THE EFF STATEMENT ON THE ELECTORAL VICTORY OF THE PATRIOTIC FRONT IN ZAMBIA AND SYRIZA IN GREECE
27 January 2015
The Economic Freedom Fighters ("the EFF") extends its congratulatory message to the Patriotic Front in Zambia for their decisive victory in the recent elections. We particularly wish to congratulate the new President Edgar Lungu in leading an effective campaign which saw the people of Zambia taking a formidable stance against neo-liberal forces led by a certain Mr. Hakainde Hichilema.
The people of Zambia have imposed the burden of responsibility on President Lungu to fulfil the electoral promises in order that the transformation of their social circumstances and their economic emancipation can be realised in their lifetime. The natural resources of Zambia should be used to benefit the people of Zambia.
The Patriotic Front has committed itself to promoting ownership of large scale mines by indigenous Zambians. The ownership and control of all strategic sectors, including banks, is paramount in the pursuit of any massive industrialisation programme and localisation of production.
The EFF advocates for massive development of the African economy. Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for the good of the world.
The pursuit of a common agenda, economic freedom, demands of the SADC region and the rest of Africa to reject the neo-liberal narrative that have decimated the African economy and served as the means to expatriate wealth from Africa to western capitalists while millions of Africans continue to live in abject poverty.
The arduous task of the new Zambian government is to promote socialism and intensify its radical programmes together with its regional partners. In order for the African economy to develop for the benefit of Africans, leftist movement in government must ensure that they build productive capacity necessary for the seamless regional economic integration and expansion of trade in the rest of the Continent.
The EFF remains resolute in the promotion of nationalisation of natural resources as a necessary precursor to massive industrial expansion and building of local productive capacity. We stand with the people of Zambia and encourage them to forge ahead in dismantling the colonial ownership patterns of the economy.
The EFF further wishes to congratulate the Coalition of the Radical Left ("Syriza") in Greece on their historic electoral victory. The emergence of the radical left under the leadership of the new Prime Minister-in-wating Alexis Tsipras in the heartland of capitalism that is Europe, is a major step forward for the people Greece and for socialism everywhere.
The people have Greece have been subjected to ridiculous austerity measures where they found themselves without jobs, homes and saw their pensions slashed in order that foreign debt owners can have security. The Greeks were sacrificed at the alter of capitalism by the outgoing administration of Antonis Samaras whose preoccupation during his term of office was to serve the interests of Germany and other eurozone members.
The rise of the radical leftist movement, Syriza, in Greece bears testimony to the reality of the shifting centre of economic gravity from West to the East and the rejection of neo-liberal and capitalist policies that are the primary cause of the global financial crisis and economic stagnation that has engulfed the major part of Europe.
Prime Minister elect Tsipras has promised the people of Greece nationalisation of strategic sectors of the economy and banks; raising the minimum wage; combating flight of capital abroad; increase taxes on big corporations and wealthy individuals; as well as provision of free healthcare, among other things. These commitments resonate with the EFF as they are contained in our Elections Manifesto. Neither austerity measures imposed on Greece nor any neoliberal policies would bring economic stability to them and nor will they bring about global economic stability and growth.
The EFF calls on all radical movements of the world to unite in the fight to defeat a destructive and exploitative capitalist system that serves only 80 wealthiest individuals who according to the Oxfam report owns wealth equivalent to that of over 3,5 billion people on Earth. We are inspired by the victory of the radical leftist movements to forge ahead towards total destruction of the neoliberal structures in the South African economy. We say Economic Freedom in Our Lifetime!
Again congratulation to Mr. Edgar Lungu and Mr. Alexis Tsipras.
Aluta continua! Salute!
Statement issued by Floyd Shivambu, Deputy President of the Economic Freedom Fighters, January 27 2015
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