Swaziland Solidarity Canada

Only democracy can save Swaziland public sector

2010-11-19T17:17:00.000-08:00

Trade unionists attending a workshop as part of a CUPE/South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) project joined with others in Johannesburg on November 18 in a picket to support the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC).

The day before, those marching inside Swaziland to protest the Tinkhundla regime and the economic crisis it has created were attacked by police. The country’s reigning monarch, King Mswati III, has grown rich in a country where 25 per cent of the population has HIV/AIDS – the highest rate in the world, according to the Peoples United Democratic Movement of Swaziland (PUDEMO). He reportedly owns 40 per cent of Swazi mines and more than half of the sugar companies that produce syrup for Coca-Cola in Southern Africa.

Despite that wealth, revenues to the country have declined to the point where the regime has asked for loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and commercial banks, which have all refused. The IMF cited gross mismanagement and disproportionate spending, stating that the average person survives on eight rand per day while each of the 612 members of the royal family lives on about 33,000 rand per day.

The government’s response to the economic crisis has been to threaten the layoff of about 10,000 public sector workers – one-third of the country’s public service – leading to a significant loss of services and loss of income for about 40,000 people supported by those workers.

SAMWU members and other picketers presented a list of demands to the Swazi consul in South Africa, including an end to political repression, solutions to the economic crisis that do not take away jobs and services, and a movement toward democratic government.

Watch the video: Swaziland Democracy Campaign

FROM
http://cupe.ca/global-justice/democracy-save-swaziland-public-sector

CUPE calls for constitutional and democratic order in Swaziland

2010-09-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

Sep 6, 2010 10:21 AM

The following is a letter written by Paul Moist, CUPE national president, to Barnabas Dlamini, Prime Minister of the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland, demanding a return to constitutional and democratic order, as well as an end to violations and abuses of human and workers’ rights.

September 6, 2010

Dear Prime Minister,

On the occasion of Swaziland’s National Day, a day that should normally be one of celebration for all the people of Swaziland, I write to you on behalf of the Canadian Union of Public Employees to express our deep concern about the continuing suppression of democracy and freedom of expression in your country.

Swaziland is a signatory to the African Union’s Charter on Human and People’s Right, International Labour Organisation Conventions, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Principles and Guidelines on Democratic Elections, as well as signatory to other bilateral and multilateral mechanisms for the promotion of democracy and human rights. However, what we currently witness in Swaziland is a culture of gross infringement, violations and abuses of the human and workers’ rights it has pledged to respect, protect and promote.

This letter is therefore sent with serious concerns about the prevailing democratic situation in Swaziland that has seen a constitutional reform process shutting out progressive voices and interests groups, and criminalizing dissent. We wish to point out that the 2003 constitutional reform process, undertaken under the state of emergency, has closed out trade unions and progressive civil society groups and has further consolidated powers in the Monarchy, thereby eliminating effective checks and balances for good governance.

We note that since 1973 Swaziland has been placed under a state of emergency, which has banned all political parties and ended the right of workers and citizens to assemble freely save with prior police authorization, which is seldom granted. Further, we note with serious concern the existence of legislation permitting 60 days detention without trial; legislation which has been serially abused by security agents to hound people holding contrary views into jail.

Today, all over the world, persons of good conscience and friends of Swaziland, including trade unions, Church organizations, women’s organizations, students’ and youth organizations, civil society organizations, political movements, rural communities and cultural organizations, are staging international protest actions as a mark of solidarity with the struggle of the people of Swaziland, and to make the following demands:

The abrogation of the over 37 year old Public State Emergency and the removal of all laws that prohibit political assembly
A quick return to multi-party democracy and a democratic popular participatory constitutional reform process through a convocation of a democratically elected National Constitutional Assembly
The true promotion and realization of a fairer distribution of national wealth through pro-poor and pro-people policies, programmes and public expenditures
Full respect for and implementation of ILO Conventions, to be done in full consultation and participation of trade union organizations
An independent and free media and judiciary, as well as the unconditional release of all political prisoners and return of all political exiles

These demands represent the irreducible minimum of the various demands pursued by the workers and people of Swaziland. We add that we will continue this campaign until change comes to Swaziland and its people.

Yours truly,

Paul Moist, CUPE National President

From

http://cupe.ca/global-justice/calls-constitutional-democratic

Associated Press reporters turned back at border on eve of Swazi pro-democracy protests

2010-09-06T16:47:00.000-07:00

Organizers arrested on eve of Swazi pro-democracy protests;
AP reporters turned back at border

By The Associated Press

MBABANE, Swaziland — Police say they detained democracy activists on the eve of protests in Swaziland, sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarchy.

Police spokeswoman Wendy Hleta said authorities wanted to question non-Swazis at a meeting about the protests because "we felt that they had no right to interfere."

They detained Swazis before determining who was non-Swazi. Hleta says all were later released.

Sisonke Msimang of the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa says two members of the group were among some 50 detained. Msimang says Swazi authorities are "more and more repressive."

Two Associated Press journalists from South Africa were stopped at the border Monday and told they would not be allowed into Swaziland to cover illegal protests.

What Independence? Sept 6, 2010

2010-09-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

Today the police arrested organisers at a preparatory meeting for tomorrow’s protest action.

Over 40 were detained including:

1. Musa Hlophe – Swaziland Coalition of the Concerned Civic Society.

2. Muzi Masuku – OSISA Country Manager

3. Vincent Ncongwane _ Secretary General of Swaziland Federation of Labour

4. Sikelela Dlamini - Swaziland Democracy Campeign

5. Phumelela Dlamini – Swaziland Democracy Campaign

6. Mary da Silva – Swazxiland Democracy Campaign

7. Mpandlana Shongwe – Swaziland Democracy Campaign

8. Wandile Dludlu – SWAYOCO President.

9. Zanele - Deputy Secretary International Affairs COSATU

10. George Mahlangu – COSATU

11. NUMSA National President

12. Ntokozo Mbele – SDC South Africa Chapter

13. Steve - SDC South Africa and International Relations Officer Municipal Workers Union.

14. Sikhumbuzo Phakathi – CCEPPWU/Deputy President of PUDEMO

15. Muzi Mhlanga – General Secretary Swaziland National Association of Teachers.

16. Sibusiso Lushaba – General Secretary Swaziland National Association of Nurses

To follow this week of Global Action for Democracy in Swaziland see http://pudemonews.blogspot.com/

Amnesty International Urgent Appeal

2010-07-12T04:54:00.000-07:00

Amnesty International USA has made an "Urgent Appeal" concerning the "current wave of repression" in Swaziland.

They are asking the general public to write to Swaziland's PM, Police Commissioner and copy to the Swazi representative in the USA.

The appeal is copied below but can also be found at
www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa15510.pdf

Amnesty International's mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights.

UANetwork Office AIUSA 600 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC 20003
T. 202.544.0200
F. 202.675.8566
E. uan@aiusa.org amnestyusa.org/urgent/
12 July 2010

UA 155/10 Risk of torture/ Ill-treatment
SWAZILAND Political activists, human rights defenders and trade unionists

Political activists, human rights defenders and trade unionists in Swaziland are at risk of harassment, ill-treatment and arrest, as the authorities use draconian counter-terror legislation to investigate a spate of government-targeted petrol bombings.

Amnesty International has been in contact with more than a dozen activists in Swaziland who have been harassed, threatened, ill treated or detained by the Swaziland police since June 2010, under the 2008 Suppression of Terrorism Act (STA). Activists have had homes and offices searched, been searched themselves at roadblocks; they have had documents and other materials seized and have been under intense surveillance. Amnesty International is not naming the activists for fear of increasing their risk.

