International Socialist Organization (Zimbabwe)
Encyclopedia
The International Socialist Organisation (ISO) is a Trotskyist organisation in Zimbabwe
. It is part of the International Socialist Tendency
(IST) led by the British
Socialist Workers Party
. It produces a newspaper called Socialist Worker.
It opposes both the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) and claims to be under state harassment
:
However in 2011, members of the ISO, including its general coordinator, along with several other activists were arrested and tortured by the Zimbabwean police for hosting a meeting discussing the revolts in the Middle East
.
. The ISO viewed the MDC as a united front
, with the aim "Firstly to facilitate maximum unity between revolutionaries and reformists" and "Secondly ... as a platform to increase the influence of revolutionary politics and to build a revolutionary organisation". The union was described as "Kuchaya mapoto, husahwira hwe mubhawa", that is like the temporary marriages of migrant workers enter in to in rural areas in the absences of their wives. Munyaradzi Gwisai
, the general coordinator of the ISO, became an MDC member of parliament for Highfield
constituency (where many politicians live). The relationship between the ISO and the MDC leadership was acrimonious, for example MDC leaders made a series of personal attacks on Gwisai following a publication of an ISO paper blaming the party's declining fortunes on "the highjacking of the party by the bourgeoisie
" and failure to deal with the question of land reform
.
The ISO was finally expelled from the MDC in April 2002. They stood for re-election in the Highfield constituency against the MDC but failed to get re-elected. The ISO blames the failure of the MDC to over throw President Robert Mugabe's regime on their lack of radicalism
and their shift rightwards
and the fact that this has allowed ZANU-PF to gain by left posturing
.
and Botswana
.
Following the conference a dispute broke out between Gwisai and the newly elected leadership that led to four members of the ISO being jailed. As a result of this the ISO split into two separate organizations. Despite appealing to the members and groups of the IST, the incoming leadership found itself isolated and left the IST. Although it has not appeared in public for several years and has not produced its paper for a similar period, the Gwisai-led section of the ISO remains affiliated to the IST.
members and workers, all still currently detained. Gwisai is among those detained. The Central Intelligence Organisation is believed to have infiltrated the meeting. Police reportedly broke into the meeting, seized laptop computers, DVDs and a video projector, before arresting the attendees. The DVDs allegedly included video clips from BBC World News and Al Jazeera
. Those arrested face charges of treason
and "subverting a constitutionally elected government" and face a possible death sentence
if found guilty. On February 23, Gwisai recounted in a court appearance, the torture
he and other detainees underwent, which was administered by police. Detainees were lashed as authorities sought confessions. Gwisai said the torture was "indescribable, sadistic and a tragedy for Zimbabwe." As of March 1, none of the detainees had received any medical care, including detainees who are HIV-positive and one detainee who, shortly before, underwent brain surgery. The state prosecutor claims the meeting was an attempt to foment an uprising against Mugabe.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. It is part of the International Socialist Tendency
International Socialist Tendency
The International Socialist Tendency is an international grouping of unorthodox Trotskyist organisations based around the ideas of Tony Cliff, founder of the Socialist Workers Party in Britain...
(IST) led by the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
. It produces a newspaper called Socialist Worker.
It opposes both the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the Movement for Democratic Change
Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai
The Movement for Democratic Change Zimbabwe is a political party and the largest party in the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe. It is the main formation formed from the split of the original Movement for Democratic Change in 2005.-Foundation:...
(MDC) and claims to be under state harassment
State terrorism
State terrorism may refer to acts of terrorism conducted by a state against a foreign state or people. It can also refer to acts of violence by a state against its own people.-Definition:...
:
On the whole it is not safe for us to do street sales with our paper any more, though we can still hold public meetings if we are careful about security. The new press laws pushed through by MugabeMugabeMugabe can refer to:*Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe.*Sally Mugabe, first wife of Robert Mugabe.*Grace Mugabe, second wife of Robert Mugabe.*Omugabe , a title given to kings of Ankole of Uganda.*Mugabe Were, a Kenyan politician....
are going to make a lot of what we say very difficult to publish, because of course it is critical of the government.
However in 2011, members of the ISO, including its general coordinator, along with several other activists were arrested and tortured by the Zimbabwean police for hosting a meeting discussing the revolts in the Middle East
2010–2011 Middle East and North Africa protests
The Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
.
Relationship with the MDC
The ISO joined the MDC from its inception in 1999. This move was based upon the tactic of entryismEntryism
Entryism is a political tactic by which an organisation or state encourages its members or agents to infiltrate another organisation in an attempt to gain recruits, or take over entirely...
