COSATU CALLS FOR SWAZI KING BAN

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has joined the chorus of condemnation against the presence of Swaziland King Mswati III at the inauguration tomorrow (9 May 2009) of Jacob Zuma as president of South Africa.

Cosatu joins the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) which have already condemned the king’s attendance.

King Mswati is sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch and rules a kingdom where political parties are banned, the parliament has very few powers and the king makes all the important decisions.

Below is a media release from Coastu.

Swaziland: Dictator Not Welcome

8 May 2009

The Congress of South African Trade Unions fully supports the call by the Swaziland Solidarity Network and others for South Africa not to permit King Mswati III of Swaziland to attend the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma on 9 May 2009.

The Presidential inauguration will be a celebration of democracy, the culmination of a long process in which first the rank-and-file of the African National Congress and then the people of South Africa have democratically selected a president and government of their choice. Comrade Jacob Zuma is a worthy recipient of the honour which is to be bestowed upon him by the people.

King Mswati on the other hand has been elected by nobody. He inherited his position of absolute power and has used it to deny his people any democratic rights. The leader of the PUDEMO democratic opposition movement, Mario Masuku, has been incarcerated in jail since 15 November 2008. Opposition parties remain banned, trade union rights are curtailed and any opposition demonstrations are ruthlessly suppressed.

The presence of this despot at the inauguration will be an insult to all the people of Africa. It will give him credibility and democratic credentials which he does not deserve. South Africa should not make the same blunder as the Southern African Development Community which incredible elected him as the Chairperson of the SADC Organ Troika, which is supposed to be enforcing the regional community’s commitment to democracy. He should be treated as a pariah.

COSATU calls upon all its members to refuse to provide any goods or services to the King if he should set foot in South Africa. The federation will continue to give every possible assistance to the Swazi people’s struggle for democracy and respect for human rights.

‘SWAZI KING WANTS EDITORS’ HEADS’

What follows is something that journalist like to call ‘unconfirmed reports’ and ordinary folk call ‘rumours’. If any reader has more information, please let me know.

Swaziland’s King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, has demanded that Martin Dlamini, managing editor of the kingdom’s only independent daily newspaper the Times of Swaziland, and Mbongeni Mbingo, editor of the Times Sunday, both be sacked for publishing reports that the king had bought up to 20 top-of-the-range Mercedes cars at a cost of about 2.5 million US dollars (E25 million).

The king has also demanded that Vusi Sibisi and Mfomfo Nkhambule both be dropped as columnists by the Times.

We know that Nkhambule has been dropped because he has said so publicly. Martin Dlamini said at the time he was not forced to drop Nkhambule, he did so because the Times was undergoing routine changes with regards to content.

I hear that Times publisher Paul Loffler was hauled before the king and told to produce invoices to back up his story about the cars and then he was forced to apologise when he couldn’t. These apologies appeared in both the Times and the Times Sunday.

What we do know as fact is that King Mswati has intimidated the Times group before. In 2007 it was forced to make an apology or face immediate closure after it repeated a news agency report that was critical of the king.

Nkhambule gained international attention for his articles that appeared each Monday in the Times and were largely critical of Swaziland’s ruling elite, including the king. He was hauled in by Swaziland’s state police and threatened with torture if he continued to criticise the king. He was later dropped from his traditional regiment, threatened with banishment from his homeland, and his family was threatened because he refused to be silenced.

Mbongeni Mbingo, made headlines himself in 2007 when a Swaziland Senate select committee cleared him of contempt of parliament for an article he had written critical of parliamentarians. The committee said he had a right to free speech protected by the constitution.

If any reader has more information email me swazimedia@yahoo.com

SACP: 'BAN SWAZI KING FROM S AFRICA'

Opposition is growing against inviting Swaziland King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, to the inauguration of South African President Jacob Zuma this weekend.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has joined the Swaziland Solidarity Network in calling for the invitation to be withheld on the grounds that the king rules an undemocratic kingdom. Political parties are banned in Swaziland and the parliament has no real powers with all important decisions taken by the king.