Some of the house searches of individuals, including those accused of being members of, or sympathetic to, banned political organizations, have been conducted without search warrants and in the early morning hours by armed police. Some were denied the right to make calls during the prolonged search operations. Some were later taken to police stations for interrogation about their political activities. Testimony and other information received by Amnesty International indicate that several political activists have been subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment during interrogation. In one case, the victim was allegedly beaten with batons and subjected to suffocation torture. He was released without charge, but remains at risk of further ill-treatment.

Two political activists have also told Amnesty International that armed police recently came to their homes searching for them. Neither were present when the police arrived and do not know when the police may return. Both men have been unlawfully detained and allegedly tortured by the police in the past. Amnesty International is concerned that these men, and several others, may be at risk of ill-treatment again if they are arrested and interrogated by the police in the coming weeks.

High profile human rights defenders and trade unionists have also had their homes searched by armed police, usually under warrants authorizing them to search for evidence of terrorist activities.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In August 2008, the Suppression of Terrorism Act was signed into law in Swaziland. The implementation of the law has led to arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment of detainees and the charging of political activists under provisions of law that are vague, sweeping and
fail to meet international standards. The law has had an intimidating and silencing effect on political activists calling for democratic reforms and human rights defenders campaigning to address the country’s dire humanitarian situation. In November 2008, the government declared four political organizations, including the longstanding political organizations People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) to be terrorist “entities” under the provisions of the law.

Many of the circumstances regarding the recent spate of petrol bombings remain unclear. However, it appears that they have been largely targeted against government institutions. There are no reports of loss of life or injury but some damage to property has been caused. In June, two men were arrested and charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act in connection with the incidents.

Among those directly affected by the current wave of repression are officials and members of trade unions, human rights defenders working with non-governmental organizations, leaders of new political coalitions including the Swaziland United Democratic Front and Swaziland Democracy Campaign, and members or suspected members of PUDEMO and SWAYOCO. Amnesty International has confirmed information on incidents involving more than a dozen individuals but many other incidents have been reported on which it is seeking confirmation. Some of the political activists have gone into hiding out of fear of detention and ill-treatment.

In late 2005 –early 2006, following a similar spate of petrol bombing in Swaziland, 16 individuals were arrested and charged with treason and other offenses. They were released on bail in March 2006 and have yet to be brought to trial. Allegations of suffocation torture, beatings and other ill-treatment emerged at magistrates court hearings. The High Court, when granting bail, ordered the government to investigate these allegations. While the Prime Minister established a commission of inquiry in October 2006, the results have never been made public.

The searches and interrogations of high profile human rights defenders and trade unionists appear deliberately intended to intimidate and undermine their lawful organizing and advocacy work and are evidence of the indiscriminate use and effect of the STA.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
■ Appeal to the government to ensure that official investigations into the recent spate of bombings in Swaziland are conducted in
full compliance with the country’s obligations under international human rights law and in particular regarding the absolute
prohibition against torture;
■ Express your concern that police, during investigations into the bombing incidents, have undertaken prolonged searches at the
homes of a large number of alleged members of political organizations and some civil society activists, sometimes without
warrants and followed by interrogations involving alleged threats, ill-treatment and torture in several cases at police stations;
■ Note that while all governments have a clear duty to protect their population from deliberate violent attack, all governments,
including Swaziland’s, must adhere to their obligations under international human rights law in responding to incidents or threats
of violent attacks.

APPEALS TO:
Prime Minister
Dr. Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini
P.O. Box 395,
Mbabane,
SWAZILAND
Fax: 011 268 404 3943
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister

Commissioner of Police
Mr. Isaac Magagula
The Royal Swaziland Police Service,
P.O. Box 49,
Mbabane H100
SWAZILAND
Fax: 011 268 404 4545
Salutation: Dear Commissioner

COPIES TO:
Ambassador Ephraim Mandlenkosi M Hlophe
Embassy of the Kingdom of Swaziland
1712 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington DC 20009
Phone: 202 234 5002
Fax: 1 202 234 8254
Email: info@swazilandembassyus.com

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 31 July 2010.

Sample letter to Canadian High Comissioner

2010-06-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

Adèle Dion
High Commissioner

As the world focuses on football in South Africa, the neighboring Kingdom of Swaziland appears to be moving to a state of civil war!

Recently political activist Sipho Jele was killed in prison in early May - government has still not provided the autopsy report. Political activist Alex Langwenya's home was bombed this past week and last week many political activists were being rounded up.

Now activist Zonke Dlamini has been arrested, taken to Court on Sunday June 13 and sent to the Sidvwashini Correctional - "Sipho Jele who was also...accepted at the Sidvwashini Correctional on Sunday [May 2] and was later reported to have died after allegedly hanging himself" by using a blanket in a wash room where there are no rafters. These type of "suicides" were common during the apartheid era and still occur in the absolute monarchy of Swaziland.

We fear for Zonke's life!

And therefore request that you immediately contact your Swazi counterpart to convey our concern about Zonke's unusual imprisonment. If he should happen to "commit suicide" the country, I fear, will explode as workers, students, unions and ordinary citizens have been pushed to a very dangerous precipice.

Canada and the Commonwealth are overlooking this catastrophe but it will not be enough to report the deaths after the fact.

Sincerely,
Edna Hepry
Saint John, NB, Canada

The following is from the Times of Swaziland: http://www.times.co.sz/?month=6&day=14&year=2010

SWAYOCO member arrested
By MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE on June 14,2010

MBABANE- A member of the proscribed Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) has been arrested in connection with the bombing of houses belonging to Police PRO Vusi Masuku and Mtsambama MP Bheki Mkhonta.

Zonke Thokozani Tradewell Dlamini, 37, of Ekwendzeni under Chief Makhosikhosi yesterday appeared before High Court Judge Nkululeko Hlophe who remanded him back to custody until Friday.

He was arrested on Friday by Nhlangano police in conjunction with officers from Lukhozi Serious Crimes Unit.

The matter which was heard in the morning yesterday was attended by a contingent of police officers and the public gallery was empty. The accused had to spend more than an hour in a police vehicle while waiting for the arrival of the judge.

Dlamini was handcuffed when he arrived at the High Court and was escorted by plain-clothed police officers.

The handcuffs were removed when he was about to enter the courtroom where the case was heard.

When he arrived at the High Court, he was driven in a kombi with private registration numbers, but was later put into a white police van where he spent more than an hour before being taken to court.

The accused has since been slapped with two counts of contravening the Terrorism Act No: 3 of 2008.

When his right of legal representation was explained to him Dlamini first told the court that he would conduct his own defence, but after the charge sheet was read to him changed his mind saying what was written was too technical. "My lord, for today, I will conduct my own defence, but I will seek the services of an attorney during the commencement of the trial as what has been read to me is too technical to understand," he said. Appearing for the crown in this matter was Phumlani Dlamini. Interpreting was Registrar of the High Court Mpendulo Simelane.

Our member denied right of legal representation - Wandile

MBABANE - President of the proscribed Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) Wandile Dludlu alleges that their member was denied his right of legal representation by the police.
He said ever since his arrest on Friday, Zonke Tradewell Dlamini was interrogated by the police and they further refused their attorney to see him. He said the police when asked further denied that the accused person had been arrested while knowing very well that he was in custody.
"We cannot disown him now as we believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Our members were not even aware that he was due to appear before court today (Sunday). Dlamini has been deprived his constitutional right of legal representation by the police and we believe this is uncalled for," he said.
Dludlu said they were not supporting the recent bombings but believed that a person was presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
Deputy Police PRO Assistant Superintendent Wendy Hleta said in their Nhlangano records, they did not have anyone by the name of the suspect.
"I would presume these people went to the wrong station," she said.

