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He said PF and its leader, Zambian President, Michael Sata, viewed the invitation by the Zanu-PF leadership to attend the conference as an expression of brotherhood between the two parties. Mr Kabimba said recent elections that were won by his party in Zambia showed that democratic elections were not the preserve of the West.
He said Zimbabwe should be free of sanctions because no country in the world had the right to determine the course of history for another.
The secretary-general of the South African ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), Gwede Mantashe, called for closer ties among political parties in the region, saying it would result in a stronger AU.
“The brutality with which Western powers dealt with the situation in Libya, undermining the AU roadmap, which sought to get a peaceful solution, confirmed the need for unity and a stronger AU,” said Mr Mantashe.
He said the fact that 13 countries on the continent recognised the Transitional National Council despite the AU setting out parameters for such recognition, confirmed that progressive forces on the continent must step up the engagement of those who choose to be proxy states for powerful nations, to find it unattractive to break ranks.
“If we are to succeed, the progressive forces must stop bickering among themselves. There must be a relation of trust, based on honest and candid feedback to each and mutual respect,” said Mr Mantashe.
He said the ANC solidarity message from President Jacob Zuma expressed the party’s commitment to being a good and trustworthy neighbour to Zimbabwe and Zanu-PF.
The executive secretary of the Botswana Democratic Party, Mr Thabo Fanuel Masalila, brought greetings from the country’s President, Lieutenant-General Seretse Khama Ian Khama.
He said the BDP was committed to ongoing solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe.
“As Africans our greatest resource is the land. It is one commodity that we should guard with everything we have got. We should protect it and everything under it and above it. Zimbabweans should
be thankful that they have leadership that realises this,” said Mr Masalila.
The December 12 Movement, one of the foreign observer missions that witnessed the 27 June 2008 presidential run-off election, said it would support the Zanu-PF leadership in its fight against sanctions that have slowed down economic growth in the country.
“In unity there is nothing that can defeat the people of Zimbabwe. Together we will defeat the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by imperialists.”
Other political parties that included the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo), Chama cha Mapinduzi from Tanzania, the South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) of Namibia and the People’s
Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) all pledged their continued support for President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.
They said they were impressed by Zanu-PF’s people-centred programmes, especially the land reform programme that gave power to the people.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter