BISHOPS FEARS ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Bishops of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa say they are deeply disturbed by news of growing human rights abuses in Swaziland, a kingdom sandwiched between South Africa and Mozambique., the Anglican Communion News Service reports.

The bishops, meeting in Benoni near Johannesburg from 27 to 29 September for their twice-yearly synod, challenged their church to become more involved in the quest for democracy in Swaziland.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town, the leader of the church, said on 30 September he could not remain silent on the issue of democracy in Swaziland, ‘where power and wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, and political debate is hardly permitted’.

A state of emergency has existed in Swaziland for the past 37 years. Freedom of expression is severely limited, opposition political parties are banned, and reports of police arresting and beating up critics are frequent.

Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), a not-for-profit organization, alleges that there is now less political freedom in Swaziland than in another neighbour of South Africa - Zimbabwe - where Robert Mugabe has been president for 30 years.

ARCHBISHOP BACKS DEMOCRACY FIGHT

Just as some senior church leaders in Swaziland are saying that they should keep out of politics comes news that Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference has voiced concerns over the death in jail of Swazi democracy activist Sipho Jele.

Tlhagale says the circumstances of Jele’s death, ‘reminds us of apartheid tactics that were used against those who were challenging the status quo in South Africa’.



The Independent Catholic News reports Tlhagale saying that since Swaziland’s constitution came into effect in 2006 state repression has increased.

Tlhagale says, ‘As President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, I have written to President Zuma to ask the South African government to take part in normalising the situation before it resembles what happened in Zimbabwe. I have asked President Zuma to consider a mediating role to facilitate a climate of dialogue among all stakeholders in Swaziland.



‘We as the Bishops of Southern Africa support the call by our brother, Bishop Louis Ncamiso Ndlovu of Manzini, Swaziland for the creation of a climate of dialogue between all parties concerned, including the government. We also support and endorse his call for an independent body to be put in place to hold the inquest into the cause of death of Sipho Jele.’

REGIMENT EXPELS SWAZI DISSIDENT

Swazi dissident Mfomfo Nkhambule has been thrown out of his traditional regiment because he won’t stop advocating for democracy in Swaziland.

And he has also been stopped by his church from working as a preacher because his bishop disagrees with his views.

As expected, Nkhambule was told yesterday (21 March 2009) that his writings in the Times of Swaziland newspaper were too critical of King Mswati III and the ruling elite.

King Mswati is sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch and despite a constitution published in 2005, the king has a firm hand on Swaziland, selecting the prime minister and the cabinet. All political parties are banned and the king makes all the important decisions. He and his government regularly ignore the provisions of the constitution.

According to a report in the Times Sunday today, Nkhambule, a former Swaziland Government cabinet minister and present chair of the Inhlava Forum political party was told he was expelled from the regiment at a meeting that lasted two minutes. He was also fined one cow.

Nkhambule said he would probably appeal the decision.

He told the Times Sunday, ‘"I will also continue writing my column in the Times of Swaziland.

‘I intend to fight this issue to the last pint of my blood. Submitting to their ruling would mean that being a Swazi is determined by them, when in actual fact that is not the case. I am a Swazi by birth; no one determines my nationality or cultural activities in which I take part.’

In a separate development, Nkhambule has been stopped from preaching at the church known as World Solutions Ministries.

The Times Sunday reported that Nkhambule disagreed with some of the church’s doctrines.

His church superior, Bishop Lucas, is known to be a fervent supporter of King Mswati III.

Nkhambule has now started his own church.

CATHOLIC BISHOP ATTACKS SWAZI KING

The Roman Catholic Bishop of the Swaziland Diocese of Manzini Louis Ncamiso Ndlovu is the latest voice to cry out against King Mswati III’s war against his own people.

The Bishop says the King’s speech to the people last month when he appointed Barnabas Dlamini
as Prime Minister and told him to get the terrorists and all who support them was ‘highly emotional’ and ‘did not manage to reach out to the marginalized population of this country’.

The Bishop said, ‘On the contrary it further marginalized them and gave a clear indication that there was no desire on the part of the ruling elite to engage them in dialogue. The King emphasized that those who disagreed with the status quo were to be throttled and dealt with harshly. He invoked the old maxim of an eye for an eye. We all know that if we were to live by this maxim the whole nation would become blind.’

In a statement to the media released yesterday (19 November 2008), Bishop Ndlovu said ‘excessive economic, social and cultural inequalities among people [in Swaziland] arouse tensions and conflicts, and are a danger to peace.

‘To wage war on misery and to struggle against injustice is to promote, along with improved conditions, the human and spiritual progress of all persons, and therefore the common good of all humanity.

‘Peace cannot be limited to a mere absence of war. No, peace is something that is built up day after day, in the pursuit of an order intended by God, which implies a more perfect form of justice among people.’

Here is the statement in full.

Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Master reprove your disciples,’ but he answered, ‘I tell you, if these keep silence, the stones will cry out.’(Luke 19: 39-40)

The Roman Catholic Church in Swaziland has been observing, for quite sometime now, the political developments in the country. Quite frequently we have, together with the Council of Swaziland Churches, offered comments and advice on the political developments taking place in the country. This was especially true as Swaziland was embarking on the Constitution making exercise. It was then that we insisted on a more inclusive Constitutional making process. Indeed the principle of subsidiarity teaches us not to make decisions for people who can make these decisions for themselves.

Needless to say, our calls for a more inclusive constitutional making process were not heeded. The Constitution was adopted and a significant portion of the Swazi people was left out of the process. We believe that it was due to being marginalized that led some people to adopt crude and violent methods so as to force change in the country. This is really a cry for attention and recognition. The recent bombings are thus a manifestation of the failure by the ruling elite to engage in serious and honest dialogue with the citizenry.


Nevertheless, we have to mention that the Church condemns all forms of violence. Accordingly therefore: Terrorism is to be condemned in the most absolute terms. It shows complete contempt for human life and can never be justified, since the human person is always an end and never a means. Acts of terrorism strike at the heart of human dignity and are an offense against all humanity; there exists, therefore, a right to defend oneself from terrorism (Pope John Paul II, Message for the 2002 World Day of Peace, 5: AAS 94 (2002), 134.) It is worth mentioning at this stage too, that the Catholic Church also pays attention to the causes of terrorism as outlined and wishes that all should work together to avoid these unfortunate acts.

Indeed, excessive economic, social and cultural inequalities among people arouse tensions and conflicts, and are a danger to peace. To wage war on misery and to struggle against injustice is to promote, along with improved conditions, the human and spiritual progress of all persons, and therefore the common good of all humanity. Peace cannot be limited to a mere absence of war. No, peace is something that is built up day after day, in the pursuit of an order intended by God, which implies a more perfect form of justice among people (Pope Paul VI Populorum Progressio 1967: #480).


The King’s highly emotional speech at the cattle byre did not manage to reach out to the marginalized population of this country. On the contrary it further marginalized them and gave a clear indication that there was no desire on the part of the ruling elite to engage them in dialogue. The King emphasized that those who disagreed with the status quo were to be throttled and dealt with harshly. He invoked the old maxim of an eye for an eye. We all know that if we were to live by this maxim the whole nation would become blind.

The recent appointments to political office and committees also served as a clear indication that the King was intent on maintaining the status quo. Indeed such appointments were bestowed upon the relatives and friends of the ruling class. Such nepotism can only make those who are marginalized be driven to a point of despair.

Last week the Prime Minister dropped a bombshell by putting a clear plan on how to deal with those who disagreed with the ruling elite. He branded a number of liberation movements as terrorists and proclaimed that anyone found to be a member or even associating with them would face the full might of the terrorism act.

The subsequent arrest of the leader of the Peoples’ United Democratic Movement, Mario Masuku, was a clear indication that the dictates of the King were now being adhered to.

In the prevailing political and social climate, the Roman Catholic Church invites all concerned, especially on the side of Government and the ruling elite, to real and serious dialogue. Dialogue, we believe, will bring to the centre all those who have for a long time felt that they were at the margins of the political and economic life of the country. Accordingly, then, we call on all people of goodwill and Parliament, to reject the terrorism act. It is also not too late, to embark on a more inclusive Constitution making process.


The Roman Catholic Church’s main duty is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people as commanded by Christ himself (Mt. 28: 18-20, Acts 1: 8). The command of Christ means that we have to reach out to all people. Church statements on justice and peace are not just directed to Catholics only but also to Non-Catholics. Our mission is to be inclusive all the time. In this we are encouraged by the great example of Jesus who never marginalized people, even those who were considered to be outlaws during his time.

It is worth mentioning too that some members of Pudemo, Swayoco, Swaziland Solidarity Network and Umbane may also be members of the Church. We have, as a Church, every duty to minister to them and not only them, but also to Non-Catholics. This means that we will continue to minister to all people, even those branded by the Government as terrorists. This is a task that Christ has set for us and we will do all in our power to make sure that we attend to it. Jesus promised that he will be with the Church all the time, even during difficult times. We therefore trust in Divine providence, believing that Christ will guide us as we continue with the task of announcing the good news to all people.


The Roman Catholic Church continues to work for peace for all people. Indeed, peace is the goal of life in society, as is made extraordinarily clear in the messianic vision of peace: when all peoples will go up to the Lord’s house, and he will teach them his ways and they will walk along the ways of peace. (Cf. Is 2: 2-5) We look forward to lasting peace when the king rules according to God’s justice, righteousness flourishes and peace abounds ‘till the moon be no more’ (PS 72: 7).


+Louis Ncamiso Ndlovu
Bishop of the Diocese of Manzini
19 November 2008