Nzimande+arrives+in+Zambia+today,+Post



=Nzimande arrives in Zambia today=


 * By Noel Sichalwe:**

Post, Monday March 27, 2006
South African Communist Party (SACP) general secretary Dr Blade Nzimande arrives in the country today for a historic four-day visit.

The SACP is part of the ANC led alliance, which also includes the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). Members of the SACP are also members of the ruling ANC. The current chairman of SACP, Charles Nqakula, is the Minister of Saftey and Security in President Thabo Mbeki’s government.

Dr Nzimande has been invited by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post to appear on the Newsmakers’ Forum on Wednesday.

PFC chairperson Webster Malido said yesterday that Dr Nzimande who is leading a six-member delegation will be in the country from today until Thursday.

Malido said soon after arrival in the afternoon, he will pay a courtesy call on chief government spokesman and Minister of Information Vernon Mwaanga at his office.

He said later, Dr Nzimande will meet Dr Kenneth Kaunda at his office.

“On Tuesday, Dr Nzimande will meet opposition leaders while he will confer with civil society and labour leaders on Wednesday,” Malido said.

He said on Wednesday evening, Dr Nzimande will appear on the Newsmakers’ Forum of the Press Freedom Committee at Mulungushi International Conference Centre at 18:30 hours.

Malido said Dr Nzimande will be discussing the question on the rise of leftist governments in Latin America and lessons African countries can draw from that.

He said after visiting Dr Kaunda’s Chilenje house and other historic sites on Thursday morning, he will depart for South Africa early in the afternoon.

Malido said Dr Nzimande is also expected to pay a courtesy call on President Levy Mwanawasa and he will also meet MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba.

Other members of the delegation are Lindelwa Dunjwa, Joyce Moloi, Chris Matlhako, Lesego Lejaka and Lucian Segami. The delegation comprises members of the central committee of the SACP.

Throughout the history of the ANC-SACP alliance, there had been pressure from rightwing elements and others to isolate the communists and distance them from the ANC. But defending this alliance, Nelson Mandela once said: “Which man of honour will desert a life-long friend at the insistence of a common opponent and still retain a measure of credibility with his people?”

And Mandela has also said: “For many decades communists were the only political group in South Africa who were prepared to treat Africans as human beings and their equals: who were prepared to eat with us; talk with us, live with us and work with us...There is so much hypocricy behind some of this red-baiting that it sickens me, and I feel like saying to culprits: ‘How dare you say to me, a man of seventy-five, that I must denounce my friends, and for whom?’”

WM


 * From: http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=8072**

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