Sept 1 SD 2008

The situation is Swaziland is rapidly reaching a monumental crisis as the king refuses to listen to reason. The public is outraged over the blatant arrogance and disregard which is shown by the aristocracy. It seems the royalty can never satisfy their lust for extravagance nor loosen their fist-tight grip on absolute power.

The upcoming 40/40 celebration of Sept 6 has been criticised for months. An overflowing amount of cash has been directed to this one day event which has received the scorn of civic organisations, public health employees, banned political parties, unions, and educators. This superficial ceremonial spectacle of "independence" would be laughable if it were not so destructive. It might be comical if it were not criminal.

While the general populace suffers from a lack of food, lack of employment, inadequate health care, no political rights, etc., the "big spenders" are living the high life. That is their inalienable right. They follow a creed which allows for elitism and discrimination. Incapable of understanding the notion of equal rights, their wealth, they argue, is God given and surely their God knows best!

But the Swazi people collectively are far greater than the Dlamini aristocracy and it is those people who are now marching through the streets in protest.

On Aug 16, after the local papers published a report about nine of the king's wives (as well as their children, servants and bodyguards) who all went on a holiday shopping spree to the Middle East and Thailand, over 1000 women of Swaziland reacted.

University students marched a few days later. They are furious about the 40/40 spending while scholarships are awarded yet later student are told "the funds are dry."

Unions are united and have called for a general strike on Sept 3-4. The powerful Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), in solidarity with Swazi unions and the Swazi people, has said they will prevent goods from exiting or entering Swaziland for the entire week leading up to Saturday, Sept 6.

Since Dr Gabriel Mkhumane, Deputy President of PUDEMO, was killed in April 2008, many PUDEMO leaders and members have been targeted. Harassment, detention, midnight interrogations and physical attacks against political activists have dramatically increased. Now, more than anytime during its 25 year history, are hundreds of PUDEMO members at risk of the intensified state brutality. It is under these grave conditions that PUDEMO has declared it will, in self-defense, protect its members.

And finally, the Sept 19 election is still scheduled to go forward although the primary nominations were a "fiasco." This king Mswati III is not willing to share one iota of power.


Aug 30 Pigging it at 40/40 secretariat
Aug 30 SFTU, SNACS unite
Aug 29 SSN PRESS RELEASE
Aug 28 ‘SD’s healthcare on brink of collapse’
Aug 27 SSN CONDEMNS ARREST OF PUDEMO NATIONAL ORGANIZER
Aug 27 UNISWA students protest against 40-40
Aug 27 More BMWs for Mswati's Birthday Bash
Aug 25 His Majesty is 2nd richest in Africa?
Aug 25 Civic Organisations' Statement on the EBC fiasco
Aug 23 Swazis march against lavish trip
Aug 16 Memorandum to SADC Summit on Zimbabwe and Swaziland


To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

Information compiled by T. Debly