Mtandao
wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania – MVIWATA and La Via Campesina
Southern and Eastern Africa organized a commemoration of International Day
of Peasants’ Struggle on 17th April 2021 to mark 25 years since
the brutal killing of 19 landless farmers by Brazilian police forces in Brazil.
This years’ theme was centered on NO FUTURE WITHOUT FOOD SOVEREIGNTY.
To effectively commemorate this important day for landless and smallholder
farmers, given the challenging times we face against the pandemic, MVIWATA and
La Via Campesina convened an international zoom meeting where smallholder
farmers’ organizations, Ambassador of the Venezuelan embassy in Kenya, working
class movements and like-minded organizations across the globe participated in
this important meeting.
These organizations included; Landless Workers’ Movement of Brazil (Movimento
dos Trabalhadores Sem Terra, MST), Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers Forum
(ZIMSOFF), Ambassador of the Venezuelan Embassy in Kenya, La Via Campesina,
Pan-Africanism Today (PAT), Serikat Petani Indonesia and lastly a Comrade and
smallholder farmer from Palestine. The meeting aimed to share experiences and
struggles of smallholder farmers and landless workers across the globe.
The
meeting was organised with presentations from participants of respective
organisations/country. Comrade Jesus Manzanila a Venezuelan Ambassador to Kenya
was the first presenter who spoke extensively on the efforts waged by the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to ensure that the control of the countries
resources is in the hands of the working class.
The Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Kenya also spoke on
the public policies on agriculture, oil and natural gas and land among the few
that they are revolutionary and pinned for the interests of the people of the
Bolivarian republic and opposed to the capitalist interests of the Yankees.
Giving a word of thanks after Ambassador’s presentation, Comrade Stephen
Ruvuga, MVIWATA’s Executive Director applauded the Bolivarian Republic’s stance
for defending the interests of the people of Venezuela as initiated by Hugo
Chaves. He further said Hugo Chaves was a good friend of Mwalimu Julius
Kambarage Nyerere, Tanzania’s first President and father of the nation.
Chaves has also become a symbol of change to many grassroots organisations,
smallholder farmers and landless people worldwide.
Presentations also came from Comrade Smangele representing Pan-Africanism
Today (PAT), Comrade Paula Franca representing MST- Landless Workers’
Movement in Zambia who both spoke extensively on the struggles they are waging,
forms of movements’ organisations and the way forward.
Comrade Henry representing Serikat Petani in Indonesia spoke on the movement’s
efforts in collaboration with La Via Campesina behind the formation and
adaptation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and
Other People Working in Rural Areas which was adopted by the Human Rights
Council on 28 September 2018.
Comrade Saadi, a smallholder farmer from Palestine spoke comprehensively on the
imperialist acts of Israel regime in occupying Palestinian land. He added that
peasants in Palestine, struggles against Israel occupation on areas with access
to water and land which are the foundation of food sovereignty.
He said since the occupation of Israel state who controls access to land and
water, Palestinian farmers have been forbidden to access their land by which
walls have been built at West Bank where Palestinian farmers face difficult in
access to their land. Therefore, they have to get entry permit from Israel
forces to have access to their lands.
He added that fishermen in Palestine face inhumane situation where they are
killed, arrested and their tools confiscated including fishing boats. Comrade
Saad said they think and believe in unit and solidarity with La via Campesina
members they shall overcome the brutality of Israel state.
After a fruitful discussion, questions and answers session, finally MVIWATA’s
Executive Director thanked the participants and presenters from various
countries and organisations.
He also said, it was a good experience especially learning from other peasants’
struggles. He called upon all participants from different countries and
organisations to unite since peasants around the globe faces the same
challenge. He said solidarity is required globally among peasants to
collectively achieve the intended objectives of denouncing imperialism