Statement from SA Communist Party

Mswati knows no democracy!

The SACP has noted the invitation sent out to King Mswati III to attend the inauguration of Cde Jacob Zuma as President of the Republic on the 9^th May 2009 and we are aware that he has duly confirmed.

Whilst government has a right to invite heads of state to the inauguration of our President, the SACP wishes to express its strong displeasure at the presence of King Mswati at a ceremony that in many ways is also a celebration of democracy that he has denied his people. By highlighting this matter we wish to strongly signal that it is time now for SADC [Southern African Development Community] and our government to put serious pressure on King Mswati for the democratization of Swaziland.

The Tikundla system based on the banning of political parties and suppression of freedom of association and political activity is one of the most oppressive systems in the contemporary period. Whilst the King will be enjoying the festivities associated with our democratic advances, he has subjected the people of Swaziland to hunger and poverty whilst he and his family enjoy a lavish lifestyle.

Millions of rands are being wasted in Swaziland to finance the Mswati dynasty; which includes throwing expensive birthday parties, procurement of luxury vehicles and financing personal shopping sprees; whilst the majority of the people do not have access to basic services and the HIV/AIDS pandemic is ravaging the country.

Since the 15^th November 2008, the President of PUDEMO [the People’s United Democratic Movement], Cde Mario Masuku has been detained and refused visit by human rights groups who wanted to have an audience with him. His cardinal sin is his acceptance of the heavy responsibility to lead the liberation movement of the people of Swaziland. One of our comrades has been detained and badly tortured by the Swazi police after he was involved in a terrible car accident that left two of our fellow compatriots dead. The regime has stepped up its undemocratic practices when they also detained the President and the Secretary General of SWAYOCO [Swaziland Youth Congress].

The man who is at the helm of these human right abuses deserves no seat at our most revered celebration this Saturday. For far too long South Africa, SADC and the AU [African Union] have turned a blind eye to the brutalities and injustices meted out to the Swazi people.

The SACP supports the call made by the Swaziland Solidarity Network that the workers protest by refusing to handle anything that has got to do with the King should he defy logic and attend the inauguration.

Workers of the World Unite!!

Issued by the SACP

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

SWAZI KING NOT WELCOME IN S AFRICA

The following is a statement issued today (5 May 2009) by the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) calling on King Mswati III of Swaziland, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, to stay away from the inauguration of recently-elected South African President Jacob Zuma.

SSN says if he does turn up workers in South Africa should refuse to have anything to do with him.

‘THE DESPOTIC SWAZILAND KING MSWATI IS UNWELCOME IN SOUTH AFRICA’ - SSN

SSN calls on the authoritarian Swazi King to stay at home

The Swaziland Solidarity Network calls upon the Swazi tyrannical King Mswati III, not to set foot in South Africa for the inauguration of our President elect, Comrade Jacob Zuma. President elect Jacob Zuma is a seasoned democrat and a product of popular grassroots participatory struggles by ordinary members of the ANC, [African National Congress] backed recently by the electorate in large numbers. He has never spent R100 million [10 million US dollars] on his personal birthday and another R50 million on 20 luxury Mercedes Benz S600 with plasma screens and fridges inside, whilst his own people go hungry.

Many of our members are members of the ANC and its alliance partners, the SACP [South African Communist Party] and Cosatu [Congress of South African Trade Unions]. They have campaigned hard to set this truly democratic example. It is a victory for all forces of democracy in the entire region, including the oppressed people in Swaziland.

The presence of Mswati the despot will be a major travesty. It will diminish our inauguration. Mswati must stay home, release Pudemo [People’s United Democratic Movement] President Mario Masuku who is jailed since November 15 2008. He must unban political parties and allow a new people centred constitutional development process and democratize Swaziland.

