#ZumaMustFall as process not an event, for a better South Africa ‘for all’

I’ve read and listened to and shared so much content on the #ZumaMustFall issue in the past four days. I have so many thoughts, but here are just a few to jot down (which as always, I reserve my right to change my perspective on, and welcome being challenged to do so).

Towards a common goal

It is clear that South Africans (those with social media, at least) have lost faith in the president, and have a goal for him to leave.

But then what? Multiple articles and Facebook posts and tweets are alluding to the lack of an authentic, shared common agenda: after Zuma falls, then what? What is our vision? For some, its business as usual. For others, its the radical transformation of the economy that never came after 1994.

Is this just about a corrupt, embarrassing president who we can’t trust to make sound decisions in white capital’s best interests, or is it about a corrupt, embarrassing president who can’t trust to lead true, inclusive economic transformation of our country?

Linked to this, do we have common principles? I would argue we do not have common principles, given the amount of racism and in-fighting already prevalent within different parts of the hashtag-movement.

I fear that we lack a so-called “positive vector” (something we are “fighting for”, not just fighting against). For this to work, our goals must aim towards the improvement of society and our shared economy and mutual liberation.

If we do not take this part seriously, this process risks fizzling out as people (particularly the privileged) lose interest, further fracturing society, or worse — undermining and damaging democracy.

The lack of a common goal was one of the most popular critiques of the occupy movements. No goal at the outset means its easy for the participants and proponents of the occupy movements to retrospectively claim they were successful — and they can indeed point to examples where, out of their own dialogue and consensus building processes, groups emerged that today are creating real change in cities across the world, through social, cultural and political action. Hell, Barcelona even has a Mayor whose leadership role was seeded when she emerged as spokesperson on housing concerns during their own Occupy movements.

Giving this method the benefit of the doubt, perhaps uniting around a common generalised discontent with current leadership is enough to foster new forms of civic action, political leadership or even ways of structuring our society. But what else do we need?

Activating structures for building and sustaining support

Social media and self-organising movements are the current form of mobilisation, but these do not reach all parts of society, and it is difficult to build common principles — or run sustained programmes of action and accountability — through tweets of 140 characters or less.

Religious groups, local civic groups, student bodies — are you all talking to each other? Or merely organising events at cross-hairs and hoping your hashtag wins?

A solid network of organisations, with a strategy for engagement within and across their networks is needed. Reach out to one another. And if this already happening, be more transparent with these processes: the age of social media demands transparency, and encourages impatience and spontaneity in the absence of a clear plan or leadership.

Demonstrating Action

We have already gained a lot of momentum, and many are calling to take action. We need to do so in a way that helps us to create the above conditions within the movement, while simultaneously demonstrating seriousness.

Protests, picnics, prayer groups and all other means of gathering are useful, if they foster dialogue on the above issues and take us forward towards a common goal, with supporting structures.

If we do take this ‘process’ seriously, we need to at least each individually be able to answer:

• What about the political system in which we live do we think is wrong?
• What kind of system do we want to create for the people of our country?
• What are we each bringing to these processes (and I’m not just talking about placards, orange slices, suncream and water — what skills, knowledge, networks, resources do we have)?

If that is not the intent, and we are not individually prepared to participate meaningfully, I would suggest that these events are premature. That discontent will not evaporate, and that consciensciously building a movement is more appropriate right now than big “moments” or events.

Either way, like scouts, be prepared

Do we know how #ZumaMustFall can be won? We need to communicate an informed understanding of the legal, protest-action or other avenues of action at our disposal, and foster appreciation for diversity of tactics that mutually reinforce one another.

Are we prepared for anger? We know that we are all angry and the cause for anger may be from true convictions — do we know how to instil discipline for the cause in how people express that anger? Are we prepared for differences in opinion of what this means?

Are we prepared for power to defend itself? We are all aware of the threat of police violence in any protest action.

Do we have spokespeople? It is clear we do not have “leaders” right now, but can we all identify who the small group of dedicated people driving this movement are, and can we all say with confidence that they can act as spokespeople: are they humble, principled and equipped to authentically reflect consensus?

Do we know how we will recognise when the movement is being co-opted or splintered to serve another agenda?

(Rinse. Repeat — from #ZumaMustFall — do we know how to build this nation? Do we understand the roles of different parts of society and respect our mutually re-inforcing actions?)

Thanks to WikiHow: How to Start a Revolution and many principles from Collective Impact adopted in my thinking here.