Mobilise+at+local+level+for+stronger+state,+Hope+Papo,+The+Star

The Star, Johannesburg, Letters, June 07, 2006 //Edition 1//
=Mobilise at local level for stronger state=


 * Hope Papo**

The view that we do not need a strong state and political organisations in a developing country like ours is quite flawed.

If we did not have a strong political liberation movement and just depended on the whims of individuals and disjointed actions at local level which were not coordinated provincially, nationally and internationally, our liberation would not have been achieved.

In South Africa, democratic rights were achieved through the sweat, tears and blood of many patriots. They should therefore be defended and consolidated by all of us.

People were not elected to parliament, legislatures and municipal councils as an act of charity. It was the culmination of a painful struggle.

This struggle is now against poverty, joblessness, homelessness and overall underdevelopment. There are people who think the struggle ended in 1994, hence they get surprised and demoralised when there are obstacles along the way.

We need majority of South Africans to belong to political and community organisations at local level which should take up issues with the government.

These local structures should work with those who are elected to ensure that government officials implement the programmes adopted by the three spheres of government.

The problem is that we have people who falsely think that we can transform our society without people being mobilised at the local level.

These people moan about problems but are not active within their communities. But it is important to know when to avoid recklessness.

Being African and poor does not automatically make a person progressive. Being progressive requires one to change certain attitudes and beliefs.

This is so with the issue of oppression of women. It happens in all societies, including within the so called developing countries.

Sexism is not only an economic and social construct, but also a mind and attitudinal construct. For sexism to be eradicated, it requires economic, political, social and also attitude changes. These should be driven by a progressive ruling party and state. A progressive state should be an ally of the movement for non sexism.

Just like we needed and still need to educate racists, enact laws against racism, and punish those who do not want to abide by these laws, we also need to do the same with sexism.

The liberation struggle taught us that we should fight sexism with the same vigour we currently fight the demon of racism with.

This has nothing to do with what some people call "westernisation" as they are still faced with the problem of sexism in their societies long after the industrial revolution.

It is also based on an objective and scientific analysis of our society.

Equality will only be achieved if we accept that men and women have an equal contribution to make to the development of societies. Until we collectively agree on this, we will continue to fool ourselves.

Lastly in a country like Cuba, when their revolution triumphed in 1959 they dealt with the issue of land and property relations (nationalised) as part of their programme of beginning to radically change their country.

For this, Cuba is still being punished through an economic blockade by the US, which is still trying to depose the Cuban government after 47 years.

The Cubans did not approach change of society as a charitable activity. They built a strong, disciplined and revolutionary organisational machinery (to defend their revolution) and a strong state.

Most of those who supported Batista ran away to Miami and currently want to reverse the revolution.

At present seven out of every ten Cubans grew up during the triumph of the revolution. Their life experience is informed by their revolution and its achievements.

These are some of the reasons Cuba was able to achieve 94% literacy levels, low levels of infant mortality rates and high levels of health provision in the face of a hostile US. There are no short cuts to fundamentally change any society. It is a long and difficult road. Women are an important and equal part of this road.

If all of us take part with commitment, we will triumph against racism, sexism and exploitation of one person by another.

Hope Mankwana Papo

ANC Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature

(Writing in his personal capacity)


 * From: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3279702**

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