. The ISO viewed the MDC as a united front
United front
The united front is a form of struggle that may be pursued by revolutionaries. The basic theory of the united front tactic was first developed by the Comintern, an international communist organisation created by revolutionaries in the wake of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.According to the theses of...
, with the aim "Firstly to facilitate maximum unity between revolutionaries and reformists" and "Secondly ... as a platform to increase the influence of revolutionary politics and to build a revolutionary organisation". The union was described as "Kuchaya mapoto, husahwira hwe mubhawa", that is like the temporary marriages of migrant workers enter in to in rural areas in the absences of their wives. Munyaradzi Gwisai
Munyaradzi Gwisai
Munyaradzi Gwisai is a Zimbabwean politician and general coordinator of the International Socialist Organization in Zimbabwe...
, the general coordinator of the ISO, became an MDC member of parliament for Highfield
Highfield, Harare
Highfield is a high density suburb in Harare, Zimbabwe. It is one of the oldest townships in Zimbabwe.- Geography :Highfield is a high density suburb to the south west of Harare the capital of Zimbabwe. Popularly known as Fio in local slang...
constituency (where many politicians live). The relationship between the ISO and the MDC leadership was acrimonious, for example MDC leaders made a series of personal attacks on Gwisai following a publication of an ISO paper blaming the party's declining fortunes on "the highjacking of the party by the bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
" and failure to deal with the question of land reform
Land reform
[Image:Jakarta farmers protest23.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Farmers protesting for Land Reform in Indonesia]Land reform involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution,...
.
The ISO was finally expelled from the MDC in April 2002. They stood for re-election in the Highfield constituency against the MDC but failed to get re-elected. The ISO blames the failure of the MDC to over throw President Robert Mugabe's regime on their lack of radicalism
Political radicalism
The term political radicalism denotes political principles focused on altering social structures through revolutionary means and changing value systems in fundamental ways...
and their shift rightwards
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
and the fact that this has allowed ZANU-PF to gain by left posturing
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
.
Split in the ISO
At the end of 2009, the ISO split into two wings following the defeat of the Gwisai leadership by a section of the membership who rejected the relationship of the ISO with the MDC in earlier years. This defeat happened at a conference attended by members of the IST affiliates in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
.
Following the conference a dispute broke out between Gwisai and the newly elected leadership that led to four members of the ISO being jailed. As a result of this the ISO split into two separate organizations. Despite appealing to the members and groups of the IST, the incoming leadership found itself isolated and left the IST. Although it has not appeared in public for several years and has not produced its paper for a similar period, the Gwisai-led section of the ISO remains affiliated to the IST.
Arrest and torture of members
On February 19, 2011, the Zimbabwean police raided a meeting of the ISO, who were discussing the revolts in the Middle East. They arrested 52 people, of which were students, unionTrade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
members and workers, all still currently detained. Gwisai is among those detained. The Central Intelligence Organisation is believed to have infiltrated the meeting. Police reportedly broke into the meeting, seized laptop computers, DVDs and a video projector, before arresting the attendees. The DVDs allegedly included video clips from BBC World News and Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
. Those arrested face charges of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
and "subverting a constitutionally elected government" and face a possible death sentence
Death Sentence
Death Sentence is a short story by the American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the November 1943 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov.-Plot summary:...
if found guilty. On February 23, Gwisai recounted in a court appearance, the torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
he and other detainees underwent, which was administered by police. Detainees were lashed as authorities sought confessions. Gwisai said the torture was "indescribable, sadistic and a tragedy for Zimbabwe." As of March 1, none of the detainees had received any medical care, including detainees who are HIV-positive and one detainee who, shortly before, underwent brain surgery. The state prosecutor claims the meeting was an attempt to foment an uprising against Mugabe.
See also
- Revolutionaries Resistance and Crisis in Zimbabwe, pamphlet by Munyaradzi GwisaiMunyaradzi GwisaiMunyaradzi Gwisai is a Zimbabwean politician and general coordinator of the International Socialist Organization in Zimbabwe...
2002, available from the ISTInternational Socialist TendencyThe International Socialist Tendency is an international grouping of unorthodox Trotskyist organisations based around the ideas of Tony Cliff, founder of the Socialist Workers Party in Britain... - International Socialist Tendency Discussion Bulletin No. 2, January 2003
- International Socialist Tendency Discussion Bulletin, No. 3, June 2003
- International Socialist Tendency Discussion Bulletin, No. 4, January 2004