Mineworkers Declaration, issued
on the 22nd September 2012 at the 1st Conference- Forward
to Socialist Action, Windhoek
The Namibian working class,
especially us mineworkers, have been following the events at Marikana over the
past few weeks, with undivided attention.
We noted the workers’
struggle for better wages and conditions; the arrogant rejection of their
demands by the mine bosses; the treacherous reluctance of the trade union
leaders to really fight for the workers; the severe brutality of the police
(SAP) against the workers; the silence od the socalled democratically elected
government; the false labelling and attempts to criminalise the striking
workers; the terrible hardship and poverty of the producers of the wealth of
South Africa (namely, the workers) and the stinking riches of the parasites, the
mine bosses, who live from the labour of the workers.
Further, we also take note of
our own trade union leaders who have up to now, not uttered even a single word
about the Marikana massacre; the absence of the trade union (leaders) from the
protest at the SA embassy which was held in solidarity with the Marikana workers
on the 23rd August 2012.
Further, we want to express
our admiration of the Marikana workers who, despite the death of their comrades,
the intimidation of the police and the state, persevered and continued with the
strike and today have achieved a victory over the parasites, the mine bosses.
Therefore, we declare in
Windhoek today, at this historic first Socialist conference, that we as the
Namibian mineworkers will embark on a determined fight to strengthen the links
between all mineworkers across Southern Africa. We declare here in Windhoek
today that ‘an injury to one is an injury to all’.
We declare here in Windhoek
today, the 22nd Sept 2012, at this first Socialist Conference,
organised by the Marxist Study Group, that the demands of the Marikana
mineworkers are now no longer only that of the workers in Marikana, but they
have become the demands of each and every mineworker across Southern Africa.
Didhard Mparo
For workers at Weatherly Copper Smelter, Ojihase and Matchless mines,
Namibia
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Deklarasie van mynwerkers, uitgereik te Windhoek op die 22September 2012, by die 1ste Konferensie, - Voorts met Sosialism-, die volgende.
Die werkersklas van Namibië , veral ons
die mynwerkers, het die afgelope paar weke met ʼn onverdeelde aandag die gebeure
wat op Marikana plaasgevind het , gevolg.
Ons het kennis geneem van die
werkers se stryd om beter lone en werksomstangighede; die arrogante verwerping
van hul eise deur die mynbase; die verraadelike huiwering van die
vakbondleiers om daadwerklik vir die werkers te veg; die brutale geweld van die
SAP teen die werkers; die stilswye van die “demokratiese verkose regering “; die
naamskending en poging om die stakende werkers te kriminiseer; die naakte
ellende en armoede van die produseerders van die rykdom van Suid-Afrika (die
werkers) en die stinkende weelde van die parasiete van die arbeid van die
werkers, die myn base.
Voorts, het ons ook kennis
geneem van ons eie vakbondleiers wat tot op hede nog nie n word gerep het oor
die Marikana geweld; die afwesigheid van die vakbonde by die
solidariteit-demonstrasie by die Suid Afrikaanse ambassade in solidariteit met
die Marikana werkers op 23 Augustus 2012.
Voorts, wil ons hiermee ons
bewondering uitspreek teenoor die Marikana werkers wat ten spyte van die dood
van hul kamarade, die intimidasie van die polisie en staat deurgedruk het met
die staking en vandag met n oorwinning spog teen die parasitiese
mynbase.
Derhalwe, verklaar ons vandag
hier in Windhoek by hierdie historiese eerste Sosialistiese konferensie dat ons
as namibiese mynwerkers onverpoosd sal veg vir die versterking van bande van
mynwerkers regoor die suider afrikaanse sub-kontinent. Ons verklaar vandag hier
in Windoek dat “n injury to one is an injury to all”.
Ons verklaar hier in
Windhoek, op 22 September 2012, by hierdie eerste Sosialistiese Konferensie
gereel deur die Marxistiese Studie Groep, dat die eise van die Marikana werkers
nie net die eise van die Marikana werkers is nie maar het nou die eise geword
van ieder en elke mynwerker regoor die suider afrikaanse
subkomtinent.
Voorts met Werkers
Solidariteit!!
Didhard Mparo
Verteenwoordiger van 3 myne se werkers
