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The Peasant Question: Why the Revolution Must Go Back to the Village by Liam Takura Kanhenga

Every five years, the Zimbabwean opposition faces a recurring nightmare: the urban centers vote for change, but the rural masses vote to retain the status quo. We complain, we blame fear, and we blame theft. But as revolutionaries, we must look deeper. We must use Historical Materialism to understand the material conditions of the people. The 2022 Census confirms that 61.4% of Zimbabweans live in rural areas. The World Bank notes that over 76% of rural households live in extreme poverty. This reveals a fundamental truth: The majority of our people are not the industrial Proletariat (urban workers); they are the Peasantry. Currently, this class is the stronghold of the parasitic bourgeoisie in Zanu PF. But we must not mistake their submission for permanence. To win the class struggle, we must understand how the peasant lost their way, and how the Vanguard can help them find it again. The Pre-Colonial Order: Before the Chains To understand where we are, we must look at the history of our...
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(RACIAL) PRECARITY AS PART OF CONTEMPORARY SOUTH AFRICA . Guest Feature by Vivid Gwede

Looking at the recent SA and US diplomatic engagements in Washington, one cannot help but notice the delicacy of the contemporary idea of South Africa both domestically and internationally.  This is true as long as the idea of South Africa is premised on stable racial unity and reconciliation. Recent developments seem to question the unimpeachability of this equanimous idea of South Africa.   Firstly, it has been challenged by internal politics in the mould of the EFF, and later the MK, and their revival of a radical idea of black empowerment, premised on the supposed failure of the current political settlement to address questions of inequality, unemployment and, more sensitively, the ownership of the means of production, particularly land. Secondly, and more recently, the idea of South Africa and supposed unity, has been called into question by a white flank alleging white insecurity and disputed farm ‘genocide’.  The developments show how the recent rise of the gl...
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Colonial Legacies, Sovereignty Struggles, and the Dialectics of Liberation in Post-Cold War Africa

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  Introduction   The post-Cold War era in Africa has been defined by a paradoxical interplay of liberation and subjugation. As the continent grapples with the enduring legacies of colonialism, new struggles over sovereignty, identity, and economic autonomy have emerged. Samuel Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations thesis, which posits cultural and religious identities as the primary fault lines of global conflict, offers a provocative framework for analyzing these dynamics. However, Africa’s post-colonial trajectory reveals a more complex reality one where cultural resistance against Western hegemony intersects with neocolonial economic exploitation, authoritarian governance, and the unresolved trauma of artificial borders.   This analysis examines the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger as emblematic of a resurgent Pan-Africanist defiance , while also probing the contradictions of military coups framed as corrective insurrections. Through...
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Civic Space Closure in Zimbabwe: Silencing Workers and Students in the Name of Regime Survival

The recent strike by University of Zimbabwe (UZ) lecturers over deteriorating wages has once again exposed the systematic closure of civic space in Zimbabwe, a deliberate strategy by the state to suppress dissent, undermine labor rights, and stifle student activism. The government’s heavy-handed approach to protests and strikes reflects a broader authoritarian agenda aimed at maintaining regime survival through capitalist exploitation while depriving citizens of their constitutional rights to organize and demand accountability.   The Erosion of Workers’ Rights Under a Captured State The plight of UZ lecturers mirrors the broader crisis faced by Zimbabwean workers, whose wages have been decimated by hyperinflation and neoliberal economic policies. The government, operating under what political scientists term "authoritarian capitalism," has weaponized legal and extra-legal measures to suppress labor movements. The recent High Court ruling granting UZ lecturers the right to pro...
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Solidity message to the Vendor OF Zimbabwe.

 Ahoy, Comrades of the Informal Sector! Ahoy, Proletarians of Zimbabwe! In unwavering solidarity with all informal vendors across Zimbabwe, we must recognize that the proletariat is under relentless assault by the tyrannical bourgeoisie regime in Harare. This is not merely a struggle for survival; it is a class war—a battle against the dictatorship of the elite, who seek to crush the working masses under the weight of their exploitation and oppression. Comrades, let us be clear:  the ban on vending is not just an attack on livelihoods; it is a deliberate act of economic sabotage against the informal sector, which sustains the majority of our people. This assault is part of a broader strategy to shrink the spaces where the working class can organize, resist, and fight for their future. The civic space is being suffocated, the liberal opposition is comatose, and the poor are left with no room to breathe, let alone to mobilize for their liberation. This is a call to arms, comrade...
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Reflecting on Enforced Disappearances, Civic Space Closure, and Resistance in Zimbabwe: In Memory of Itai Dzamara

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Introduction Zimbabwe’s political regime operates as a competitive authoritarian system, meticulously designed to consolidate and retain power by any means necessary. A hallmark of this system is the systematic use of violence to silence dissent and demobilize opposition. Among its most brutal tactics is the dismemberment of frontline voices through enforced disappearances—a tool of terror that not only eliminates individual activists but also instills widespread fear, effectively stifling collective resistance. This article reflects on the legacy of enforced disappearances, the closure of civic space, and the enduring spirit of resistance in Zimbabwe, commemorating the life and struggle of Itai Dzamara, a journalist and human rights defender who vanished a decade ago. Who Was Itai Dzamara?  Itai Dzamara was a prominent journalist, human rights defender, and a fearless critic of the Zimbabwean government. In 2015, he became one of the most vocal figures calling for the resignation ...
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The Future of Social Movements in the Context of Closing Civic Space, Authoritarianism, and Aid Cuts in the Global South

Social movements are loosely organized collectives of individuals who come together to campaign for a common cause. They are a critical extension of civil society, often operating at the grassroots level to address organic issues as they emerge within communities. These movements play a vital role in organizing resistance against oppression, inequality, and injustice, while also holding duty bearers accountable. Their work is essential for sustainable development and the promotion of human rights.  In many cases, social movements collaborate with civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs). These partnerships provide social movements with funding, capacity-building opportunities, and support infrastructure such as rapid response mechanisms and emergency funds. However, the operating environment for social movements has become increasingly challenging in recent years, particularly in the Global S...
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