By Tendai Chisiri
Zanu PF secretary for External Affairs in the Politburo Simbarashe Mumbengegwi says in any revolution struggle solidarity is an essential ingredient in a revolution at a Special Conference on Solidarity with Palestine people held by Zimbabwe Palestine Solidarity Council Friday.
Speaking at the special conference, Mumbengegwi said the Apartheid- colonialist regime survives because it has the support of the imperialists of our time.
” There is not two states if Israel continues to encroach into Palestine boundaries”, Mumbengegwi said. According to a UN resolution, there is need to have two- states which are Israel and Palestine.
He also said Zanu PF is a product of solidarity since its formation in 1963 .”It was through solidarity that we managed to get essential weapons, diplomatic support and all other forms of support”, he said.
” Zanu PF in Zimbabwe and PLO in Palestine are the same as the only parties in their respective countries to fight the liberation struggle”, he added.
Palestine Ambassador Tamer Almassri gave a heart warming and informative information on what is transpiring in Palestine at the moment. He reiterated the need for isolation of Israel in many activities by other countries.
National Chairman of Zimbabwe Palestine Council Mafa Kwanisai Mafa said Zimbabwe Palestine Solidarity Council which is an umbrella body of all Palestine Solidarity organizations in Zimbabwe organized the conference in support of the Palestinian people .
“This conference brings together various groups to express solidarity to the Palestinian people who are oppressed and living in occupied territories”, he said.
“As human beings, it is inevitable to empathize and sympathize with the sufferings of other human beings. Quoting Nelson Mandela an iconic hero in fighting against Apartheid, he said the Palestinian struggle is the greatest moral issue of our time”, he stated.
“Africa benefited a lot from international solidarity and ordinary citizens, students and workers around the world sacrificed themselves for the fight against apartheid and colonialism. Why is it that when it is our turn to support other oppressed people, there is now a tendency to shy away. This is not morally justifiable and it is unacceptable”, he added.
He said this declarative event provides an opportunity to remind the international community that the question of Palestine remains unresolved despite many efforts made over the years.
“For many years, the Palestinian people and Palestine refugees have experienced increasing levels of dispossession, displacement, violence, insecurity and violations of human rights. The dangerous escalation in military raids across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem has led to the killing and injury of civilians”, he said.
“This conference must call the immediate cessation of civilian killings and accountability for perpetrators which is the racist and apartheid colonizer state of Israel. The global consensus is clear that the provocative rhetoric and actions by Israel, especially in regard to the historic and legal status quo of Jerusalem and its holy sites, which greatly inflame tensions, must end”, he added.
“Our grave concern is that Israel’s occupation is not temporary but rather a creeping annexation. Israel must reverse the dispossession and forcible displacement of Palestinians as well as the transfer of its population to occupied land”,he urged.
” We demand for the illegal blockade on the Gaza Strip. Such actions are the source of countless human rights violations, leading to Gazas de-development and run contrary to peace and international law”, he pleaded.
“The land, air and sea blockade must end. Colonialism is a threat to world peace and security. It is impossible to have peace between the colonizer and the colonized”,he said.
“The only way to attain peace and justice is to end colonialism, occupation and apartheid. The International Court of Justice must charge Israel with crimes against humanity, for the murder of women and children in Palestine, and for denying the Palestinian people their rights”, Mafa added.
“At 75 the United Nations has failed Palestine more than ever. African Union must not betray the Palestinian cause by normalizing relations with Israel its against the founding principles of OAU. We salute Amnesty Internationals report which shows that Israel imposes a system of oppression and domination against Palestinians across all areas under its control”, he suggested.
“The Palestinian people like all people have the inalienable right to live in dignity, with liberty, freedom of movement, freedom from fear and access to basic services. Peace must be translated into food, shelter, health and education, as well as freedom and human dignity: a steadily better life”, he elaborated.
“It is against this background that as solidarity organizations in Zimbabwe we must intensify our solidarity work. We must come up with a programme of events which we must do throughout the year. We need strategies that could be used to foster Palestinian solidarity”, he said.
The conference come out with resolutions and declarations that were endorsed and adopted.
Also present at the social conference was Zanu PF deputy political commissar and Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade chairman Webster Shamu, Zanu PF secretary for Information and Publicity and chairman of Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Chris Mutsvangwa, deputy minister of Publicity and Broadcasting Services Kindness Paradza and other organisations in the Zimbabwe Palestine Solidarity Council.
Zimbabwe Palestine Solidarity Council is a collective of 15 organisations
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