The SACP is extremely concerned at, and disturbed by, the latest developments in Zimbabwe, including the increase in violence directed at opposition members and supporters, the arbitrary arrest of opposition leaders, the trade union movement, and other sections of civil society, now culminating in the withdrawal of the MDC from the Presidential run-off.

The SACP strongly condemns the decision by the Zimbabwean government to proceed with the elections this coming Friday under these conditions. Such a decision can only create further chaos and instability and it is not in the interests of the Zimbabwean people.

The SACP therefore calls upon SADC to make an urgent intervention to create conditions for a free and fair election, including urgent measures to speedily adopt a new constitution, putting an end to politically orcherstrated and all other forms of violence, and end the use of state security organs to serve the electoral and political interests of the ruling party.

It is for these reasons that the SACP pledges its continued solidarity with the struggles of ordinary Zimbabwean workers and the poor for democracy and the reconstruction of the economy of that country. It is not for us to choose which party must rule Zimbabwe, but we are in solidarity with the struggle for conditions to be created for the people of Zimbabwe to freely exercise their choice.

The SACP has over the recent years consistently pointed out and warned at the deteriorating situation in the country, and called for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene and insist on the strict observance of its own protocols on free, fair and democratic elections.

At the heart of the crisis in Zimbabwe has been, a degenerating ZANU-PF, characterised by use of the state as a means to accumulation by elites located in the state, the consequent abuse of state resources, gross mismanagement of the economy, thus leading to a growing gulf between the government and the people.

This has led to the alienation of key former constituencies of ZANU-PF from this once heroic liberation movement, culminating in the loss of elections by ZANU-PF on 29 March 2008. Consequently, the very arms that were used to fight a heroic and justified struggle against British colonialism have now been turned against the people. This is the tragedy of a once promising revolution led by ZANU-PF.

Much as imperialism will always try to undermine all progressive revolutions in order to establish neo-colonial regimes in its former colonies, it is disingenuous for ZANU-PF to blame all of its problems on imperialism. How come that in the 1960s and 1970s imperialism failed to win the majority of the Zimbabwean people onto its side, but now, according to ZANU-PF, the people are being successfully 'manipulated' by these imperialist forces? Any revolution that begins to turn its guns on the people is surely a revolution in deep trouble, and requires serious self-reflection by the liberation movement itself.

It is also a fact that during the mid-1990s the ZANU-PF government itself colluded with the imperialist structural adjustment programmes imposed on the people, with sections of the elite benefiting handsomely in the privatisation and outsourcing of state services.

This was the beginning of the seeds of the destruction of the Zimbabwean revolution.

It is clear to us that with the latest developments Zimbabwe will never be the same again. But of serious concern to us is a danger of Zimbabwe getting into a self-destructive and violent cul-de-sac.

The SACP strongly believes that it is Zimbabwean people themselves who must take the lead in resolving the problems of that country. They have tried to do so through their vote in the last elections, but this is being deliberately undermined and frustrated by the government.

We also call for the immediate release of all opposition leaders that are detained and for an end to the harassment of all other activists who are targeted because they hold different views to that of government.

The SACP will throw its weight behind the mass activities that COSATU will be engaged in and we will intesify our solidarity work, in collaboration with all progressive forces, in our quest to find lasting solutions for the crisis of Zimbabwe.