Azapo mourns Hugo Chavez

REUTERS

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks in the rain during his closing campaign rally in Caracas in this October 4, 2012 file photo.

Johannesburg - The Azanian People’s Organisation mourned the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday.

“He was the foremost leader of the global anti-imperialist community of our times... The socialist world, the workers, peasants and poor of the world-have lost a fearless fighter and spokesperson.”

For Chavez, the essence of socialism was that the means of production became a social property, Azapo said in a statement.

Chavez died on Tuesday after a two-year battle with cancer, ending 14 years of rule in Venezuela.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union described Chavez as a man who had fought for the poor.

“Comrade Chavez was a towering figure who changed Venezuela in many fundamental ways, empowering and energising millions of poor people who had felt marginalised and excluded. This gallant revolutionary emerged at the most difficult time for revolutionary socialists.

“His passion for social justice led to an inevitable confrontation with the government of the United States of America and its European allies, who had long tried to dominate Latin America.”

The SA Communist Party described Chavez as a soldier of the poor and a champion of mass-driven socialism.

“Chavez dedicated his life to an anti-imperialists agenda, was the foremost frontline combatant against imperialist subjugation of the world and a champion of people’s power,” it said.

President Jacob Zuma sent his condolences to the people of Venezuela.

“Our hearts are with the family of President Chavez, as well as the government and the people of Venezuela during this difficult time of mourning the departure of this respected revolutionary leader of Venezuela, and indeed the entire progressive family of nations,” he said.

Zuma paid tribute to Chavez's visionary leadership since he took office on February 2, 1999, and his commitment to the social struggles of the less fortunate in Venezuela.

He said that, under Chavez's leadership, Venezuela had promoted regional integration based on the principles of social justice. - Sapa