LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION VERSUS UNITY AND COHESION
By Cde Luvuyo Ponase
As a revolutionary mass movement engaged in the National Democratic Revolution (NDR), the organisation from time to time needs to elect a leadership collective at all levels that will lead the task of transformation with diligence and honesty.
In the organisation there are no traditional leaders who are self appointed but rather leadership is democratically elected among the masses and the rank and file of the organisation.
It is after viewing current prevailing challenges and material conditions that the masses of our organisation elect a leadership collective which will be relevant in addressing their aspirations, and the needs of the masses whom they lead.
Leadership is discussed in branches and the elected at the relevant level of the organisation. The election process in the organisation should be conducted in a manner that will not threaten the unity and cohesion of the organisation. As was once uttered by our revolutionary stalwart, Nobel peace prize recipient, Isithwalandwe, former ANC and state president, tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, “Unity is the bedrock upon which the African National Congress (ANC) was founded”.
The process of leadership succession aught to be smooth and the organisation should never be held at ransom by the process of elections. The process of lobbying should not undermine the processes of the organisation and should not promote factionalism. The organisation post- elections should still emerge as strong and cohesive as it was rather than in a state of crisis.
Members of the ANC and its allies are to act in a manner that is in line with the code of conduct and not seek to sow tares of division in the movement during the times of leadership succession.
HOW ARE THINGS DONE TODAY?
In the paragraphs above, we have seen how the process of leadership succession is to be handled in the organisation. In the above paragraphs is also mentioned the ideal way comrades are to conduct themselves in lobbying and electing leaders of their choice.
The logical questions that then come to mind are whether we act in a unified manner during such times? How is the process of leadership succession handled today? Does the organisation still emerge as a united cohesive force after AGM’s and conferences?
These are questions we must answer and not hide away from analysing.
As honest members of the ANC and ANCYL, we must not shy away from the exercise of analysing our conduct, condemn where necessary and applaud where required. As intellectuals in society and revolutionaries, we must never fail to acknowledge our mistakes and we must provide means and ways to correct them.
It is more vital than ever to subject the past and present conduct of our organisation to an unsparing critique in order to draw the necessary lessons. To do so openly is an assertion of justified confidence in the future of the ANC and its inherent moral superiority. And we should never allow ourselves to be inhibited merely because an exposure of failures will inevitably provide ammunition to the traditional enemies of our organisation. Our silence, will in any case, present them with even more powerful ammunition.
The revolutionary intellectual, Joe Slovo in his document, Has Socialism failed, also concurs with the perception of self critique and he wrote: “When things go badly wrong (whether it be in a movement or a country) it is inevitable that some who have ulterior motives jump on to the bandwagon. When the gap develops between the leadership and the led, it always provides openings for real enemies. But to deal with the gap in terms only of the enemy conspiracies is an ancient and discredited device. Equally, to fail to tackle mistakes or crimes because their exposure will give comfort to our adversaries is both short-sighted and counter-productive.”
It is therefore of critical and of paramount importance to attempt to answer those questions.
Today leadership succession is divisive and threatens the unity and cohesion of the organisation. People who have self-interests do all that is in their power to get to where they want even if it means dividing the organisation and hurting fellow comrades in the process.
Leadership is discussed in dark corners and taverns and brought to constitutional structures just for rubberstamping. Factionalism during the times of elections has become fashionable and there, members are character assassinated in those factions.
Comrades are often given labels that will discredit them as leaders by those who persue an agenda of self-enrichment and power mongery.
Today comrades who were best of friends become the bitter of enemies because of their preferences during succession debates. Young people are used and bought off by senior ANC comrades just to push an agenda that is both anarchical and counter-progressive.
Female comrades are vulnerable and often, soft targets of these counter-revolutionary tendencies, they are subjected to compromise organizational interests for the interests of their spouses and lovers.
Today deployment has been viewed as a career and comrades use the organisation as a stepladder towards self-enrichment so that they can enjoy the benefits that come with the positions.
Comrades whom today differ on who should lead often take the difference and make it a permanent, personal disagreement.
Today a new tendency is creeping into the ranks of the organisation, documents that analyse the correct quality of leadership (i.e through the eye of the needle) are put aside and replaced by perceptions, assumptions and personal interests.
After conferences, those who emerged victorious begin to suppress those who did not elect them and held contrary views and those who did not emerge become disgruntled and often conspire against those in leadership, this then leaves the organisation divided and in tatters. The ANC Polokwane conference is a true epitome of this situation.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
In then viewing that our organisation is going skew and being hijacked by counter-revolutionary tendencies during leadership succession times, what then becomes the cure and the way forward in this regard?
As young people and organic intellectuals we need to defend our organisation against all forms of counter-revolution. We as young cadres must not allow ourselves to be used by senior ANC comrades and anybody for that matter who do not have the interests of young people and the organisation at heart.
In the process of electing a leadership collective, let us not be focused on whom should lead where but rather individuals who possess unquestionable loyalty to the National Democratic Revolution (NDR). Let us not be stuck in the debates of who must be deployed where but rather seek to transform state entities to cater for youth development.
As disciplined members of the ANCYL let us not reduce ourselves to character assassinations and factionalism but rather let us be progressive in mapping the way forward for this gigantic organisation.
As young revolutionaries, we must remould ourselves by waging struggles in every sphere against counter-revolutionaries for it is through such struggles that we will progress and enhance our revolutionary quality and ability.
Let us in our branches lead by example so as to influence others not to entrench themselves in any activity that will threaten the unity and cohesion of our beloved organisation. As young cadres of this generation, our predecessors have left us with a great heritage, a united ANC, let us therefore not let down those who led before us. Let us lead like the leaders of the old and safeguard the unity and cohesion of both the ANC and ANCYL.
Let us unite and close the gaps for any individual who will seek to sow tares of division among us as young people. Today we need young people who will emulate and walk in the footsteps of the giants that led this movement; today there is a gaping need for revolutionary intellectuals who will guide the movement to in the correct and proper direction. In all Mass Democratic Movement (MDM) structures, let us as young people take charge and lead. Indeed today we need to be the Moses Kotanes, Oliver Tambos and Anton Lemebes of today.
Former national chairman of SACP, Dr Yusuf M. Dadoo, wrote; “Today in the new South Africa we need men and women of Kotane’s calibre, cadres of integrity, commitment and incorruptibility, to keep our liberation movement on track….. The need for struggle is not over. Let the new generation of Moses Kotanes come forward to complete our unfinished business.”
Indeed a great duty as young people awaits us, let us therefore forge for unity, for “united we stand but divided we fall”.
All youth leaguers to the forefront of the ANC. Ubunye ngamandla.
Asikhulume!