The struggle for democracy in Swaziland

Swazi women protest against shopping queens

August 21, 2008 Edition 1

MBABANE: Swazi women plan to march today in protest against a shopping tour undertaken by eight of the ruling monarch's 13 wives after they chartered a flight to Europe and the Middle East.

The eight wives, children, maids and bodyguards left the impoverished kingdom last week to shop for the "40-40" double celebrations to mark independence from Britain and King Mswati III's birthday on September 6. "The queens have to look radiant and that is why they have to go and buy quality (items) for the big day. They were being spoiled," a source in the royal family said.

Angered by what they consider excess largesse, the protest march to the Swazi government offices in Mbabane is being planned by the Women's Coalition of Swaziland and Swaziland Positive Living.

The coalition's Ntombi Nkosi asked how funds could be spent on a shopping trip when Swaziland, which has the world's highest HIV prevalence rate, faced shortages of medicines including anti-Aids drugs.

"We are against the idea of public funds being used in a questionable way by people who are not employed and (who) do not bring any revenue to the country's coffers," Siphiwe Hlophe of Swaziland Positive Living said.

Jim Gama, the governor of Ludzidzini, the Swazi traditional capital, said a march by women was "un-Swazi".

"I have never heard of women marching.

"All I know is that a woman has to seek permission from her husband to register her disagreement with whatever was happening in society but not for her to march. That is un-Swazi." - Sapa-AFP

SFTU Media Release, 21 August 2008

Swazi police harassment and detention, following Johannesburg march

Jan J. Sithole, General Secretary, Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, 21 August 2008

On the 21st of August 2008, 10 Police officers came to my place of residence at 0700 hrs, 3 of them were senior Regional Crime investigators and their leader was one Joseph Bhembe and the other 2 were both carried Dlamini surname and cannot recall their first names.

Bhembe said they want to engage with me on matters of state security emanating from our March on August 16th 2008 in Sandton at the SADC Heads of State Summit.

They asked if I could come with them or follow them to Luve Police Station just outside Manzini, since that station had good conference facilities, and is very quiet, I refused and said I will come to my office first, to deal with my days appointments which were going to be affected by their invitation and immediately after that I would come by myself to their Regional Police Head quarters in Manzini at 0900hrs.

The questions that were asked around were the following:

· Inquired on Organizers of the March

· Inquired on the capacity in which I went to this march

· Inquired on purpose of the March

· Inquired on Solidarity partners to the March

· Inquired on the Petition and its contents

· Inquired on our position towards the petition

· Inquired on contents of the petition

· Inquired on placards

· Wanted to know the meaning of slogan that says “The Struggle continues”

And my responses were as follows;

· The organizer is SATUCC, her affiliates and SADC Civil Society including those from Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa.

· I went there on the mandate of SFTU and on my capacity as the Secretary General of SFTU.

· I told them that the purpose of the march was SADC Civil Society Solidarity march on concerns of Swaziland and Zimbabwe bordering on

· Demand for democratic changes,

o Respect for fundamental human rights

o Respect for the rule of law

o Respect for Social & Economic Justice

Though a petition at the SADC Heads of States Summit as both countries are members of SADC and signatory to the electoral protocol which both countries have violated.

· I mentioned that our Solidarity partners are the entire regional Civil Society from SADC drawn from all walks of life.

· They asked what role COSATU was playing at SATUCC, I informed them that COSATU is a member of SATUCC the same way that all organized Labour federations are members;

· In the petition they were interested if we knew it and are party to it which was agreed.

· They wanted to know if we support the petition and its concerns with regards to the illegitimacy of the constitution making process, in Swaziland. I agreed, stating that the process was exclusionary through decrees No.2 of 1996, formerly excluding the right to submit of organized formations as such cannot claim ownership by the entire population of Swaziland particularly the organized formations.

I also brought to their attention that the issue regional and enjoyed regional support from SADC Civil Society and organized Labour and was duly received by SADC Executive Secretary as the appropriate forum which Swaziland joined voluntarily and currently chairing the Troika organ.

On the issue of “The Struggle continues,” I told them that it means we will continue demanding and putting pressure on government for democratic changes respect for human rights respect for the rule of law and social and economic justice without relenting until those concerns are positively addressed.

They asked what we believed would be the immediate solution to this long drawn struggle and my response was “Genuine, Result oriented all inclusive social dialogue, not the fake dialogues that do not have mandate as the recent past one.

I also raised that it should be noted that we have continued to be constant in our demands on the constitution, fiscal indiscipline, rule of law social and economic justice and good governance both inside and outside the country for time in memoria.

The meeting lasted for an hour and a half.

Issued by Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, +268 505 6575, sftu1@swazi.net

Jan J. Sithole, General Secretary, 21 August 2008

I understand the confusion that many of us have regarding Zimbabwe. This is especially true of those who would impose foreign idelologies such as liberalism on Africans. So, let me say that ZANU-PF led the Struggle against white supremacy. On the other hand, many who support white supreamcy back MDC. What are we to make of this reality?

