League irked by ‘imperialists’

African National Congress Youth League chief Julius Malema says the organisation is planning to send representatives to Botswana to "unite" the opposition parties there. Photo: Bongiwe Mchunu

African National Congress Youth League chief Julius Malema says the organisation is planning to send representatives to Botswana to "unite" the opposition parties there. Photo: Bongiwe Mchunu

Published Jul 31, 2011

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Boksburg - The African National Congress Youth League's National Executive Committee is going to send a team to Botswana to consolidate local opposition parties, its leader Julius Malema said on Sunday.

“Botswana is in full co-operation with imperialists... and the government is undermining the African agenda,” he said at the committee's closing meeting in Boksburg.

“We are not going to sit with neighbours that conduct themselves like that.”

Botswana needed a progressive government, and the current opposition was not consolidated “properly” enough to topple it, he said.

The team of NEC members would teach and train campaigners and volunteers of a possible “coalition party” that might be formed.

The ANCYL believed that since former president Thabo Mbeki's departure as chairperson of the Southern African Development Community, the African agenda was no longer a priority.

“The ANCYL is of the view that there is a vacuum on the ideological and political leadership of Africa and the sub-regions, and this is reflected by how the issues of Libya and Ivory Coast were mishandled,” he said.

The ANCYL planned to convene “progressive youth formations” across Africa to “re-assert” the need for the continent's independence and economic freedom.

The NEC said it would fight for economic freedom, particularly for the nationalisation of mines, the expropriation of land without compensation, and the provision of free quality education. - Sapa

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