Suspect cannot move bail application

MBABANE- The suspect in the two bombing incidents in the Shiselweni region was yesterday told that he could not move a bail application.

The judge told him that it would be impossible for him to move a bail application today (Sunday), as bail applications at the High Court are presented in writing. He said after the application has been written, the prosecution is then given time to go through it and the court then looks at the merits and demerits of that application.

Prison authorities refusing to accept suspects - prosecutor
MBABANE – Correctional Services authorities are said to be refusing to accept suspects on Sundays.
This was disclosed by Prosecutor Phumlani Dlamini who was appearing for the state in the matter of Zonke Tradewell Dlamini who is alleged to have petrol bombed two houses in the Shiselweni region.
Dlamini told Justice Nkululeko Hlophe who was presiding over the matter that prison authorities were refusing to accept suspects who are brought in this manner, especially on Sundays.
"I apply that this court issues an order directing the Commissioner of Correctional Services to allow the accused person to be kept at Sidvwashini Correctional facility pending his committal," he said.
Judge Hlophe then issued an Order to the effect that the commissioner should accept or take into custody at the correctional facility the accused person who is on remand pending his committal.
The late Sipho Jele who was also a member of the proscribed entity was accepted at the Sidvwashini Correctional on Sunday and was later reported to have died after allegedly hanging himself.

Murdered for wearing a t-shirt!

2010-06-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

On May 1 Sipho Jele wore a People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) t-shirt to the workers' gathering in Manzini, Swaziland and he was arrested for doing so.

Two days later, police went to Sipho's home to notify his family that he had "committed suicide"!

In other words, wearing a t-shirt of a banned organisation means "suicide" in Swaziland; this tactic was commonly used by the apartheid government during the liberation struggle in South Africa.

The police then tried to rush the family to have a funeral so that an autopsy would not be performed but the family withstood the pressure. Next they were threatened that Sipho could not be buried in the country since he was a political activist!

A court order was sought and it was settled that the burial could go ahead but on Sunday May 16th between 400 - 500 police officers showed up at to the funeral and disrupted the proceedings.

One week later, the body or Sipho was eventually laid to rest.

We do not have a Swazi representative in Canada but should not remain silent.

Below is a link to the website of Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) based in London - it has an email letter which is forwarded to the Swazi High Commissioner of the UK.

Thanks for adding your voice.

See
Email the Swaziland High Commission
or

http://www.actsa.org/page-1223-Swaziland.html

For more detailed information on this recent tragedy see:
Sipho Jele

Political activist Sipho Jele killed for wearing a t-shirt in Swaziland

2010-05-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

The note below is a sample of a letter you can send to Canadian politicians who are part of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting this weekend in Swaziland. The note is addressed to three Canadians who are attending but it can be copied to all other members as well; addresses are below.

************************************************

Ms Casey, Mr Hickes and Mr Preston

As a Canadian who has today learned that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is currently meeting in Swaziland, I am shocked that Canada and the Commonwealth overlook the lack of democracy and human rights abuses in that country. I am appalled that Canada and the Commonwealth continue to be complacent in dealing with an absolute monarch and its "unique democracy".

On recent example of the "unique democracy" in Swaziland occurred this week; it is in new reports that a political activist was murdered in prison and then a scenario was made to look as if he killed himself. Sipho Jele was a political activist who was beat and tortured by police while in jail in early 2006 and became partially deaf because he had damage to one of his ears. Now he was been tortured to death for having worn a People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) t-shirt to the workers' May 1st celebration - in Swaziland political parties are banned. This is what democracy looks like in Swaziland - it looks like blood!

Friday's May 6th Times of Swaziland has reported the the PM requested an inquest into the death of Sipho Jele but this is simply window dressing and hoping to cover up an "embarrassing" situation while foreign diplomats are present. There is a long list of "royal police" killings and the inquests never lead to a perpetrator. Inquests are as fake as the democracy in that country!

Why does Canada continually overlook the lack of democracy in Swaziland? In this case, our "Commonwealth" ignores our "Commonpoverty"

It seems Commonwealth documents, such as the 1991 Harare Declaration, are not worth the paper they are written on because governments are not held accountable. I often wonder why Zimbabwe it pointed out as a rogue nation while the Kingdom of Swaziland is ignored. Can you please explain this?

Can you explain these double standard and why the basic principles of democracy are not upheld?

Can you explain the hypocrisy of Commonwealth Parliamentarians who decide to meet in such an undemocratic country?

As a Canadian I as requesting that you research the recent murder of Sipho Jele and make the Swazi regime accountable. Everything I have mentioned in this note is public information which can be found through the Swazi newspapers online (www.times.co.sz).

Additionally, the PUDEMO website (www.pudemo.org) can provide more that two decades of material on the lack of democracy in Swaziland.

Sincerely,
Name
City & country
*********************************************
To: kmcasey@gov.pe.ca, speaker@leg.gov.mb.ca, prestj@parl.gc.ca

Cc: sna@parliament.go.ke, cpa@parliament.uk, shafieapdal@heritage.gov.my, root@bidhan.wn.nic.in, kashmalatariq@hotmail.com, ljiyane@parliament.gov.za, jobndugai@hotmail.com, daysnweeks@realnet.co.sz, sada@yahoo.com, ancm@cm.refer.org, speakernwfp@yahoo.com, sangshod@citechco.net, john.pandazopoulos@parliament.vic.gov.au, michael.polley@parliament.tas.gov.au, pro@aph.gov.au, alun.cairns@wales.gov.uk, met@gibraltar.gov.gi, keith_flax@hotmail.com, h.ramkarran@cameronandshepherd.com, unchoudhary@gmail.com, assamlegislative@sify.com, celsus.talifilu@parliament.gov.sb, tetauat@gmail.com, legislative.premier@mail.gov.nu, chee.chongyu@sabah.gov.my, maliki_osman@mnd.gov.sg, rkiandee@parlimen.gov.my

Sept 6 SD

2009-09-06T17:49:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 41st anniversary of Swaziland's Independence.

As early as 1922 King Sobhuza II travelled to Britain to claim that Swazi lands had been illegally taken. In January of 1923, Sobhuza II and his advisers (including Pixley kaI Seme, co-founder of the ANC and ANC President 1930-1936) met King George V and the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Their pleas were rejected.

Sobhuza II then tried a different route in 1924 when he undertook a legal case that challenged the legitimacy of the concessions granted during his grandfather's reign. Sobhuza II vs. Miller (1924-1926) proved unsuccessful as was the appeal to the Privy Council of London in April 1926.

It would not be until well after World War II that Swaziland would eventually become independent and Sobhuza II would then outwit his foreign rivals.

Britain had begun losing her colonies in the 1950s as their "Gold Coast" became Ghana. With that event a rippling effect would soon follow and by 1960 British Prime Minister Macmillan spoke of the "winds of change" sweeping Africa. That year Swaziland and Britain began talks and negotiations of how the "new" Swaziland would operate.

The Constitution of a new, independent and free Swaziland only lasted a few years after Independence Day of Sept 6, 1968. On April 12th, 1973 Sobhuza II infamous "Decrees" closed parliament, banned political parties, nullified the Constitution and he assumed "supreme authority".

So for many in Swaziland, this day of Independence is perhaps a meaningless day. When we ask how this nominal "independence" truly benefits the people we wonder what this day actually symbolizes. Is it real?

With Independence, Ghana for example allowed for free education with free textbooks. In Swaziland, 41 years after Independence, this is still not the case.

One of the major questions around the time of decolonization was which path these "new countries" would choose - socialist or capitalist. Claude Ake, a Nigerian writer asked the same thing in 1969 but reminded the reader there is also a third way - fascism.