PUDEMO declares war, endorses umbane

By [Swazi] Times Sunday on August 31,2008
Link: http://www.times.co.sz/News/1070.html
Related newsNo matching news for this article
[image: image]

*M**BABANE—Just a few days before the coveted double celebrations, the
People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) has come out to declare war*.

PUDEMO's declaration comes at a time when Swaziland will be celebrating 40
years of Independence, combined with the king's 40th birthday next Saturday,
September 6, 2008.

This event will host renowned statesmen from other countries as well as
dignitaries from across the globe. While PUDEMO has not come out explicitly
to say it will disturb the celebrations, the police and army have already
used millions of Emalangeni buying arms and weapons, presumably in
preparation against possible threats of sabotage against the event.

PUDEMO's extraordinary congress held last week resolved that the
organisation will now engage in a military offensive against government.

*Endorsed*

PUDEMO also endorsed the existence of its underground military wing, the
Swaziland People's Liberation Army (SWAPLA), an organisation that calls
itself Umbane (lightning).

The Congress was held in Nelspruit in the Republic of South Africa and was
attended by over 100 delegates from both inside Swaziland and those in
exile.

Information gathered by this newspaper is that some of the Commanders of
Umbane were present at the Congress when the declaration was taken.

*Declaration*

Reads the declaration: "We declare to the world that the regime will not be
allowed to monopolise violence against the people's movement, its
leadership, cadres and their families. The people's movement has also noted
that our people and comrades are no longer safe both inside and outside the
country's borders. We, therefore, declare that we are taking a decisive
action to protect our people and comrades. We declare that PUDEMO is
embarking on the highest form of struggle and sacrifice of military and
combat action against the regime, all its structures and extensions."

The declaration acknowledges the existence of Umbane and says the military
wing's responsibility will be to protect the people of Swaziland, the
organisation's leadership as well as their members.

"The struggle will be advanced through the political, military and combat
action, the action will be a military strategy for the attainment of the
people's power for the poor and the oppressed and specific responses to
enemy attacks,"

*Sabotage*

This declaration comes at the height of bombings and sabotage threats
directed at government establishments and structures.

PUDEMO uses four pillars in its struggle; mass mobilisation, underground
work, international solidarity and military combat.

"We declare to the world that we will not rest until there is freedom and
democracy in the country, which will be a product of free and democratic
elections.," reads the declaration in part.
The declaration says PUDEMO met and reflected on the political situation in
Swaziland so that they could accordingly position themselves to meet the
challenges of the time, adopt a correct mode of doing work and usher in
freedom.

Rumours that PUDEMO was preparing a military offensive against government
started circulating as early as 1998 but the organisation has always denied
this.

*Strategy*

It was only in 2003 that the then Secretary General of the organisation,
Bonginkhosi 'IB' Dlamini told throngs of workers during the annual Workers
Day celebration that PUDEMO had officially adopted the military strategy.

Activities, supported by PUDEMO that will be staged to protests against the
double celebrations include week-long boycotting of goods coming to
Swaziland by COSATU, protest marches by the Swaziland United Democratic
Front (SUDF), as well marches in the Swazi Embassies in South Africa by the
Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) on the day of the celebrations.

*'We are still to meet'—Sphasha*

*MBABANE—PUDEMO's Secretary General Sphasha Dlamini has come out to say
that it was a responsibility of every individual to fight for human dignity
and justice.*

"We have a responsibility to defend life and human dignity. We can't be
bullied around and keep saying yes, yes, yes. We resolved to apply all the
pillars of the struggle towards the liberation of the people. Ours is about
the defence of life and human dignity," said Dlamini, when asked about the
congress declaration.

While Dlamini did not want to respond directly to the specific question of
using military as a tactic of struggle she did, however, acknowledge that
they had a responsibility to defend their members against the use of force
by the police and army.

*Disassociated*

She repeatedly said her organisation did not have a military wing and
disassociated themselves from Umbane, something that was contrary to the
declaration.

"The National Executive Committee of PUDEMO will meet over the week to look
at the resolutions, declarations and programme of action from the congress.
What we must state for the record is that we have no military wing and that
we get equally shocked at the military response of the people against the
regime," Dlamini said.

She said they had always taken resolutions over the years and the task at
hand was implementing them.

She said they would continue to oppose all initiatives of the government by
peacefully staging protest actions and demonstrations.

*Evasive*

Dlamini became evasive when asked about the declaration, preferring to say
she could neither confirm nor deny the declaration.

*Dialogue is still key, says NLC*
*M**BABANE—The Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC) still believes
that doors have not been totally closed for peaceful change in the country.*

The organisation's Secretary General, Thami Hlatshwayo, said they respected
PUDEMO's views and policies but they still believed that mass action and
other peaceful means of struggle can still be given a chance. Hlatshwayo
said the NNLC, as an affiliate to the Swaziland United Democratic Front
(SUDF), did not interfere, with individual organis-ations rights to pursue
their programmes but they believed that to them the time for military action
has not come and that mass action could still be given a chance "We believe
that there is still room for peaceful change of the system and that mass
action could be used to force the government into negotiations. Our view is
that the doors have not all been closed for peaceful change," Hlatshwayo
said.

