Socialist Get together of Zambia chief Dr. Fred M’membe shared reflections on a latest solidarity mission to Cuba and Venezuela and the pressing want for folks’s actions in Africa to precise concrete solidarity
Organizers and members of common actions throughout Africa convened on April 12 in a public webinar to mirror on the outcomes of the Worldwide Peoples’ Meeting (IPA) solidarity mission to Cuba and Venezuela, from March 9-15, 2026. The session featured Fred M’membe, chief of the Socialist Get together of Zambia, who participated within the delegation and provided a first-hand account of the scenario within the nations besieged by the US.
The dialogue started from a shared understanding that, for over six a long time, Cuba has endured a sustained and felony financial blockade imposed by america, one which has had far-reaching penalties throughout key sectors of life, together with healthcare, vitality, transport, and agriculture. The consequences of those sanctions have been profound, contributing to shortages in medical provides, disruptions in vitality methods, and constraints in meals manufacturing and distribution.
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Because the blockade has been tightened lately, particularly underneath US President Donald Trump, organizations internationally, together with these in Africa, have been in energetic solidarity with Cuba. Throughout the continent, organizations and actions have been partaking Cuban embassies, delivering a continental solidarity letter, and responding to the decision issued by Pan-Africanism Right now for intensified internationalist motion. The presentation by M’membe on his first-hand account on the realities dealing with the Cuban folks underneath intensified sanctions and financial siege was organized inside this context. He additionally helped to floor ongoing discussions inside African actions on methods to assemble solidarity that’s not solely principled, but in addition materials and responsive.
Cuban internationalism
Regardless of the immense challenges dealing with Cuba, M’membe famous that the Cuban folks have steadfastly preserved their dignity, revolutionary values, and deep dedication to humanity. For greater than six a long time, they’ve stood in solidarity with others internationally not for reward or recognition, however out of precept. Cuba has given its most valuable useful resource – the lives and labor of its folks – in help of struggles in Africa, Latin America, and past.
Learn extra: Humanity owes Cuba: unilateral coercive measures and the politics of punishment
“There are, in my opinion, no higher folks on this planet than the Cuban folks,” M’membe acknowledged. “Their resilience and love for others, even underneath immense stress, command the very best admiration.”
Expertise in Cuba
In the course of the five-day go to, the delegation engaged extensively, with college students, employees, and healthcare professionals, in addition to management inside the revolutionary state, together with members of the Communist Get together and the Cuban presidency.
These interactions revealed each the power and pressure inside Cuban society. The colleges and social packages they maintain on a solidarity foundation stay open, no college has been closed, and no hospital has shut its doorways, regardless of the extreme constraints underneath which they function. “In our engagements with medical doctors and sufferers, it turned evident that whereas the system continues to operate, sure medical procedures can’t be carried out because of the materials shortages attributable to america blockade,” M’membe recounted.
He added, “the way in which america is treating Cuba, you do not know what sort of world that is. Think about what number of nations on this world have grievances with america. In the event that they have been capable of do to america what it’s doing to Cuba, what would grow to be of america, this can be a nation that has dedicated so many atrocities, so many wars on different nations within the historical past of humanity, but none of its leaders have been captured by anyone, kidnapped by anyone, or accused of terrorism. There is no such thing as a different nation that has carried out extra atrocities like america in Africa and Asia. What number of of our leaders have been killed and humiliated by america in Latin America, in Africa, and in Asia? What they did to Cuba, Venezuela and Iran, what if it was performed to them? This can’t be the premise for humanity.”
M’membe additionally criticized the way in which during which worldwide establishments, such because the United Nations, are sometimes subordinated to US pursuits: Is that this the way in which the world ought to be ruled? Can we obtain peace and prosperity on this approach?
He questioned the justice and sustainability of such a system, arguing that it perpetuates instability and undermines sovereignty throughout the International South.
“What we would like is a world the place the dignity of each human being issues, the place the dignity and sovereignty of each nation, massive or small, are revered. We can’t proceed in a system that denies this.”
Cuba’s historic function in Africa
The Zambian socialist chief additionally highlighted Cuba’s long-standing solidarity with African liberation actions. From army help in anti-colonial struggles to coaching medical doctors and engineers, Cuba’s contributions have been each materials and ideological.
“Cuban blood has been shed on African soil,” M’membe reminded members. “Their solidarity was by no means rhetorical, it was sensible.”
This historical past, he argued, locations a duty on African Folks to reciprocate in Cuba’s second of want.
Learn extra: Angola’s debt to Cuba is unfinished
A central message of the webinar was the pressing have to repay Cuba’s solidarity to the world, with a concrete approach being to supply materials help in drugs and fundamental sanitary objects. M’membe emphasised, “they participated in our struggles even when they didn’t have immense sources. They skilled our younger medical doctors; they skilled our agricultural consultants and plenty of different fields. They cooperated with us in some ways, they usually have stood by us always. We are going to by no means desert the Cuban folks. We are going to by no means abandon our associates of their time of biggest want. What’s required with regard to Cuba in the present day is not only phrases, it must be sensible. It wants materials help, sure; it wants political help; it wants political solidarity, however rather more. The help we obtained from Cuba was not rhetorical; it was sensible. After we wanted arms to defend ourselves, Cuba gave us these arms. After we wanted different sources, Cuba supplied them. After we wanted them, they gave even their very lives; they didn’t hesitate to take action.”
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Venezuela and revolutionary continuity
The dialogue prolonged to Venezuela, the place questions have been posed to M’membe on how the nation and the celebration are holding on, because the revolutionary course of continues underneath intense exterior stress, together with sanctions and destabilization efforts. M’membe described the scenario as a type of financial warfare, however reiterated that the revolution stays resilient.
“Revolutions are usually not occasions, they’re processes,” he famous.
He emphasised that they’re responding dynamically to the challenges they face. The kind of conflict that has been unleashed on Venezuela just isn’t one thing they might have ready for. It entails superior types of expertise, and there’s hardly any nation within the International South that would simply address such situations. The scenario in Venezuela is due to this fact complicated, and because the blockade and stress proceed, the nation stays underneath fixed pressure.
Nevertheless, he maintained that Venezuela will proceed to wrestle underneath these situations and in the end prevail. It’s, as he put it, a query of residing to struggle one other day.
In closing, M’membe directed a message to younger folks throughout Africa, urging them to stay politically aware, educate themselves on what is occurring all over the world, a greater world doesn’t come by itself, we now have to wrestle for it and be conscious of injustice and have hope for a greater future.