Recent news articles from Swaziland:

COSATU blockade is on today Sept 4, 2009

Mswati raids treasury for wives’ R50m (5-6million) spree Aug 23, 2009
'SA taxpayers footing Swazi shopping spree' Aug 22, 2009
Govt spends E63m ($9million) on cars in three months Aug 18, 2009
Ministers’ monthly salaries now E40 000 ($4500) Aug 17, 2009
'I am not bitter’, says Mario Masuku Aug 16, 2009
Mugabe’s govt requests loan from SD Aug 15, 2009
Truck-Stop Girls Aug 18, 2009
Japan’s E20m for Swazi health Aug 6, 2009
Third case of swine flu confirmed in SD Aug 4, 2009

For more news on Swaziland see:

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/CURRENT+NEWS

Info Compiled by T Debly

June21SD09

2009-06-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Swazi Update

Since our last newsletter at the end of March, the Swazi regime continues to intensify its oppression in the nation. While it wants to fire any civil servant with political opinions, imprison all who criticize or oppose the elite ruling class, and ignores the needs of the nation, the draconian fist continues to pound.

The health crisis, education crisis, and economic crisis all stem from the fundamental political crisis in the country. Nothing can or will be resolved as the king behaves like a cornered rat who viciously attacks his "subjects". Negotiations with the people can be the only viable path. And Canada, as a member of the Commonwealth (like SD) should be saying so.

The question of Swaziland needing a "second independence" is at hand. The colonial independence of 1968 simply allowed another elite, an indigenous one, to rule and exploit the people; but there comes a time when people will say, "No, our self-preservation is more important than a palace. We refuse to be anyone's 'subject'. We want democracy and the people shall govern."

Here are some recent news items from Swaziland which highlight the general atmosphere in the country:

No more funerals! June 21, 2009
‘SAPPI to close down’ June 21, 2009
Obama gives SD 90 days June 20, 2009
US expands human trafficking watchlist and includes Swazland June 17, 2009
Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko arrested June 4, 2009
Politically aligned civil servants in for a shock June 2, 2009

If you are so inclined, write to Foreign Affairs and ask what our government representative in Pretoria is saying to Swaziland. Specifically mention the arrest of human rights lawyers Thulani Maseko and the continued incarceration of Mario Masuku, political activists and President of the People's United Democratic Movement, PUDEMO. Send an email to Claus Spoerel - the political officer for Swaziland. claus.spoerel@international.gc.ca

Our American friends can try this email and let me know what reply they receive.

First Lady Michelle Obama : info@messages.whitehouse.gov

For more information on Swaziland see:

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/CURRENT+NEWS

Mar 30 SD 09

2009-03-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the main headlines from Swaziland over this past month. Do you notice a pattern with finances?

8.7% raise for ministers Mar 2, 2009
E10 million for Defence minister Mar 3, 2009
Close to E20m was spent on 40-40 transport Mar 7, 2009
Over E100 million for Royal Residences Mar 7, 2009
Obama’s E300m ‘gift’ to Swaziland Mar 9, 2009
Taiwanese Embassy not an ATM- ‘Ambassador’ Mar 10, 2009
Political activist Civil servants in trouble Mar 10, 2009
King should have jet, says Bhutana Mar 17, 2009

Since Nov 15, political activist, Mario Masuku has been held in prison. Today, the note below came in from Swaziland. It would be greatly appreciated if you would write to the Prime Minister of Swaziland voicing your concerns over Mario's health and the lack of freedom in the country. A copy of your letter can also be sent to our Minister of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa (postage unnecessary). Thanks if you're able to do this.

Fraternal Greetings from President Masuku

I visited Cde Mario at Matsapha Maximum Security Prison yesterday March 29th and he requested me to pass his comradely greetings to all of you and to thank you for the untiring support and commitment to the struggle for democracy and a better life for all in Swaziland. Despite his ailing health, Cde Masuku is very determined and strong.

His condition requires that he must be seen by a medical specialist at least once a week but this is not the case. His diet is not monitored and he is not provided snacks between meals to deal with his medical condition.* He has constant blackouts as a result. He only sees a doctor once in a while. He has tooth problems and has requested to be seen by a dentist to no avail. He will not apply for bail because he is aware that the state uses bail to keep comrades in perpetual bondage outside prison.

"They will give me bail at an exorbitant fee with difficult conditions such as taking my passport and to report at the police station twice a week. They will not take the case to trial for many years making me a prisoner in the street. Let them try me and I'll prove my innocence in court. I haven't committed any offence but I have spoken for the rights of my people" Masuku said.

Masuku has made a call for Talks about Talks with the state. He has called upon the Government, SADC, AU and UN to support this process.

He also expressed concern about the prime Minister's statement that members of political organisations will be dismissed from public sector employment. Masuku called upon trade unions in Swaziland and the world to come to the support of the affected comrades. "This is an infringement of the freedom of association as a basic human right enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration of Rights" Masuku said.

by J.R.

*Mario suffers from diabetics and doctors have advised against going long periods without eating at least some small amount of food.

Prime Minister of Swaziland

Mr Barnabus Sibusiso Dlamini

P.O. BOX 395

Mbabane

Swaziland

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr Lawrence Cannon

House of Commons

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0A6

Feb 25 Sd 2009

2009-02-25T05:02:00.000-08:00

Since the last update in Sept 2008, Swaziland has continued on its downward spiral.
Here's a brief summary:

The elections of September 2008 were a farce and the Commonwealth's report indicates so. Page 32 of the 54 page document states: We cannot therefore conclude that the entire process was credible.

http://www.thecommonwealth.org/document/184655/2008_swaziland_elections.htm

In October the King's government tried to stop the Southern African Social Forum three days before it was to begin in Manzini. Social movements and NGOs were quick to point out not even Mugabe had tried this when the forum took place in Zimbabwe! Mswati's true colors became apparent to all. The Swazi organizers took the issue to High Court, won and the event went ahead as scheduled on Oct 16.

Oct 14 Government bans Southern African Social Forum

The King summoned the nation to the traditional royal area the very same day. People began arriving as early at 7am and sat in the hot sun until the king strolled in at 4 in the afternoon. Many of these people had left their homes at 3 or 4am so they would be there in the morning. The temperature was around 35 celcius that day and people were made to sit in the sun without shade, food or water. All waiting for the king's announcement.

Many suspected the king was drunk for his words were slurred and the speech rambled from topic to topic. He angrily told the nation those who oppose the current system need to be "throttled" or "strangled". He warned opposition not only they but their families would be targeted as well.

Oct 17 King declares war

The king then appointed Barnabus Sibusiso Dlamini as Prime Minister. The Constitution says the PM should be chosen by the king from one of the elected Members of Parliament. You won't be surprised to know the king ignored this.

In November the new PM labeled four political organisations "terrorist" and arrested the president of PUDEMO. Mario Masuku has been in prison since the middle of November as government concocts charges. First they said police found material in his home about how to construct weapons. Two days later that charge was dropped and police said Masuku said something seditious at a funeral in September.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/free-mario-masuku

But the government never explained why it took them two months to lay charges. What had conspire between September and November? Of course, those in Swaziland will tell you - the king needed an arrogant man to follow his whims and one who would ignore the Rule of Law. This is exactly what Barnabus Dlamini had done when he was the PM from 1998-2003.

While Mario Masuku is locked in prison for speaking against the tyranny of the aristocratic system Swaziland is again making world news. Once more it has the notorious distinction of having the highest HIV rates in the world.

HIV rate among women in Swaziland at 42% Feb 20, 2009

See LATEST NEWS for more news.

Sept 1 SD 2008

2008-09-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

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

Writing about 40/40

2008-08-13T10:17:00.000-07:00

In Sept of this year Swaziland will host a "40/40" celebration. It is to mark the 40th birth year of the king, as well as the 40th year of "independence" from England.