Secretary General of the newly formed African United Democratic Party
(AUDP), Sibusiso Dlamini, said they also believed that avenues for peaceful
change have not been closed. He said when his party was formed they went to
court to ask to be registered in 'operation *vulindlela* (open the doors)
and when they declared that they would contest the elections they engaged
'operation *hlomasikhonkwane* (root your presence)' and that when they get
to Parliament and nothing changes they will then engage in
'operation*tsanyela umgcilati
* (wipe out the enemy)'.

He said this last operation was a military offensive which to them was a
last resort. Sibahle Sinje publicist Zibuse Simelane said his organisation
was against any form of violence but was quick to add that they would not
comment further because they have not seen the declaration.

*Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN]* *PRESS RELEASE*

*RE:* 1.King Mswati is 15th richest monarchy in the world

2.Mswati hires international public relations firms/ lobbyists.

3.Zolani Mkiva, Benjamin Dube, Joyous Celebration goes to Swaziland - an
embarassment to South Africa

* *

*1.King Mswati is 15th richest monarchy in the world*

Check the following website:

It has been reported in Forbes Magazine that Mswati is the 15th richest
monarchy in the world. We are not surprised because we have been trying to
get everyone's attention to the fact that MSwati has been stealing Swazi
taxpayers money since he became King. His personal Swiss bank account under
this first name Makosetive is proof of this thug ownership of Swazi
government finances. All this while half the population lives with AIDS/
HIV. 75% live below the poverty line on International food aid. While this
suffering continues, Mswati is spending over R100melion celebrating the 40
years of independence together with his birthday on the 6 September 2008. It
is a travesty of justice.

To add insult to injury his regime is a having an undemocratic sham
elections on September 19, while the democratic political parties remained
banned, free speech/association remains suppressed, the media is controlled,
comrades remain harassed, arrested and exiled.

*2.Mswati hires international public relations firms/ lobbyists.*

Given the above unjust conditions the only way that MSwati can stay in power
is try to fool the minds and hearts of the majority of Swazis and the
international community that all is well in Swaziland and that "he is a
great guy". Hence we not surprised again, that he hires lobbyists and Public
Relations firms with poor Swazi's tax money, to help him gain a better
image. This is the terrorism that Swazis are faced with daily. Yet the
Mswati regime calls the democratic movement led by PUDEMO terrorists. It is
us who fight for justice and true democracy. It is the unelected Mswati and
the undemocratically elected regime that terrorizes Swazis daily.

Here is the proof from the Swazi media commentary:

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2008/08/us-firm-bats-for-swazi-king.html

*"My post earlier this month (August 2008) about how Swaziland's King Mswati
III had hired a public relations (PR) firm in London to improve his image in
the international community prompted a reader to point out this recent
article in a US magazine.*

*It seems that King Mswati III has also been paying a PR lobbyist E140,000
(20,000 US dollars) a month in the United States to work for him. The PR
firm told the magazine the king was 'real green behind the ears'. The PR
firm told the king to stop holding the annual Reed Dance because important
people in the United States didn't like the idea of 40,000 maidens dancing
with bare breasts because there was a 'sexual undertone' to it."*

*3. Zolani Mkiva, Benjamin Dube, Joyous Celebration goes to Swaziland - an
embarassment to South Africa*

It has come to our attention that all this artist, have been invited by the
king to Swaziland to entertain Mswati and this cronies. The lack of social
and political consciousness of some of our artists is appalling. They are
willing to sell their souls to the devil for money. This is an embarrassment
to the proud history of South African artists who fought against Apartheid
South Africa. We want to warn them that if they go, we will begin a boycott
campaign of their music.

What is most appalling is that two of these are Gospel singers willing to
taint the name of God by using His Name to praise the devil and his unjust
Swazi Regime. We condemn these fake prophets ! We condemn them in the name
of Jesus who lives, fought and died for justice. May they repent and be
truly saved.

*Conclusion*

All of the above only bolsters our resolved to free Swaziland from this
tinpot dictator. We will hold hands with our harassed and suppressed
comrades from PUDEM, SFTU and SUDF to free Swaziland. Do not be surprised as
the struggle intensifies and we create serious crisis for the evil regime of
Swaziland.

Issued by the SSN.

For more information contact

*Lucky Lukhele- SSN spokesperson*

*Cell:072 502 4141*

*Tell: 011 339 3621*

Manzini grounded
Musa Nhleko, Mbongiseni Nhlek, Times of Swaziland, 4 September 2008

MANZINI – An overwhelming crowd of over 10 000 marchers took to the
streets yesterday, in protest over a number of socio-economic challenges
facing the country, bringing the city to a standstill.

With such a big turnout, it was almost impossible that the march would
be peaceful and despite every measure taken to ensure that it was, some
marchers provoked the wrath of the riot police by stoning them.

This resulted in the police responding by firing teargas canisters and
arresting two marchers for destroying property.

Some police officers were also overwhelmed by the turnout but manned
their ground.