We call upon our allies to support our call not to handle anything for the benefit of Mswati, including members of Cosatu in our national airline, catering workers in hotels, drivers and securities in SATAWU [South African Transport and Allied Workers Union] and POPCRU [Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union] not to usher, feed, clean Mswati’s hotel room and drive him around with our taxpayers money. Should he insist on coming, he should cook for himself or buy take aways, clean his own room and drive himself to union buildings.

SSN calls on other democratically elected and dignified Presidents to refuse to sit next to him. Mswati must be isolated.

We will furthermore meet him on the streets at his embassy in Pretoria on Friday (8 May 2009) starting at 10am, to demonstrate for the world to see, as we have done every Friday since January this year.

We wish President elect Jacob Zuma a successful inauguration, whilst Mswati is preparing to stay home on Saturday the 9th May 2009.

We look forward to work with the new administration, in mobilizing South Africans from all corners, to end the authoritarian backward system of Tinkhundla, for the release of political prisoners and the democratisation of Swaziland.

Released by the Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN]

WORKER DAY ACTIVITIES IN SWAZILAND

The following is a statement released by the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) regarding Worker Day activities in Swaziland. PUDEMO is banned in Swaziland and was also named as a ‘terrorist organisation’ by Barnabas Dlamini, the illegally-appointed Swazi Prime Minister. Members and supporters of PUDEMO face up to 25 years in jail under Swaziland’s Suppression of Terrorism Act.

Readers might also like to know that photographs of Worker Day activities in Swaziland appear on the s1kamd blog here.

STATEMENT ON WORKERS DAY – 4 May 2009

The 1 May 2009 will be remembered as a very significant turning point in the history of the trade union movement is Swaziland. This is because of the fact that we witnessed the workers from the three worker groupings in the country namely the SFL, SFTU and SNAT; and the Swaziland United Democratic Front celebrating the day together for the second consecutive year running. This clearly gives hope that PUDEMO’s call for “one industry one federation” shall soon be realized. The message from all the speakers on the day was very clear and it touched on the following demands:

• A living wage, non-taxation of benefits and full recognition of workers rights.
• Constitutional multi-party democracy.
• The release of PUDEMO President Mario Masuku.
• The return of all exiles.
• The scrapping of the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008.

The Deputy President of PUDEMO Sikhumbuzo Phakathi and the President of PUDEMO Youth League Wandile Dludlu made powerful and eloquent addresses to the thousands of workers who clearly embraced PUDEMO as their political organization despite the so called ‘ban’ by the royal regime in Swaziland.

Of course their addresses and presence were never reported in the local media. Instead the media reported mostly on the entertainment that was provided on the day. This clearly shows that our media greatly lacks independence.

We are reliably informed that these days the state is really tightening the screws on the media and has been infuriated by the recent reports on the E/R 25m spent on cars during the King’s birthday. The forced ‘apologies’ we see in the local newspapers is not a coincidence, but is a result of the threats and pressure visited on the media by the state over this particular issue. And so the media personnel are protecting their jobs. Reporting on PUDEMO has come with horrible threats from the state directed to the personnel in the media sector.

Although the event was successful, we note that the organizers had to go through difficult challenges deliberately imposed by the state. Firstly we note that workers were denied the use of both the Trade Fair Ground and the Mavuso Sports Ground that was opened by the King during his recent birthday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in collaboration with the notorious Manzini City Council/Municipality deliberately denied the workers the right to use these facilities that were constructed by through their hard earned taxes.

Secondly, the state through its security agents attempted to interfere with the programme by instructing the organizers to remove from the day’s programme. However, the labour leadership remained resolute and refused to comply with the order. The ‘high ranking’ police officers left with their tails between their legs with embarrassment in front of the multitudes of workers!

As PUDEMO, we congratulate the unity and resoluteness displayed by the workers of Swaziland in their quest for both political and economic liberation from the clutches of the corrupt and repressive royal regime. There is strength in unity. AMANDLA!!