US NOT TO FUND SWAZI FREEDOM FIGHT

A deep black cloud of mystery hangs over a report that Freedom House of the United States is to give ‘unlimited’ funding to progressive groups in Swaziland to help the fight for democracy.

As I wrote yesterday (6 May 2009), the Times of Swaziland Sunday edition reported Musa Hlophe, the coordinator of the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Organisations (SCCCO), saying the money would be channelled through his NGO and would be made available to groups such as the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF).

It was a great story and, I said, it showed the Americans were truly committed to advancing democracy in Swaziland. There’s only one problem: it’s not happening. Or as SCCCO said in a media release: Quite simply untrue. Exaggerations of the grossest nature. There are no unlimited funds.

SCCCO says, ‘The facts are these: The Coalition has been working with Freedom House on capacity building of its staff and some of its members and partners. This has entailed a series of interviews and workshops in various parts of the country. The support was practical rather than financial and at no stage has funding been transferred from Freedom House to the Coalition. While we hope to continue the Partnership at present, funding has not been found to do so. We would like to place on record our gratitude for the support from Freedom House.’

It is disappointing that more isn’t being done to help, but how is it that the activities between SCCCO and Freedom House were reported in the way they were? The Times Sunday had an interview with Musa Hlophe and according to the newspaper he told them funds were on the way.

How was there such a complete breakdown in communication between SCCCO and the newspaper?

The conspiracy theorists are out in force. According to Hlophe, ‘A rumour has been started by those who object to civil society playing a positive role in the development of the country.’ He went on to say that suggestions made in the Times Sunday report that some of the funds would go to banned organisations such as the People’s United Democratic Front (PUDEMO) were ‘mischief making of the highest order’.

Other theories doing the rounds on the Internet are that the Times was pressured into printing a false story after it got in trouble with King Mswati III over his purchase of armoured cars; that the ruling regime thought it would encourage infighting over cash at the SUDF; and there are even doubts about SCCCO’s account of the incident.

I don’t think they’ve got it right. As an academic who has studied the media in Swaziland face on I know that many individuals and organisations are not very good at expressing what they mean (read Hlophe’s regular column in the Times Sunday to see what I mean). Add to this the fact that reporters often misunderstand what is being said to them. Then, because in Swaziland, there is no culture of questioning, reporters tend not to seek clarification. The result: confusion.

Not so much conspiracy then just a good old cock-up. Probably.

US FUNDS FIGHT FOR SWAZI FREEDOM

The Americans seem to be true to their word when the Swazi Ambassador said the United States would support groups that are campaigning for democracy in the kingdom.

News comes this week that ‘unlimited’ funding is to be made available to what the kingdom’s only independent newspaper, the Times of Swaziland, calls ‘progressives and members of civil society’ to assist in projects designed to ‘liberate’ the kingdom. Issues around the rule of law, gender issues and giving voice to the voiceless are thought to be priorities.

According to the Times, the organisations receiving funding will be able to mobilise support of people at grassroots level all over Swaziland.

The funding will be managed by the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisation (SCCCO) and issues around the rule of law, gender and giving a voice to the voiceless will be priorities..

The funding comes through a partnership between SCCCO and Freedom House, a donor organisation based in the US that describes itself as ‘a non-profit, nonpartisan organization [that] is a clear voice for democracy and freedom around the world’.

According to Musa Hlophe, SCCCO coordinator, the funding will be used by non-government organisations, such as the Swaziland United Democratic Front, which has members including organisations deemed to be ‘terrorist’ organisations by Barnabas Dlamini, the illegally-appointed Prime Minister of Swaziland. These are the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO).

Hlophe told the Times that Freedom House was very practical and wanted people to work and not host endless fruitless meetings.

He said the organisation had pledged an unlimited amount of funds to be used in various projects for the kingdom’s struggle. He said the funding has no cap and there is an unlimited pool of funds waiting.

The move follows the announcement by Maurice Parker, the US Ambassador to Swaziland, in January 2009 that the US Embassy would support pressure groups to ensure that democracy is fulfilled in Swaziland. He said many pressure groups had trouble organising meetings, ensuring freedom of speech, or pursuing the right to assembly freely. He promised he would work with government and all pressure groups to ensure that the bottlenecks to free expression, freedom of association and full political determination are realised in Swaziland.

Swaziland is presently ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, political parties are banned, parliament has very few real powers and the king makes most of the important decisions in the kingdom.

CLARIFICATION. The SCCCO released a media statement denying that unlimited funds were to be made available by Freedom House. See US NOT TO FUND SWAZI FREEDOM FIGHT

A WINDOW IN SWAZILAND

US Ambassador to Swaziland Maurice Parker got in hot water with the Swazi Government last month (January 2009) when he said his embassy would support pressure groups campaigning for democracy in the kingdom.

To put it crudely, he was told to mind his own business by Swazi Foreign Minister Lufto Dlamini.

I doubt very much that we’ve heard the last from Ambassador Parker or his American colleagues.

He has clearly unsettled the non-democratic regime in Swaziland and this window display at the US information centre library in Mbabane, the capital of Swaziland, won’t make them any happier.

I haven’t seen Lufto Dlamini’s library card so I can’t report that he was among the first people to check out the two books on display (Democracy, The Right to Strike).

Picture source: The Language Business