The march itself had started peacefully but it was only a matter of time
before some marchers from two progressive groups pelted the police with
stones. The workers had assembled for speeches at the Jubilee Park
during lunch time.

The group that pelted stones had caused trouble from the onset as they
would march in different routes much against the peaceful workers around
the city.

Not even Jan Sithole of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU)
or People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) President Mario Masuku
could stop the rowdy crowd of about 30 people.

Most of the rowdy people in this group were reported to be members of
Pudemo and the Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco) and they were joined
by women from the textile industry while toyi-toying.

Confronted

It all started when the police while standing between Nedbank and
Swazibank were confronted by the rowdy marchers by throwing stones.

The riot officers were in a van.

One of the officers responded by firing teargas canisters towards the
rowdy group, which had then joined the marchers who were seated and
listening to speeches at the Jubilee Park.

Workers and bystanders were forced to take cover from the teargas as the
police also came towards them.

The situation got worse when a group of police officers who were
standing opposite the Jubilee Park seemingly offended the workers with
their presence.

The rowdy group pelted the officers with stones and luckily no one was hurt.

A white Audi had one of its windows smashed after they missed the police
officers.

After the situation was brought to normal and the workers dispersed, the
police spotted two of the suspects who vandalised property and they were
all taken from two kombis on their way back home.

They were both charged with causing malicious damage to property and
this was confirmed by police Public Relations Officer Superintendent
Vusi Masuku.

Masuku appealed to the organisers to ensure that marches are peaceful as
when there are elements of breach of peace, the law will be effected by
the police.

He noted that provocation of the police by marchers throwing stones was
not a good thing during the marches.

While the media estimated the marchers to be over 10 000, the labour
movement claimed that the marchers were up to 15 000.

This was different from last year as figures were estimated to be 3 000.

10 000 marchers shock police

MANZINI – Police randomly interviewed yesterday said they were shocked
at the turnout of the marchers.

The police, when speaking to the Times, said it was good that only a small number of marchers were violent, while the multitudes were
marching peacefully. "If you see these marchers, we are nothing compared
to them, if they could all turn violent we would have to call for
back-up," said some of the officers.

When asked about the numbers as compared to last year, those who were
randomly interviewed, said they were shocked with the numbers and felt
the people were well over 10 000.

One officer even suggested that soldiers would have to be called to help
them just in case the situation got out of control. However, other
officers rebuked him said he must go join the army if he thought they
could not contain the march.
\
Marchers clash with police
Swazi Observer, 4 September 2008

JUST when everyone, including the police, thought the over 10 000
protesters' march in Manzini yesterday was peaceful, police clashed with
a handful of demonstrators minutes after lunch.

It all started when a group of about 20 demonstrators broke away from
the main group and started throwing missiles at the police. They also
insulted and mocked the police officers.

What further provoked the brief confrontation was when the marchers
dragged a full waste bin into the road on Nkoseluhlaza Street.

The main group of marchers was already seated at the Jubilee Park where
they were to be addressed on the next move, having covered the first
round of the march set to end at 3:00pm.

A vehicle carrying the riot squad, under the instruction of Manzini
Station Commander Richard Mngometulu, chased after members of the
deviant group. The police also fired teargas into the air sending
marchers running for cover.

During an earlier episode the same group attempted to disturb the peace
at the bus rank only to find that the police were in full alert and
defused their tricks.

No injuries were reported except for the brief encounter.

Swaziland Federation of Trade Union (SFTU) Secretary General Jan Sithole
said though he was not sure what sparked the violence, he was informed
that some form of intimidation was experienced.

He was reluctant to say whether the intimidation was by the police or
the demonstrators.

“Though I have not been fully briefed about the main cause, it is wise
for the police to bear in mind that the riot squads are not supposed to
be near demonstrators because they are an intimidation. So, chances are,
the people were intimidated by their presence and decided to be
violent,” said Sithole.

Meanwhile, the march will today continue in Mbabane where Sithole said
they were expecting more people.

YCL Letter of Request to Benjamin Dube, Zolani Mkiva, Joyous Celebrations and SAFA to boycott the 40/40 Celebrations in Swaziland!

Thursday 04 September 2008

On behalf of the National Committee of the Young Communist League [YCL], kindly receive our warm and fraternal greetings.

We have learnt with great shock through media reports that you as South African artists, including the South African Football Association developmental team will be participating in the 40/40 celebrations in Swaziland over the weekend 5 – 7 September 2008.

The purposes of these music performances and friendly games we are told according to the media reports are to "form part of Swaziland's 40th Independence celebrations". This celebration also marks the 40th birthday of King Mswati III, Africa's last absolute monarchy.

Swaziland is to spend more than R 100 million for these celebrations in a country where more than half the population lives on foreign food aid and almost 40% of the population is confronted with the reality of HIV/AIDS without government support and supply of medication.

After independence from Britain in 1968, the then King Sobhuza II banned political parties and activities in a unilateral declaration of the state of emergency through the 12 April 1973 Royal Decree which abrogated all the executive, judicial and legislative powers unto himself making him an absolute monarchy. To date Swaziland is still ruled through this draconian legislation and no political activity is allowed.

