The 5th Congress of the African People’s Socialist Party broke new ground with the adoption of the new Constitution with broad changes to the Party and its structure, including the Party’s name, which is now the African People’s Socialist Party-USA.
The Party’s new Constitution (which can be viewed at apspuhuru.org) transforms the nature of the Party from an independent organization to “a component of the African Socialist International (ASI),” the Party of African People’s Socialist Parties from the various countries of the world coming together as a governing body for the world struggle of African people for liberation of Africa.
The Constitution is a live document that structures law and order into the Party, guaranteeing that the principle of democracy cannot be overturned during the struggle for liberation and following the creation of socialist state power in the hands of the African working class.
Opening up with a preamble that beautifully lays out the political basis for the formation and existence of the Party, the Constitution is grounded in democratic centralism and the theory of African Internationalism, the understanding that the parasitic capitalist system is built on the backs of the enslavement of African people and the theft of our land and resources.
The constitution expands the National Central Committee of the Party to include the Deputy Chairperson; a Secretary-General, replacing the National Secretary; the National Director of Organization, National Director of Recruitment and Membership, National Director of the African Women’s Commission, National Director of the African Youth Commission, National Director of the African Farmer’s and Agricultural Workers Commission, National Director of the African Labor Commission, and the National Director of Security which is appointed by the Chairperson.
These new offices join the already-existing offices of Chairperson, National Director of Agitation and Propaganda, National Director of Economic Development and Finance and the Regional Representatives from each of the six Party designated regions of the U.S. All the offices of the NCC have job descriptions listed in the Constitution.
The new Constitution also codifies the relationship of the African People’s Solidarity Committee, the organization of white people, under the leadership of the Office of the Chair of the Party and gives the power to the Chair to appoint the chair of the APSC, as well as to appoint the President of the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement (InPDUM) and the Director of the All-African People’s Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP).
During the Congress the Party’s slate for the new National Central Committee was unanimously elected, including:
Omali Yeshitela, Chairman
Ona Zene’ Yeshitela, Deputy Chairperson
Gaida Kambon, Secretary-General
Omowale Kefing, Director of Organization, contingent upon replacing himself as the Southwest Regional Organizer
Nyabinga Dzimbahwe, Director of Agitation and Propaganda
Ironiff Ifoma, Director of Finance and Economic Development
Chimurenga Waller, National Director of Recruitment and Membership
Rich Piedrahita, Northeast Regional Organizer
Omowale Kefing, Southwest Regional Organizer
Other elected offices are to remain open until filled at a later time by the process of cooptation, with a two-thirds vote of the sitting members of the NCC.
During this process, Dr. Aisha Fields was appointed Director of the All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project; Diop Olugbala was appointed the President of InPDUM and Penny Hess was appointed the Chair of the African People’s Solidarity Committee.
