socialist imperative.

A dominant group was arguing that the key strategic task of the 
liberation movement was to manage capitalism.

'A frank, open discussion'

Nzimande told the SA Democratic Teachers' Union's recent congress: "It 
is a shame that much as South Africa was liberated by a movement whose 
strategy and tactics was informed by this philosophical outlook, only 
capitalist ideology is taught in our schools."

The SACP's view was that a capitalist-orientated NDR ceased to be an NDR

as it was "hopelessly incapable" of addressing underdevelopment and
poverty.

Nzimande has told the SABC he stands by "every word, sentence or comma" 
in his addresses.

He described it as "very unfortunate" that the leader of the alliance 
could "make such remarks without, by any means, trying to engage us".

ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama denied that the president's remarks 
amounted to an attack on Nzimande.

"Rather, I would say, it's a frank, open discussion that the ANC is 
having with its allies in response to frank statements directed to the 
ANC," he said.

"There is absolutely no combativeness... There is no acrimony."

Ngonyama also reiterated that there was "no split in the alliance".

"We agree on some issues; we disagree on some issues," he said. There 
was ongoing lobbying for position. "It's not going to change."

In his notes, Mbeki said that "to put the matter in its stark reality 
without any equivocation or diplomacy or pursuit of 'unity at all 
costs'", Nzimande's strategic proposals, "ostensibly on behalf of the 
SACP, whether intended or not, amount to a serious provocation..."

'Could lead to ANC destruction'

Shifting the tasks of the socialist revolution on to the shoulders of 
the ANC would result in the liquidation of the SACP and the defeat of a 
genuine left agenda, Mbeki told the NEC.

It also could lead to the destruction of the ANC and the rest of the 
democratic movement by provoking them to attempt a socialist 
transformation based on the thesis that "imperialism is not invincible".

The ANC was in the process of formulating a new strategy and tactics 
document.

It covered, among other things, the character of the ANC and its 
programme of national democratic transformation.

A basic framework for the document was presented to the NEC, which noted

that the emphasis, 13 years into democracy, should be "more on issues 
pertaining to transformation of society", said Ngonyama.

He said the NEC had expressed "regret and disappointment" at the 
negative reception given to deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at 
the Congress of SA Trade Unions' recent conference.

ANC 'dealing with the situation'

Mbeki had voiced the embarrassment of not only the party, but the 
country at the bad reception he received while attending Heritage Day 
celebrations at Kingsmead Stadium with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh.

"No president would be happy when that happens. We have to condemn such 
actions," said Ngonyama.

However, he emphasised that the ANC was "on top of" the situation.

"We are dealing with it. We will deal with it wherever it rears its 
head," he said.

He was referring, in particular, to those who had shown the president 
disrespect at court hearings of former deputy president Jacob Zuma.


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