For many years now, thousands of young South Africans have been engaged in Solidarity activities led by the Progressive Youth Alliance under the banner of the Swaziland Solidarity Network in support of the struggle of the Swazi people.

We are calling on you as South African artists and developmental team not form part these celebrations within the context of our solidarity with the oppressed and struggling people of Swaziland, especially the working class and the poor youth.

These celebrations are meant to squander public funds and resources, and further give legitimacy to the illegitimate Mswati's regime. For you as South African ambassadors to wine and dine with the evil and barbaric oppressors will be tantamount to a serious betrayal of the people of Swaziland to freedom and democratic equality to pursue a dignified life in conditions of total decolonization and freedom.

We therefore call on you given the social power and influence you posses to boycott these celebrations in solidarity with the plight of the ordinary Swazi people.

The national leadership of the YCL is prepared to meet with you and discuss the rationale behind our call for the boycott of these celebrations.

Communist Regards,

BUTI MANAMELA, NATIONAL SECRETARY

For more information contact:

Castro Ngobese

National Spokesperson – 082 567 3557

Bombs explode on eve of Mswati’s bash
Sapa-AFP Published:Sep 05, 2008

TWO explosions went off in Swaziland’s capital, Mbabane, yesterday, on the second day of demonstrations to persuade the government to introduce democratic reforms and improve workers’ welfare.

A bus and a concrete rubbish bin were damaged in the separate blasts, two days ahead of Swaziland’s “40-40” double celebrations to mark independence from Britain and King Mswati III’s birthday.

About 10000 protesters marched in Mbabane, a day after demonstrators took to the streets in Manzini, the industrial centre of the landlocked state, which is Africa’s last absolute monarchy.

A witness who runs a hawker stand at the bus station said smoke billowed out of the bus’s windows.

“A loud bang was heard and it was at this stage that we called the police,” she told AFP.

Police spokesman Superintendent Vusi Masuku confirmed the bus blast, but declined to give further details.

“The marchers were responsible for the blast and we will not rest until we get the culprits. For now we can confirm the blast, but we do not know whether it was a bomb or another form of explosive,” Masuku said.

March organiser Vincent Ncongwane, of the Swaziland Federation of Labour trade union, condemned the use of explosives and bombs.

“None of our members could be associated with these acts and we would like to challenge anyone who claims that our members engaged in such acts to come and name such a person or people,” Ncongwane said.

A group calling itself Umbane, meaning lightning, has reportedly threatened to use force to spoil Saturday’s celebrations.

Local newspaper The Times reported at the weekend that the group — which claimed responsibility for two blasts last month — would make sure they did not give the ruling elite a chance to celebrate.

The Swaziland government issued a statement yesterday saying that the Swazi people would decide on the need for a multi-party system.

7.2 Swaziland

7.2.1 The SACP has learnt with displeasure that today this country is holding what is referred to as “40/40” celebrations, meaning the 40th Anniversary of Swazi independence from Britain and Mswati’s 40th Birthday. This was preceded by the King’s 13 wives going on a spending spree of millions of rands in overseas countries to buy clothes in preparation of the “40/40” celebrations.

7.2.2 This is done against the background of rampant poverty that continues to reign the working class and the poor in Swaziland, unemployment and HIV and AIDS are recorded to be at the highest peak. This is a country that bans and suppresses activities of other political parties who speak against the corruption that is entrenched within the Monarchy and in government. Internationally Swaziland is recognized in comparative terms as against Zimbabwe, because according to the imperialist in Zimbabwe their interests are threatened.

7.2.3 The SACP in the Western Cape rejects these celebrations which are meant to benefit the elites whilst the plight of the working class and the poor in Swaziland is deteriorating and calls upon the Alliance structures to embark in solidarity campaigns with the people of Swaziland. The SACP also calls upon the resignation of Mswati as the head of the most important organ of SADC in Politics, Defense and Security, which is currently also involved in dealing with the political deadlock in Zimbabwe.

For further information or clarification please call Khaya Magaxa, SACP Provincial Secretary, on

083 7210221 or Karl Cloete, SACP Provincial Chairperson, on 083 2978757

Swaziland police block pre-election protest
September 18, 2008, 14:30

Police in Swaziland, one of the world's last absolute monarchies, have detained several union leaders and blocked others from a pre-election protest to demand democratic reform.

Swazi authorities say the protest would cause anarchy in the country the day before a parliamentary election. Armed police pulled labour activists from buses and cars at a roadblock en route to a border crossing with South Africa, taking union leaders into vans and sending others back to the capital Mbabane.

Meanwhile, commenting on the arrest of various Swazi protesters, SA Communist Party spokesperson, Malesela Maleka, says the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union should ensure that Swaziland adheres to democratic principles.

Maleka added that it was shameful that the arrests took place when King Mswati III was the head of the SADC organ on politics, safety and defence. – Additional reporting by Sapa

************
http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4618210

Voters promised heaven and earth in flawed Swazi election
But it's just wild talk as parties can't form government

September 19, 2008 Edition 1

Hans Pienaar

Candidates in Swaziland's election were making promises "off the top of their heads" to get votes in today's parliamentary elections, widely derided as a joke and meaningless as political parties are not allowed to form a government.

