The Centre for Civil Society (UKZN) and the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum present the Harold Wolpe Lecture, by Tendai Biti with commentary by Bishop Rubin Phillip 30 October 2008 Venue: Howard College Auditorium, University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College Campus
Presenters: Tendai Biti (Movement for Democratic Change) and Bishop Rubin Phillip (Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum)
That Zimbabwe's moment of truth has arrived in late 2008 partly reflects the durability of civil society, especially grassroots and labour advocates for democracy and socio-economic justice. These organisations are attempting to make the transition both thorough-going in political terms, and as free of imperialist influence as possible. But will negotiations deliver a political deal? Is the deal dependent upon aid and credit from the 'international community', including SA? What would be asked in return? How can civil society safeguard Zimbabweans' civil, political and socio-economic rights in the turbulence still ahead? Answering these questions are two of the most qualified actors in the Zimbabwe drama: the opposition's lead negotiator, and SA civil society's leading church advocate for democracy and justice in Zimbabwe.
Tendai Biti is the Secretary-General of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-Tsvangirai) in Zimbabwe and its lead political negotiator. In 1988-89 as Secretary General of the University of Zimbabwe Student Union, Biti led student protests against government censorship in academia and against the early forms of Mugabe's IMF-inspired Economic Structural Adjustment Programme. He served as a lawyer during the 1990s, and was active defending many civil society groups. In 1999 he helped found the MDC and in June 2000 was elected Member of Parliament for Harare East. He has been arrested and beaten by police while advocating democracy on numerous occasions.
Bishop Rubin Phillip is Anglican Bishop of KwaZulu-Natal. He is chairperson of the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum and Co-Chair of the Solidarity Peace Trust, and is a board member of the SA Liaison Office, a policy research group for Zimbabwe. He also chairs the KZN Council of Churches. In April he and transport workers turned back a Chinese ship aiming to unload military equipment destined for Mugabe, from the Durban harbour and other Southern African ports.
thanks to the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum and SA Liaison Office, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, and Harold Wolpe Memorial Trust. Transport and refreshments are offered for civil society organisations contact: http://www.ccs.ukzn.ac.za
The Zimbabwean leader's talk, which explains the recent breakdown in Zanu(PF)/MDC negotiations and the need for international civil society solidarity, was rebroadcast on 31 October by SW Radio Africa: http://www.swradioafrica.com/
(apologies, editors, we worked hard to clear up the 'popping'. tracks 01, 03, 06 are ok. the others need attention) contact: long_walk_abridged@yahoo.co.uk radio continental drift
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