These celebrations are being condemned by the people of Swaziland but the army grows as does the brutality.

Below, please read a sample letter to the Canadian High Commissioner for Swaziland who is based in Pretoria, South Africa. If you are so inclined write a note yourself.

Send to pret@international.gc.ca, pret@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

Notes can also be copied to the Minister of Foreign Affairs David Emerson. Emerson.D@parl.gc.ca

****************************
Sample Letter

High Commissioner Archibald

I am a citizen of Canada and am very much concerned with deplorable state of affairs in Swaziland. I understand Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency, financially assists civic organizations and and grateful for that.

I am writing today to express my grave concern that members of the banned political party, the Peoples' United Democratic Movement of Swaziland, PUDEMO, are being targeted by the government before the grand 40/40 celebrations are to begin. This is a clear violation of the Declaration of Human Rights and Commonwealth countries must not enable these acts through appeasement and silence.

As you and Consulate staff have visited Swaziland, you will know the level of poverty which grips that country. You will also be aware of the seven or eight royal palaces and the lavish style of those governing. It is unreasonable and contemptible for the citizens of Swaziland to have to live under such a corrupted system.

In my opinion, Swaziland is not independent and rather than 40 years of so-called independence, the country experiences only 5 years of independence from 1968 to 1973. When the king closed parliament, banned all political parties and imprisoned three democratically elected MPs the country began to move in a retrogressive direction. These celebrations ignore the needs of the people at an outrageous cost; meanwhile, the same government goes abroad, time and time again, to beg "donors assistance." Frankly, this is utter madness!

I am therefore kindly requesting that Canadian representatives abstain from this "celebration." If Canadians are seen as people who believe in a royal type of "unique democracy" we will surely lose much respect from the international community and we will be doing a huge disservice to the people of Swaziland.

It is tragic that the majority of Swazis have neither self-determination nor democratic choice. Most live a subsistent existence and try to cope with the HIV/Aids crisis, a dire health care system (where rats are found in the government Mbabane Hospital), a government that makes promises about OVC education fees but never fulfills them, as well as high levels of unemployment and inflation. But the nation increases its army, buys weapons, and bullets to silence any voice of opposition. PUDEMO has recently reported several examples of police harassment and threats of death if they continue to speak out for the unrepresented people of Swaziland.

If Canada attends this event of Sept 6 we will feel ashamed of our diplomats and our country's hypocrisy. If representative are in the country that day or earlier, (Sept 3-4 union strikes are scheduled), they can witness the brutality of the royal army. I and many others in Canada encourage you to meet with civic organisations, unions leaders, and banned political party members to learn how they are excluded from the exclusive style of democracy in SD.

July 9 SD 2008

2008-07-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

Swazi Update-July 9, 2008

When textile workers demanded a 12% wage increase in March of this year they were met with rubber bullets, tear gas and live ammunition! Eventually 10% was agreed upon but that is lower than the inflation rate in Swaziland.

Now bus rates are scheduled to jump by 60% and electricity rates by 10% with an additional 7% added on quarterly. Meanwhile relatives of the boy-king, like Chief Gija of Nkomazi who heads the elections commission, has received a lovely 26% raise.

June 26 Cabinet approves 60% bus fare hike
July 1 SEC wants to increase electricity by 10% today
July 5 Gija gets about 26 percent increase

Some readers in New Brunswick may know the name of Gija for he is the chief that has given permission to local HIV/AIDS agencies to work with the people in Nkomazi near Manzini. He even built a brand new house for the Canadians who travel there to "observe" how desperate the situation really is. It seems he will build for foreign donors but not his own countrymen. Can you guess why?

After meeting Gija in Swaziland one Canadian director said: "He is a modern man and has only one wife." It is a pity when "humanitarian" workers will not scratch below the surface veneer as they look for simplistic solutions. Unfortunately, some people grow like onions - with their heads in the ground.

Read the following article and look for the roots.

If you agree hunger is a central issue in Swaziland, will you go one step more and ask why? June 24 Hunger at the heart of many Swazi issues

To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

All issues of swazisolidarityca newsletters can be found on our blog
at http://swazilandsolidaritycanada.blogspot.com/

Information compiled by T. Debly

35years-enough is enough

2008-04-13T07:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked the 35th anniversary of Sobhuza's notorious April 12 Proclamation of 1973. Perhaps many subscriber to this forum know the history in fine detail but i had to do some digging to come to a better understanding. If any are interested, below i've posted a bit of the information i was able to find in academic journals and textbooks.

VIVA PUDEMO!

The Swaziland Progressive Party (SPP), under the leadership of John Nquku, was founded in 1960. It’s manifesto had four points: democratic enfranchisement for all persons irrespective of race, colour, or creed, opposition to the incorporation of Swaziland by South Africa; adoption of the United Nations declaration of human rights; and complete integration to eliminate racial discrimination. Due to questions about Nquku's leadership that party splintered and eventually another party, the Ngwane National Libratory Congress (NNLC) was formed in 1963. Around this same time two other but much less significant parties also were born - the Swaziland Democratic Party (SDP) and the Mbandzeni National Convention (MNC).

Seeing the British would go ahead with the June 1964 elections, Van Wyk de Vries, one of Sobhuza’s legal advisors and a “prominent member of the South African Broederbond" encouraged him to hold a referendum and then form his own party. The Imbokodvo* National Movement (INM) was formed one month before the election. INM won 85.45 percent of the vote and NNLC was the only party to gain any support – 12.3 percent. The MDC and SDP now aligned themselves with INM as did the white settlers United Swaziland Association (USA). The king's party again won all twenty-four seats in the April 1967 election but the NNLC had won 20 percent of the popular vote - that would change in five years.

In the 1972 election, the NNLC won three of the twenty-four seats in Parliament. Dr. Ambrose Zwane, Thomas Ngwenya and Mageja Masilela had gained all three seats from the eastern constituencies of Mphumalanga – the same region which had experienced the huge labour strikes of May 1963. One eighth of the seats did not pose an immediate political danger but Sobhuza would not tolerate these members. This was significant because the three had been elected in the “constituencies containing large numbers of sugar plantation workers who were disgruntled with the government over their working conditions”. Additionally, “the NNLC had enjoyed significant popular support among non Swazi Africans”.

Before the drastic action of April 12, 1973 three attempts were made to limit the NNLC opposition. First, Ngwenya was ordered deported on the grounds that he was not a Swazi citizen. Secondly, the Assembly Standing Order was amended so that a Private Member’s Motion “would lapse for the duration of the meeting if there were no quorum when it was either moved or put to the vote”. Thirdly, INM members left the chamber “when NNLC Members rose to introduce a motion”.

Ngwenya was not deported as he challenged the order in High Court and was successful. Immediately an Immigration Amendment Act was introduced to Parliament and passed; so once again Ngwenya was ordered deported. He then challenged this in the Swaziland Appeals Court and won. Sobhuza would not be out-maneuvered by the courts. Parliament passed a motion that the Constitution was “unworkable” and the king was called upon to resolve the crisis. With assistance from Pretoria, on April 12, 1973 Sobhuza declared: the constitution had “failed”; it was the cause of “growing unrest”; it had permitted “undesirable political practices”; there was “no constitutional way” to amend the Constitution; and a new constitution needed to be “created by ourselves for ourselves in complete liberty.” A State-of-Emergency was declared and Sobhuza “assumed supreme power”. The Attorney General then read the decrees that included “Political parties [including his own INM] were prohibited and political meeting, processions and demonstrations disallowed without prior consent of the Commissioner of Police. The King-in-Council was given the power to detain a person without trial for a period of sixty days, which period could be repeated as often as deemed necessary in the public interest. This situation would be reviewed in six months’ time.”