Police were on tenterhooks and have been arresting opposition members, fearing a repeat in recent weeks of demonstrations against King Mswati III's autocratic rule.

The South African Communist Party called "shameful" the arrests and brief detention of unionists and activists who were on their way to blockade the border posts on the South African border.

SACP spokesperson Malesela Maleka was scathing over the silence of the Southern African Development Community and the African Union, which, he said, should ensure that Swaziland applies democratic principles. Swaziland is the chair of SADC's organ on politics, security and defence.

"How opportunistic that the rest of the region and the continent has chosen to keep quiet while thousands of people in Swaziland are subjected to poverty and the brutal dictatorship of the king," he said.

"South African government's deafening silence speaks volumes about the cornerstone of our foreign policy, more so because many Swazis died in the struggle against apartheid," Maleka said. SA is the current chair of SADC.

A civil-society advocate, who preferred not to be identified for fear of victimisation, said wild promises were being made by the about 350 candidates. Candidates stand as individuals, and are nominated by 55 "nkundlas", or groups of chiefs, who can each nominate one person.

Some candidates were promising communities buses and all manner of other goods that they will never be able to provide, unless they pay for them from their meagre parliamentary salaries.

The electioneering is fierce, but only because candidates are trying to outdo each other.
Click here

Nevertheless, a high turn-out was expected, as chiefs would act against people not voting, Maleka said.

Voter registration cards were routinely demanded when social security, food aid and other largesse were dealt out.

A new constitution adopted in 2006 guarantees freedom of association, and the country's attorney-general claims political parties can be registered. But as they are not allowed to form a government, and have to work within tight restrictions, few care to operate.

Opposition politics have been dominated by unionists and activists.

On September 3, on the eve of Mswati's "40-40" celebrations of Swaziland's independence and his birthday, about 10 000 people gathered in the commercial capital Manzini, and reassembled the next day. Their prime target was the cost of the celebrations, estimated at 100-million emlangeni ( R100-million).

"We are elated by the historic outpouring of ordinary people to say to the royal government 'Enough!'," said the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions' Andrew Simelane.

Recently, a thousand HIV-positive women, galled by reports that Mswati's 13 wives had been sent on shopping trips to the Middle East and Asia, led a march in Mbabane.

Local newspapers widely reprinted a recent list published by Forbes magazine, in which Mswati was named one of the 15 richest royals in the world.

Cdes Musa Dlamini & Jack Govender
By Lucky Lukhele, 23 September 2008

It is with great sadness and anger that we learnt of the tragic passing away of two prominent internationalists, revolutionaries and members of the freedom struggle in Swaziland, comrades Musa "MJ" Dlamini and Jack Govender aka Sipho Khumalo. The humblest and the bravest servants of humanity have fallen – pick up their spears and carry on the fight for freedom.

According to the information, at our disposal, disseminated by the royal news cables and cohorts, the two comrades passed on between Mbabane and Manzini in what appeared to have been an explosion and their remains were scattered around the scene of the accident.

The SSN is deeply saddened by the untimely departure of the two most dedicated revolutionaries and of its founder members. We dip our revolutionary banners in their living memory as we pay tribute to their contribution to the struggle for freedom, peace, justice and democracy in Swaziland.

SSN does not believe the royally edited information and blatant lies about what happened on the fateful night of September 20, 2008, the day that swallowed two giant revolutionaries. The tinkundla free Swaziland will cherish this day as having contributed immensely to their freedom and a befitting monument of freedom will be erected in their honour, for their selfless service to a democratic and free Swaziland where all will live together harmoniously and with peaceful neighbourliness without the oppression by the other.

Comrade Jack Govender, on the insistence of Prince Musa who introduced him to PUDEMO, was the founder member of Swaziland Solidarity Network, in fact he was the main drive for its establishment, and was the first one to establish contact with the progressive liberation movement in Swaziland post South African democratic breakthrough in 1994, People's United Democratic Movement [PUDEMO], Swaziland Federation Of Trade Unions [SFTU], Swaziland Youth Congress [SWAYOCO], Swaziland Association Of Students [SAS] where he met MJ and the then Swaziland Democratic Alliance.

He left South Africa in December 1998 to pursue studies and work in the USA and later would travel the world. He came back to South Africa in February 2008 and continued his work for the liberation of Swaziland through the solidarity network. It is only befitting that he fell in Swaziland the land he fought so much to liberate from royal dictatorship, his internationalist blood and that of his friend and comrade Musa will nourish the germinating seed of freedom that will soon bear the Swazi tree of freedom which one day even the royal oppressors will bask under its protection of comfortable shade of freedoms.

