The Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] is to restart its regular protest picket outside the Swaziland Consulate in Braampark, Braamfontein, Johannesburg , South Africa.
The pickets take place on the first and last Fridays of each month. The first of the new series is on 21 January 2011. The picket starts at 13.00 hrs.
SSN said, ‘We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all three comrades because they are political prisoners who cannot have a free and fair trial under the prevailing system of governance in Swaziland.
‘These pickets are a continuation of those demanding the release of Amos Mbendzi and Mario Masuku from 2008 to 2009. To this day we insist that the release of Masuku was a result of political pressure rather than a mere judicial one.’
A draft programme of action has been drawn up for the Global Day of Actionfor Swaziland democracy.
It includes boycotting the cell phone company MTN in protest at the exorbitant tariffs it charges because of its monopoly position.
The Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC), which released details of the programme, said MTN was ‘also notorious for violating customer information/records confidentiality and allowing police to intercept private calls'.
Twenty civil society groups came together to draw up the final programme for the action which takes place from 6 – 8 September 2010.
There will be two separate protest marches, one in Manzini and the other in Mbabane. The march in Mbabane will stop to deliver petitions ‘to such overtly pro-state (uncritical) public institutions as the Swazi Observer Group of newspapers and the Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Service (SBIS)'.
A separate petition will be delivered to the Minister of Justice calling for a speedy trial of incarcerated Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) members Bheki Dlamini and Zonke Dlamini who were recently denied bail on charges of throwing bottles of petrol.
SDC also says delegations of support were also expected from the United Kingdom, Germany, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Ghana and Australia.
Yet another member of the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO)member has fallen victim to the Swazi government’s scheme to smear the good name of the movement by arresting its members in connection with the recent spate of petrol bombings. Bheki Dlamini, a young man from Mpofu, in the Northern side of the country, was arrested at his flat at Mhlaleni, a township just outside Manzini.
This makes him the second activist within a week that has be arrested and charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act after the arrest of Zonke Dlamini last week Friday. He is alleged to have been involved in the bombing of the residences of the police PRO and the member of parliament of Mtsambama, David ‘Lion’ Shongwe.
The state plans to arrest as many political activists as possible and keep them behind bars indefinitely, knowing well that it does not have any evidence linking them to the crimes for which they have been arrested. The 16 activists, including the recently murdered Sipho Jele, who were arrested in 2005 after a spate of bombings, are still awaiting trial even today. In their case at least they were allowed bail.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network is extremely disappointed with the rate at which the political climate in Swaziland is deteriorating and calls upon all pro-democratic movements and parties in that country to intensify the struggle for democracy in order to save these youth from lengthy jail sentences.
Another member of the banned Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) has been arrested and charged in connection with the recent spate of petrol bottle attacks.
Bheki Dlamini, aged 28, was arrested on Wednesday (16 June 2010) and charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Actin connection with several counts relating to petrol ‘bombings’ of the homes of Mtsambama Member of Parliament Bheki Mkhonta and police Public Relations Officer Senior Superintendent Vusi Masuku. He is also linked in the ‘bombing’ of a police camp at Buhleni and Mayiwane Member of Parliament David ‘Lion’ Shongwe’s house.
According to the Times of Swaziland,the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom, Dlamini is currently being kept at an unidentified police station and will today (18 june 2010) appear at the High Court.
Dlamini’s arrest comes days after another member of SWAYOCO, Zonke Thokozani Tradewell Dlamini, was arrested and charged in connection with the ‘bombings’ of houses belonging to the police PRO and Mtsambama MP. He has already made an appearance at the High Court where terrorism related charges were also preferred against him.
Swaziland state forces are cracking down on pro-democracy campaigners in the kingdom. Five activists were arrested earlier today (11 June 2010) and have not yet been released,
1. Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) Secretary General, Vincent Ncongwane’s house was broken into and a laptop was stolen on the 30th May, the night he was supposed to have left for the ongoing Geneva Conference. No arrests have been made.
2. Bheki Dlamini, a Trade Unionist and former Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) leader’s house was raided by the police on the 2nd June.
3. Themba Shiba, a SWAYOCO member and activist’s house was also raided by the police on the 2nd June.
4. Ndlavela Dlamini, the President of the Swaziland Ex-Mineworkers Association’s house was raided by the police on the 4th June.
5. Sydney Nyembe, the coordinator of the Swaziland Economic Justice Network’s house was raided on the 4th June.
6. George Hleta, a SWAYOCO member’s house was raided by the police also on the 4th June.
7. Alex Langwenya, the National Organising Secretary of the SUDF’s house was bombed on the night of the 8th June. The bomb used was a commercial one and of the capacity that could only be in the possession of the police or army and not a mere citizen. Of note is that Langwenya, his wife, and brother were arrested and not permitted legal representation. The question that arises is why they were arrested? Other victims of the recent spate of bombings, which include the police themselves and MPs, have not been arrested. Langwenya has subsequently been charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act for materials found in his possession as immediately the police arrived at his home they proceeded to raid it.
9. Mphandlana Shongwe, a member of the SDC Swaziland Chapter’s house was raided by the police in the morning of the 11th June.
10. Mary Pais Da Silva, the SDC Swaziland Chapter’s Convener’s mother received members of the police force at her home in the morning of the 11th June. Mary was not home and the police did not proceed to raid the place whose intention it had been to do so.
11. Also in the morning of the 11th June, a contingent of police officers was spotted proceeding to the home of Dr. Sikelela Dlamini, the SDC Swaziland Chapter’s Secretary. They probably got lost on the way and were unable to carry out their mission.
12. In morning of the 11th June, the following were taken into custody and have not been released as yet:
a) Thabile Zwane, Secretary General of SWAYOCO.
b) Zonke Dlamini and another unidentified male, both members of SWAYOCO.
c) Thabani Mdluli, a SWAYOCO member.
d) Machawe, a vibrant SNUS member.
13. The following are being kept under close surveillance by the police:
a) Sicelo Mkhonta, a SWAYOCO member.
b) Sicelo Vilane, a SWAYOCO member.
c) Thantaza Silolo, a SWAYOCO member.
d) Themba Shiba, a SWAYOCO member.
The SDC says these raids are carried out without any search or arrest warrants.
It says, ‘This is arbitrary abuse of power, lack of respect for the rule of law as well as untold human rights violation.’