April 12, 2008 is the thirty-fifth anniversary of these decrees; they have never been repealed. Vieceli explains the Swazi people refer to this as the “King’s Coup.”

*Imbokodvo = grindstone

Information compiled by T. Debly of UNBSJ, Canada

Another Swazi blood bath!

2008-03-18T07:01:00.000-07:00

COSATU is the Congress of South African Trade Unions and today they have sent this press release out concerning Swaziland.
Mar 17 COSATU condemns Swazi police brutality

Briefly, textile workers in Swaziland have been on strike since Mar 3 so the "royal police" and army have been called in. The Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisation has reported today that Royal Swazi Police use teargas, baton rounds (rubber bullets) and live ammunition on unarmed and unprotected women who are legally striking for the right to the lowest standard of living that can be called decent.
Mar 17 SCCCO Statement on Police and Army at textile strike

Also see SWAZI POLICE SHOOT IN THE BACK

For Canadians:
Please write to Canadian Foreign Affairs asking that they:

1) immediately contact the Swazi government to request that police and army refrain from this bloody frenzy!

2) request that a Canadian mission be immediately dispatched to Swaziland to evaluate the conditions in this "unique democracy".

Mr Maxime Bernier
Minister of Foreign Affairs
BerniM@parl.gc.ca

Canadian High Commission in Pretoria
Ms Ruth Archibald
High Commissioner to South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho
pret@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

Mr Vincent Charron
High Commission Swaziland Desk
Vincent.Charron@international.gc.ca

If you are able to write one note copied to these 3 addresses I would appreciate it very much. If you know others who are concerned about human rights and workers' rights, kindly forward to them. Thanks.

Mar 3 SD 2008

2008-03-03T08:54:00.000-08:00

Discontent in Swaziland grows daily yet the government fails to address the fundamental issues: food shortages, inadequate health care, high rates of unemployment, political repression and the list grows. Since 2007 police have been struggling to form a union which will have strength to negotiate collectively and now the army is following suit.
Feb 26 Over 600 000 needed food aid late last year
Feb 26 Govt hospitals are a health hazard
Feb 20 Aggrieved soldiers form secret union

When the Prime Minister isn't busy flying all over the world to talk of Swaziland's "unique democracy" or chowing down the country's wealth, he can be found praying with the police. This fellow who talks of "preserving our Swazi culture" seems to use God and religion as long as it keeps him and the sycophants in power. If the police were truly allowed to "excel in their duties in order to fight crime in the country" they would be heading straight to the royal palaces!
Feb 24 PM prays with the police

In the past two weeks there have been at least three cases of petrol bombing incidents at the parliament and a police station. The authorities behave as if more oppression will change the situation and fail to realize they can not simply blow out a fire! The king's newspaper, the Swazi Observer writes of "terrorists" which sounds too much like Bush rhetoric. In 2005, Brussels based International Crisis Group wrote a report entitled Swaziland: The Clock is Ticking. In April of 2006 Laurie Goering of the Chicago Tribune wrote "Swazi frustration isn't hard to understand."
Mar 3 Nhlangano police station petrol bombed
Feb 24 Parliament ‘bombed’ — again

Feb 17 Petrol bombers left note for authorities
Feb 16 Parly marquee petrol bombed before opening session
April 19, 2006 Observers see trouble ahead in Swaziland

A recent documentary about Swaziland was released on dvd in January and features several activist from the People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo) and Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco). Without the King contrasts royal life of a 'princess of the palace' with daily life in Moneni. This is a realistic look at the huge disparities in Swaziland - huge disparities created and perpetuated by the royal elites. To watch a 2 minutes preview click youtube.com/without the king

This documentary will be shown in Saint John on Wednesday March 5 at the public library at Market Square. It is an 80 minutes presentation which will be shown at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Thanks to Mackenzie for finding another site which focuses on Swaziland. The blogger is Richard Rooney an Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Swaziland. It seems even academics know the power of and take advantage of alternative media.

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com

To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

Dec 31 SD 2007

2007-12-31T16:45:00.000-08:00

Alan Booth called the period from 1973 to 1983 The Royalists Decade. His book, Swaziland: Tradition and Change in a Southern African Kingdom, was published in 1983 and little did he know of the students who were beginning to united for democratic change on Dlamini's farm. Would he label 1983-2008 The Path of Resistance? 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Peoples' United Democratic Movement of Swaziland.

While the aristocracy drags its feet on sharing power, people of the nation see the need for change. The abuse of public funds has reached a tipping point but the Royalist still think they are "the chosen ones", "the descendants of the sun".

Perhaps one Royalist, the Prime Minister Dlamini, was only trying to be "modern" when he spoke of not leaving women out of the formula. He also says implementing the constitution is a "challenge". The constitution took effect almost two years ago in Feb 2006, but now the Commonwealth Secretariat, UNDP and the European Union will be the official excuse for delay.

Dec 30 E500,000 ($100,000)—just for decorations at king’s birthday
Dec 31 ‘Don’t leave women out of general elections’
Dec 31 PM says implementing constitution a challenge
Dec 24 SCCCO: Busy Doing Nothing-Swaziland in 2007

Finally, one last point before the year flips. Twenty-five years ago, on Jan 1, 1983 the Internet was born. It's now part of our daily routine and is a useful tool for researching, organizing, educating and even mobilizing. Don't doubt its potential!
All the best for 2008!

To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

Dec 24 SD 2007

2007-12-24T16:54:00.000-08:00

Sd - Busy doing Nothing

Below is the end of year report from the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organizations - SCCCO. It does not paint a rosy picture because one does not exist. Instead, it portrays a brutal, retrogressive and archaic manner of ruling "subjects".

In 1906, Rosa Luxemburg's argued "...the complete unity of the trade-union and the social democratic movements, which is absolutely necessary for the coming mass struggles... is actually here...". She was referring to Germany but a parallel situation in Swaziland currently exists. Things change when progressive political movements, in tandem with civil society and trade unions are united. Rosa Luxemburg, 1906, The Mass Strike

Busy Doing Nothing  – Swaziland in 2007

2007 was the first full calendar year of the new Constitution. What has changed in Swaziland as a result? Very little. It is becoming apparent to Civil Society that the Constitution is being used as little more than a fig-leaf to cover the international shame of 33 years of rule by decree. What we now have is a piece of paper that is not being promoted or even defended by the government. The rights and duties that are enshrined in it are not being protected or enforced. This year has seen defenceless suspects killed by the police, public meetings broken up or prevented from happening, union members harassed, property taken without due court processes, newspaper editors intimidated, journalists threatened by government. The people of Swaziland are in the dark about the constitution and their rights and the government seems more than happy to keep them that way.

The kingdom continues to wear two faces, the one it shows to the outside world, a happy, peaceful, united democratic nation. The other face is the reality of an internally riven, politically bankrupt, corrupt and profoundly anti-democratic system that is underperforming economically. Rather than investing the public coffers in relation to areas of greatest need and with the potential for greatest results it squanders them on economically unproductive projects that do little more than stroke, already inflated, egos.

It is the year that many comparative international studies have started to peek behind the veil and show that Swaziland consistently is one of the worst performers in terms of human rights, political participation, civil rights, governance, corruption and use of natural resources. (World Bank, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Open Society, New Economics Forum, Amnesty International, US MCA) yet these studies are regularly pooh-poohed by our leaders. These are not high flown legalistic issues. Good governance directly affects the country’s ability to develop its economy, society and environment and to access the international aid that might just help us out of our multiple and interlinked crises.