As we pay tribute to these gallant heroes of our freedom struggle, ardent internationalists, we reject with all contempt the insinuations by the autocratic Swazi regime police that theirs was an evil act of terror. They were forced to those conditions, to confront the enemy head on, by the autocratic regime and undemocratic government of King Mswati III, who abrogated all national powers -judicial, legislative and executive unto himself through the unfortunate and the sad decree of April 12, 1973. Until today Swaziland remains a dictatorship under King Mswati III and his royal cohorts. Theirs was a just struggle from which all and what is necessary remain justified to use against human oppression and for the cause of justice and the liberation of their fellow countrymen and women.

We have also noted with disgust the manner in which the royally influenced media has attacked the integrity of comrade MJ. This is expected from their quarters who serve their masters. MJ was a hero of the Swaziland struggle for freedom and was not a coward. He did not allow his law studies to blind and limit him from freeing his people and for that we will always remember him both as a great legal mind and great patriot who loved his country for which he gave his blood, the greatest honour any revolutionary can attest for his country. The sacrifice of his thriving law practice to concentrate on the freedom of his people is greatly appreciated and acknowledged by all of us who worked with him.

To all peace loving Swazis, patriots and democrats across all the sectors we call upon you to remain focused and steady in the just struggle for a free, peaceful and democratic Swaziland and we call on you to unite during this time of pain in Swaziland, to join hands and face the common social and political challenges facing you, to work together and confront the tinkundla system to totally destroy it and usher in a democratic dispensation.

We call on to strengthen the revolutionary foundation of the Swaziland United Democratic Front to take the final challenge for your country's liberation for which MJ was a prime architect from its initial conception. We remain available for any support that is possible and within our capacity towards a free and democratic Swaziland. We can only remind you that for your liberation arise the consciousness of the masses who are the ultimate arbiter of their fate and social condition, deepen your roots in them and observe the spectacle of a people's revolution in motion.

To their respective families we sincerely pass our deepest condolences and regrets for these untimely deaths. May they know that we all share their pain and grief and thus help to lessen their pain. We also loved them, they were our comrades and brothers but we know your pain is immeasurable.

To our beloved comrades as we bid them our final farewell, may their undying revolutionary spirit live on and help to inspire many young revolutionaries to take up their spears and soldier on until Swaziland is free and indeed until humanity is totally free from hunger, illiteracy, disease and dictators. Lalani ngoxolo maqhawe a maqwawe, so hlala si ni khumbula nge zenzo zeno! Yours was an heroic action, not an act of cowardice, and accordingly will spur us on until Swaziland is finally free from the unjust system of tinkundla oppression. Our banners are flying half mast for you comrades – rest in peace!

Issued by the Swaziland Solidarity Network-South Africa Chapter

For more information contact Lucky Lukhele, 072 502 4141, lucky.lukhele@gmail.com

Jack Govender: A Che Guevara of our time

Jack Govender, aka Sipho Khumalo, has made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. An internationalist in every sense, he laid down his life not for 'his people' in any narrow sense, but for his people in the broader sense that he took oppression and suffering anywhere as his own.

Jack's commitment to liberation did not start with his role in founding SSN. He was a community and political activist in his hometown of Durban. He was a student activist in SANSCO and SASCO during his days at the University of Durban-Westville. Jack left the country during the early 1990's for military training with Umkhonto we Sizwe. This was not the ordinary path for someone coming from his background. Other people could have just focussed on their studies, stayed as a student activist, or started working – but Jack was not somebody ordinary. On returning from military training he was integrated as an MK into the SANDF. But soon he was looking for other avenues for making a contribution. Jack was also a trade unionist, working for POPCRU and spearheading their political education. He was active in the ANC, ANCYL, and SACP.

Meanwhile, South Africa had gained freedom from apartheid but just next door Swaziland was still under the yoke of royal oppression. Jack threw himself into the Swazi struggle for freedom, democracy, and socialism. He could have just settled for a government job, or got some tenders, enjoying the fruits of a free South Africa that he had himself struggled for. But he could not relax in that freedom while just a few hundred kilometres away people could not enjoy the same freedom.

At that time the Swaziland struggle was not fashionable in South Africa: there was no SSN, no marches or meetings. Jack's commitment to that struggle was in a pure spirit of selfless internationalism and he did not seek any limelight.

He is the first South African to lay down his life for the Swaziland struggle, but there is a long and proud history of Swazi participation in the South African struggle for freedom, even in the face of collaboration between the Swaziland and apartheid regimes. Swazi revolutionaries such as Keith MacFadden fought and died for South African freedom. This was not interference, but internationalism; and it is fitting that the spirit of internationalism continues today.

Jack did not define himself as Indian, or even just as a South African; rather as a human who felt other people's suffering as his own. He was really someone special. And he did take pleasure in life: he was free with people and enjoyed music, playing guitar, and dancing.

Jack was one of very few people that actually lived his life in the spirit of Che Guevara. And indeed like Che, he died suddenly in another country fighting for freedom. Jack is the embodiment of the internationalist spirit, something so rare in this century.

It is still difficult to believe that Jack is no more. He had a full life, but still had so much to live for. We can only be comforted by knowing that he had long ago made a commitment of being willing to die for his beliefs, took a course that did indeed put his own life at risk for a noble cause, and died fighting for freedom. Jack and his comrade MJ will be remembered in history as the first revolutionary martyrs of the Swaziland struggle.

