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From Socialist Worker, No. 93, 19 October 1968, p. 2.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’ Callaghan for the Encyclopaedia of Trotskyism On-Line (ETOL).
IT LOOKS AS THOUGH Wilson’s attempt to reach agreement with Smith has failed – this time at any rate. But whatever the outcome one thing is clear: Wilson will sell out as much or as little as is consistent with the interests of British capital.
The principle of ‘Nibmar’ (no independence before majority rule) is crucial for the African liberation movement in Southern Africa. One must look at Rhodesia in the context of white control over the whole of the economic and political complex of Southern Africa, if any concessions are made on this issue then the struggle for liberation is inevitably set back.
Constitutional guarantees that ‘one day’, after sufficient preparation, Africans will be given political equality in Rhodesia are meaningless. They are unenforceable and evade the issue – the overthrow of white oppression and giving full rights to Africans now.
The reasons for the latest negotiations are quite clear. The South African government has put pressure on Smith to settle.
What they are interested in is the long-term stability of the whole of Southern Africa. They hope a formal settlement will lead to a reduction of pressure by other African countries and even a slowing down of the guerrilla warfare which is developing in South West Africa and in Rhodesia.
They would be willing to sacrifice Smith and Rhodesia to this long-term stability, and see the emergence of Africans into Rhodesian politics as no threat if they are controlled by puppet leaders. After all, they can point to Hastings Banda in Malawi as the kind of Uncle Tom they can do business with.
Wilson, too, with his home policy in a shambles, desperately wants a propaganda coup to rally support and to steal some of the Tories’ clothes. Wilson also needs to protect capital’s long-term interests in the whole area.
Incorporating safe Africans into the government to do it is quite acceptable and he hopes that this will take the wind out of the sails of the African liberation movement Unless there is a compromise this could bring the whole edifice of exploitation and monopoly profits tumbling to the ground.
Clearly socialists have nothing in common with the interests of the South African ruling class or British capital. The negotiations only have meaning in this framework.
In terms of the real issues they are at best irrelevant, while any ‘solution’, which is reached can only make the struggle for liberation harder. Like the rest of Labour’s policies, any success Wilson has will be a setback to the international socialist movement.
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Last updated: 22 October 2020