We were already aware that Swaziland has the shame of the highest HIV prevalence, lowest life expectancy on earth and with equally appalling infant mortality rates. This year saw the publication of the Whiteside report that put these into a completely different context. The report shows that the deaths that arise as a result of HIV/AIDS are now at a level that is equivalent to generally accepted definitions of emergency requiring massive international action as is seen in cases of natural disaster, famine and civil war. We were shocked to find out that Swaziland now has more OVCs per head of population than Darfur. The slow and silent nature of the orphans’ parents’ deaths does not make the emergency any less real, just less newsworthy.

A constitution is more than a piece of paper; it defines the political culture of a country. Enacting it and upholding it are not matters of luck or chance but require energy, skill, resources, practice and passion. We do not see any of these necessary qualities being used at present. Rather we bear witness to the masterly arts of planned and practiced inactivity, prevarication and procrastination. The necessary structures to defend democracy and freedom – Commissions on Human Rights and Public Administration and the Elections and Boundaries Commission are nowhere close to being set up. The Royal Swazi Police Force is not trained in the implications of policing under a Bill of Rights. Women remain in law, and practice, second class citizens to such an extent that the governor of Ludzidzini is able to say with confidence, and in public, that they do not have the right to make decisions on their own lives and should be equated with children, subservient to their husbands as head of the household. As for the rights of children… we’ll not even start with that one. Most disturbing of all was the discovery of over one hundred foetuses in a dam near Matsapha. The causes, implications and effects of that particular nightmare are still being worked out. The human tragedies that lie behind these headlines shame us all.

The constitution defines emaSwati as citizens, not subjects. The difference is profound, if enacted. Citizens cede their power to politicians and then call them to account for their stewardship. Subjects do as they are told. The transition from subject to citizen does not happen overnight. It requires a fundamental shift in thinking that must be developed and the people must be educated in. Again, there is masterly inaction on behalf of the government on this. We hold deep reservations about the ability of the Tinkhundla system to support an internationally recognisable democracy, and to promote proper citizenship, especially in relation to elections.

The candidates put forward by the Tinkhundla system are not those with the most to offer, the highest energy, the best minds, the vision of a successful, prosperous and happy nation and the will and skills to bring these about through inspiring, leading and listening. Its candidates do not reflect the wealth and wisdom of this great country. The offerings to the people of this corrupt, petty, and self-serving system are, in the main, the loyal, the blind, the mediocre and the second rate. We need better than that and we deserve better leaders. The Tinkhundla do not serve emaSwati, they can only serve a small section of us. Prince David had the arrogance to call the people of Swaziland stupid for electing the current set of MPs. Let us remember that he was the chair of the Constitutional Drafting Committee that enshrined the system of their selection. As Democrats, we contend that the people can not be stupid – they are certainly not as stupid as the system that rejects what every African country has accepted as right, proper and normal – multi-party politics. We in civil society will be rolling out as large a programme of civic and voter education as we can gather resources for in time for the expected elections in 2008.

The rule of law debate and the tensions between the ‘traditional’ and ‘democratic’ systems of governance continue to go on. We welcome the final burial of Mizkayise Ntshangase in accordance to the court orders. But we continue to note that there are factions amongst the traditionalists who still felt that they could publicly state that the orders would be defied. We of course, are delighted at the belated insistence of the Prime Minister and the Governor of Ludzizini that the court orders must be followed and the actions of the Police to ensure that this happened. We fervently hope that this remains the rule and not the exception.

All in all, 2007 has not been a good year for Swaziland, the terrible effects of HIV/AIDS, drought, poverty, unemployment, corruption and poor governance continue to unnecessarily kill far too many people and to sap the ability of the country to perform. Our ‘unique’ system and style of governance wastes time, effort, resources and energy that could be better spent on really tackling the issues rather than paying court to labadzala. We say to the democrats in government, reach out, respect diversity of opinion and pluralism, embrace civil society and work with us in partnership. The present system has failed and can only continue to do so. Talk to us, we are listening. Stop being busy doing nothing and wasting your time defending the indefensible. Let us roll up our sleeves and work together to improve the lives and conditions of all of the Swazi people, not just the few.

May you all have a happy and prosperous New Year.
Bishop M B Mabuza
Chairperson SCCCO

Dec 9 SD 2007

2007-12-09T16:49:00.000-08:00

Bitter-sweet or bitter-bitter?

Unlike South Africa, the government of Swaziland is bent of starving the poorest of the poor to fuel the richest of the rich. Fidel Castro warned of this madness shortly after the capitalist/industrialist media told us he was on his death bed. Seems Castro is wiser awakening from anesthesia than the whole lot of pirating profiteers!

SA excludes maize from biofuels policy
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleId=327032&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business/

More than three million people in the world condemned to premature death from hunger and thirst

http://amadlandawonye.wikispaces.com/More+than+3+million+condemned%2C+Fidel+Castro+Ruz%2C+Granma

A bitter-sweet energy
George Monbiot
Mail & Guardian Business
08 December 2007 11:59

It doesn’t get madder than this. Swaziland is in the grip of a famine and receiving emergency food aid; 40% of its people are facing acute food shortages. So what has the government decided to export? Biofuel made from one of its staple crops -- cassava.

Several thousand hectares of farmland have been allocated to ethanol production in the Lavumisa district, the place worst hit by drought.

Surely it would be quicker and more humane to refine the Swazi people and put them in our tanks?

This is an example of a trade described by Jean Ziegler, the United Nations’s special rapporteur, as “a crime against humanity”. Ziegler took up the call for a five-year moratorium on all government targets and incentives for biofuel: the trade should be frozen until second-generation fuels -- made from wood or straw or waste -- become commercially available.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation recently announced the lowest global food reserves in 25 years, threatening “a very serious crisis”. Even when the price of food was low, 850-million people went hungry because they could not afford to buy it.

The cost of rice has risen by 20% in the past year, maize by 50%, wheat by 100%. Biofuels aren’t entirely to blame -- by taking land out of food production they exacerbate the effects of bad harvests and rising demand -- but almost all the major agencies warn against expansion. And almost all the major governments ignore them.

They turn away because biofuels offer a means of avoiding hard political choices. They create the impression that governments can cut carbon emissions and keep expanding the transport networks. New figures show that British drivers puttered past the 500-billion kilometre mark for the first time last year.

The law the British government passed recently -- that by 2010 5% of United Kingdom road transport fuel must come from crops -- will, it claims, save between 700 000 and 800 000 tons of carbon a year. If you count only the immediate carbon costs of planting and processing biofuels, they appear to reduce greenhouse gases. When you look at the total effect, you find they cause more warming than petroleum.

A recent study by the Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen shows that official estimates ignore the contribution of nitrogen fertilizers, which generate a greenhouse gas -- nitrous oxide --296 times as powerful as carbon dioxide. These emissions alone ensure that ethanol from maize causes between 0,9 and 1,5 times as much warming as petrol, while rapeseed oil (the source of more than 80% of the world’s biodiesel) generates 1 to 1,7 times the effect of diesel.

Last year research group LMC International estimated that if the British and European target of a 5% contribution from biofuels were to be adopted by the rest of the world, the global acreage of cultivated land would expand by 15%. That means the end of most tropical forests. It might also cause runaway climate change.

The biofuels industry is punting jatropha, a tough weed with oily seeds. This winter Bob Geldof arrived in Swaziland as “special adviser” to a biofuels firm. Because it can grow on marginal land, jatropha, he said, is a “life-changing” plant that will offer jobs, cash crops and economic power to African smallholders.

It can grow on poor land and be cultivated by smallholders. But it can also grow on fertile land and be cultivated by largeholders. Biofuel is not a smallholder crop; it is an internationally traded commodity that travels well and can be stored indefinitely.