By comrade Fiona SACP, ANC, SSN member

I am a very worried Swazi studying outside Swaziland,reason being government claimed there is no money for my education. I am very suprised a double celebration was stage. I hope Swazis wake up and smell the coffee. The king is the source of our troubles. My mother is a teacher, she lives her life to see me get my degree. The king claims Swaziland is fine. If Swaziland is fine why are his children studying abroad and not at UNISWA? Why dont they use public government schools? Why is he not driven in one car with few escorts? I have been paying tax since the day I turned 18 years, but I dont have a scholarship. I wonder if mswatis USA and British based kids pay tax, I doubt it. Why are we made to suffer like this? Other countries are moving forward whilst our country is moving backwards just because of one mans big ego. King Mswati should just do everyone a favour and step down. Swazis are dying of hunger and HIV/AIDS and the govrnment does not care, they just want to organise birthday parties for a evil man at our expense. I dont blame them, the fools have to eat too. How long are we going to watch this happen? and am wondering why the swazi people are not standing up. Things are not going well. There are no jobs for skilled labour. Government is ran by uneducated criminals looting our taxea dry. How does king mswati sleep at night. Sometimes i wish i Could wake up to news of his death. That would the the greatest day for Swaziland, the devil would have died. People are watching and helping him oppress the us. I hate the monarchy. Their lives are improving whilst ours detoriate yet we are the tax payers. The king has lots of shares in the big companies, what are we supposed to own. I humbly appeal the world to please help Swaziland. This is a serious case. DOWN WITH THE MONARCHY!

MBABANE, 20 October 2008 (IRIN) - An international conference of NGOs dedicated to social change took place in Swaziland despite the government banning the meeting on grounds of public safety; it had alleged some of the delegates were supporters of terrorism.

The Southern African Social Forum (SASF) holds its annual meeting in a different country each year. The greatest attendance was achieved in 2005, when the forum convened in Zimbabwe and 4,000 people participated.

This year only about 200 delegates convened in Manzini, Swaziland's commercial hub, from 16 to 19 October, after a High Court ruling overturned the government's ban.

The low attendance was attributed to confusion by foreign delegates over the government's original restriction, announced by Acting Prime Minister Bheki Dlamini, and the reluctance of local groups to attend a function officially disallowed by their political leaders.

The first day of the forum also conflicted with King Mswati's summoning of Swazis to a meeting at the traditional royal village at Ludzidzini, where he angrily denounced political radicals, alleging that they had vowed a campaign of bombings to press for democratic reform. He said such elements would be "strangled". Mswati is sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch.

No political group has claimed responsibility for a bomb blast last month at a road bridge close to King Mswati's Lozitha palace, in which two of the bombers died and one was wounded in the premature explosion.

One of the deceased was a member of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), one of the country's banned political parties, but PUDEMO denied any organisational involvement. At least two South African nationals were among the bombers.

Acting Prime Minister Dlamini, a member of the royal clan and regarded as a hardliner, ordered the SASF meeting to be banned on the grounds that participating labour groups - South Africa's Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) - had approved of the 21 September explosion.

Bombing campaign

Dlamini alleged that a campaign of bombings was sanctioned to press for political reform at an August 2008 meeting of labour groups in South Africa. "Soon after the [highway bombing] incident, supporters of the bombers came out, congratulating the bombers for their so-called 'heroic' act. Some of the formations are the very ones that will be participating in the Southern African Social Forum," he told a press conference.

"The Swaziland government is not aware of any government in the world that would sit and fold its arms, and allow strategies that would negatively affect the peace and security of the country concerned to be developed within its own borders."

Dlamini told the forum's Swaziland sponsor, the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Government Organisations (CANGO), an umbrella body of the country's NGOs, to inform SASF delegates that the conference was cancelled.

Instead, CANGO's director, Emmanuel Ndlangamandla, along with the SFTU and the Swaziland Federation of Labour, successfully petitioned the High Court to overturn the prohibition. The court declared that the government had acted beyond its power by imposing the ban, which was unconstitutional.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revoked an agreement with CANGO allowing them to use Manzini's International Trade Fair, which the ministry runs, for the SASF meeting. The delegates convened in marquees on the sports ground of a Manzini high school, where they discussed poverty alleviation strategies, HIV/AIDS issues and other humanitarian matters.

The forum's historic anti-capitalism thrust, established at its outset, was fuelled by the current global economic crisis, which delegates said would negatively impact on the poor in African nations.

"We were told that your coming would cause anarchy in the Kingdom of Swaziland," Comfort Mabuza, chairman of the CANGO board of directors, said in his address to the delegates. "We were told that bombs would explode, but no bombs exploded and there was no anarchy."

However, the police reported that a bomb was discovered and removed on Friday beneath a highway bridge in Ezulwini, five kilometres east of the capital, Mbabane. SASF officials said they had no knowledge of the incident.

jh/oa/he

Themes: (IRIN) Governance, (IRIN) Human Rights

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