It is not in my nature to respond to ideologically naked and pubescent statements but I felt compelled to do so in this instance in defence of Fidel Castro, socialism, and the unity of the UDC. This statement is neither an isolated incident nor a frank and honest criticism of Boko’s stance in celebrating the life and legacy of Castro. The statement is a culmination of many controversial incidents and statements by the BPP’s young turk. These political gymnastics and acrobatics of Lenyatso and the BPP must be confronted head-on in defence of principle and the legacy of Fidel Castro. It seems clearer by the day that the BPP cadres (mainly the ‘flat cap arrivalists’) have adopted a pernicious and reactionary marketing strategy in which its young cadres will provoke the mighty BNF and its leader to make newspaper headlines and in the process positioning their party in the public discourse. It doesn’t end there. The young folks have gone further and adopted a provoke-and-later-apologise strategy in which they provoke the BNF and after causing uproar, pen an apology to calm the storm.
For the record, I am a student of Marx and Lenin, and wholly subscribe to the ideal of open, frank and honest criticism even from within party ranks. Lenin characterises this open and frank criticism as one of the fundamental components of cadre discipline. Lenyatso in his latest onslaught on Cde Boko writes that “president Boko recognised Fidel Castro as his inspiration, and hailed the Commander as a hero. Duma Boko was wrong”. This is astonishing to say the least. Lenyatso betrays his already-in-doubt Pan Africanist credentials by denouncing the legacy of Fidel Castro. He comes across as a piecemeal reader of the Cuban Revolution and the role of Castro in Africa. I posit that Castro played a decisive role in assisting many Pan-African and Marxist oriented political formations at the height of decolonisation. Unlike Takula’s liberal’s friends who shunned liberation struggles waged by the peoples of Africa against colonial rule, Castro supported the struggle. He was an astute internationalist who valued solidarity. As a progressive, Castro rejected racism, imperialism and the exploitation of the African resources. Castro dared to confront mankind’s worst enemy - capitalism and exploitation. Surely, Castro passes the test of being a hero and an inspiration. Boko was correct to honour this stalwart. Lenyatso and the BPP depict an acute misreading of history and the contribution of Castro in the liberation of Africa. Who can forget the watershed and decisive cuito cuinavale victory in which thousands of Cuban lives were lost for the independence of Africa?
