ZINASU President New Year’s message to the students, democratic forces and the people of Zimbabwe

Revolutionary greeting to all of you,

Comrades, the year 2009 comes to an end, closing the curtain to a decade of struggle. A decade of agony. The trials and tribulations, challenges, opportunities and threats of the year effectively summed up a decade of progress.

To our movement, the democratic movement, the year provided serious challenges that if not managed properly will leave permanent scars and effectively destroy the loose alliance we have. Therefore my message to the peace loving Zimbabweans, agents of change, workers, peasants and students is: focusing on these trials and threats, provoking a meticulous analysis of the character of our movement and the trajectory we are embarking on, and seeking to re-organise ourselves should be our chief priority as we enter into a new and promising decade.

My routine Christmas visit to Seke, my rural home, provided me with both relief and more importantly, hope. Despite shortcomings from cadres deployed in government as well as those occupying key positions in our movement, which we have consistently and passionately raise, the hope for change has never been this bright. I was left convinced, no matter what ZANU PF does, it will not win any election in conservatively the next 10 years.

However efforts and energies have to be increased to address our shortcomings, which also affect the lives of our people; those we seek to save. Clearly the situation in schools remain desperate, with primary and secondary school pupils failing to write examinations, public or end of term, because they  fail to pay the exorbitant tuition and examination fees. The educational infrastructure is in a dire state. In universities and colleges, the situation is worse. Thousands of college students face a bleak future as the government remains adamant on the issue of tuition fees, with apparently over fifty percent of the students failing to pay last year’s fees. With critical shortages of both learning and teaching materials, inadequate retention measures of skilled teaching personnel, persistent accommodation crises, and prospects of a radical address of the problems in the education sector looking gloom.

The situation is equally bad in the workplace. Workers rights continue to be undermined, with the majority of the working class still being denied a decent living wage. Any protests are met with brutal force, with trade union leaders being subjected to arbitrary arrests.

Service delivery has to be improved. The situation at ZESA Holdings, TelOne, and other public services providers remains deplorable. Electricity cuts have to end; unjustified billing system must be addressed. Clean water must be restored, with the sewer reticulation system improved. Garbage collection in townships and high density areas must be restored. 2010 must be a year we must purpose to improve the life and welfare of the people.

However, for this to happen, the people themselves, the suffering workers, peasants, residents, unemployed, students, youths of this country must radically organise themselves and demand a better life. We must never be content with the dollar-for-two notion. We deserve better. We therefore call for the active participation of the citizens in the governance of this country.

Comrades, despite all that happened in 2009, the differences in our broader alliance, we remain convinced, as a students union, that the only viable way the broader alliance and all the democratic forces have is to find each other. We need each other more today than ever before or else the gains of the last ten years and the strides made thus far will go to waste. We might differ and disagree but let us learn to agree to disagree. Neither is the society nor the struggle homogeneous and never will be, therefore differences particularly on critical matters are bound to happen. However that does not mean comrades should abandon and betray principles, principles that have been the binding glue to our movement. 

If we disagree on certain issues, it does not therefore automatically mean that we become enemies. I am convinced we are in agreement on most of the issues except just a few. I am sure we agree on the basic broad desire and agenda of a democratic, free and prosperous Zimbabwe.

Political intolerance amongst ourselves continues to dominate our politics, curtailing critical and vibrant debate. The moment one comrade disagree on an issue with senior comrades to him, even though articulating a position consistent with the democratic values and beliefs developed collectively and passionately articulated over the years, one is labeled a sellout and a traitor.

That must not be the character and nature of our movement and our politics. We must allow open debate. We must encourage the deepening of debate. We must be unapologetic and unfavorable in debating ideology and principle. Comrades must raise above the politics of cultism and defend the gains of the past decade. 

As the curtain closes for 2009 and before entering 2010, I wish to express my deepest and unreserved appreciation to selfless cadres of our movement who stood firm, absorbing the unwarranted and unfortunate onslaught from the brutal state and some we have perceived to be fellow comrades over the years, winning each battle as it came. My work as your president and that of the National Executive Council could not have been productive had it not been for your dedication and loyal commitment to the students movement.

Your loyal and patriotic service to the union and its cause will always be sincerely appreciated. Your special place in the history books of ZINASU has been sealed; no one can erase your input. I am proud of you. I salute you.

We must however remain wary of the enemy. Let’s remain vigilant, resolute and focused especially during this crucial run up to our 7th Bi-Annual Congress beginning on the 28th of January ending on the 31st of January 2010. I wish you all a successful Congress.

We must remain at the center of the democratic revolution, providing leadership with clarity and consistence, without fear or favor, remaining true to our conviction even in the full frown of adversity.

Remember, we have the Zimbabwe People’s Charter, the repository of our aspirations.

We will get free and quality education for our children. We will get decent work and decent wage for our workers.

Forward with the democratic struggle

Forward with the democratic revolution

Forward to academic freedoms

Struggle is our birthright

Clever Bere
ZINASU President