If the governments promoting biofuels do not reverse their policies, the humanitarian impact will be greater than that of the Iraq war. Millions will be displaced, hundreds of millions more could go hungry. -- © Guardian News & Media Ltd 2007

http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=327142&area=/insight/insight__economy__business/

Nov 18 SD 2007

2007-11-18T18:29:00.000-08:00

Sikhumbuzo Phakathi, former Secretary of the Swaziland Association of Students, wrote a stirring letter to the Sunday Times in August. Truly, it is a eulogy to Ngozo Ntokozo, the young man murdered by Royal Swaziland Police.

Phakathi explains Ntokozo fought for the emancipation of the students, demanding the establishment of SRCs in schools, free universal and relevant education and the abolishment of violent punishment against students. He was expelled from the education system and never allow back. Perhaps he had the potential of someone such as Steve Biko but, like the apartheid Boers, the ruling Swazis would not permit this "free thinker" to grow.

After years of struggling for an education Ntokozo said Comrades, I am not going to beg for life. I have fought enough to get my education. The system is refusing me that opportunity. If they don’t want us to go to school what do they want us to do.

Police had branded this man a criminal and in August claimed they had to shoot him as he was running away. A recent postmortem report says Ntokozo was shot dead within a radius of 35 centimetres; he was without a weapon and wearing only jeans. Now the Prime Minister of Swaziland has publicly said he doubts the report. He may be worried about the upcoming Commonwealth meeting in Uganda.

Amnesty International is watching Swaziland closely and the international community is becoming more aware of the contemptible government of that country. The "head boys" who tell the king what to do are advising him to become pals with a miserable lot of kings, sultans and the like. Mswati has enough wives, concubines, cars and cattle to satisfy any 17th century mentality. You see, he's the kind of fellow who believes he's descended from the sun. There are no free men as "subjects" born on his land belong to him; born to serve him.

As the royal government carries on with the royal whims we must ask how many foreign nations are sending funding there? Will our Canadian Foreign Affairs engage in "diplomatic dialogue" as Mswati's monologue continues?

Write to Maxime Bernier our new Minister of Foreign Affairs and let him hear your opinions.

Ntokozo Ngozo

Nov 18 Royal Villas’ $1 million splash for Sultan suite
Nov 17 Govt buys 74 escort cars for $4 million illegally

To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

Sept 30 SD 2007

2007-09-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, Swaziland was reported as ranking worse than Zimbabwe in terms of good governance. The fact that political parties are not allowed to participate in national elections is Swaziland's weakness. The government spokesperson claimed "boys" had written the analysis which came from the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. One can never expect an intelligent response from the government spin-doctors!

Sept 6 marks Independence Day in SD so Will Sommer, a American university student in Washington, D.C., celebrated the day by placing flyers in windshields and lampposts around the embassy. The ambassador's car windshield was not missed. Perhaps this will become an ongoing action. Will, thanks for assisting Swazi Solidarity.

The government of SD twists the new Constitution every-which-way so that royalty won't have to lose power. The progressives of the country stated long ago that the public consultation process was flawed and they knew the final produce would be a bogus document. Delay is the name of the game as traditionalist enjoys the status quo.

Sept 27 SD ranked worse than Zimbabwe
Sept 28 Why Sd ranked lower than Zim
Sept 6 '07 Info Flyer
Sept 28 Govt struggling to satisfy constitutional provisions

To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

Aug 13 SD 2007

2007-08-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the king of Swaziland got some pointers from the president of the USA about manipulating elections and creating spin as it now looks like there will be a push to delay the May 2008 election. From a distance, it seems the Swazi royalty is inciting a riot.

In October 1992 organisations such as the Law Society, Trade Unions, Civil Servants' Union, Federation of Employers, Council of Churches, Pudemo, the Association of Journalist and several others called for a convention for full democracy in Swaziland - genuine democracy. Government responded 14 years later. In Feb 2006 a half-baked constitution was praised only by those who created it and has been criticized by many sectors of society. Now, it is this same "royal creation" which will be used in justifying the delay of fair and democratic representation for the people of Swaziland.

The recent strike which brought thousands to the streets was not a frivolous exercise. The majority agrees change is necessary if the general population is to be allowed to live a decent life. Scanning the daily newspapers gives a clear impression of the life in Swaziland: girls are rapes every 48 hours, drought has caused severe food shortages for a people who depend on subsistence farming, bread prices and bus fares are constantly on the rise, while orphaned and vulnerable children are left to exist in Mswati's experiment of "survival of the fittest - survival of the richest".

For anyone who looks beyond the bare-breasted girls at the Reed Dance, the talk of Swazi culture or the quaint Swazi Village for the tourist there is no question of responsibility for the social ills in this tiny country. The majority of citizens are pushed far away from the discussions, the wealth, and the choices. Self-determination is not a reality when you are simply a king's subject who gets shoved around by these royal whims.

In Malaysia last week the king told the media that political parties were not banned in Swaziland and as soon as he got home the local papers reported The king said such statements would always be there but since we were Swazis and have been in this country, we know that nothing has changed about political parties. Perhaps Mswati should get some advise from a king in Asia.

Aug 13 Swaziland: Changing for the worse (Editorial)
Aug 13 Frequent price hikes hit the public hard
Aug 12 Assaulted by cops at rally
Aug 11 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN 2009
Aug 11 Milk ‘drought’ hits Swaziland
Aug 11 UN goes cap in hand for E100million to save 410000 starving Swazis
Aug 9 Young girl raped every 48 hours
Aug 8 Money for OVCs will not be enough again
Aug 6 Consumers against increase of bread price/Bread price higher in SD than in Lesotho
Aug 1 Child prostitution: Hard Times Raise Levels of Abuse

Aug 8 Swazi king promises democracy
Aug 13 Status quo regarding parties remains the same, says king
Aug 11 Comparing Kings- Bhutan vs Swaziland

To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

July 29 SD 2007

2007-07-29T18:40:00.000-07:00

Unless Canadians go looking they rarely hear news of Swaziland but the August Reed Dance sometimes does make international news.This is the annual event where the king chooses a teen aged girl who becomes a type of concubine and only gets "wife" status when she becomes pregnant.

This year's Reed Dance may not be such a festive occasion as the atmosphere in the country is far from celebratory. Since Tuesday a raging forest fire has been burning in the north west of the country, last week a two day union strike brought out 3000 people on July 25 and 5000 the following day, and UN agencies have appealed to the international donor community for a timely response to avert a full-blown humanitarian crisis in the drought-struck kingdom.

Surely the people of Swaziland have been patient with the governing aristocracy but life for the majority is unbearable: at 33.4 percent, according to UN estimates, Swaziland has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world, 70 percent of the 1.1 million citizens live on less than one dollar a day, 10 percent of the ruling elite enjoy the wealth and 40 percent of the population is facing acute food and water shortages.

In Sept 2006, Ruth Archibald was appointed High Commissioner for Canada in the kingdom. She was in Swaziland on Thursday July 26, the second day of the general strike. Both Swazi news papers reported she was there to present her credentials but no doubt she was aware of the masses in the streets. Your views can reach her at pret@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

July 29 Hundreds left homeless
July 28 ‘Runaway’ fire spreads towards town centre
July 26 Mondi Forest burning

July 25-26 Strike

July 25 UN asks for $15.6 million to save 400,000 people

July 27 His Majesty Upholds Constitution
July 27 King lauds Canadian govt for supporting development

To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

June 17 SD 2007

2007-06-17T18:45:00.000-07:00

As we watch the situation in Swaziland deteriorate from one week to the next, it is hard to find a healthy segment in this perverse kingdom.

The medical system is ready to crumble with inadequate equipment, drugs and supplies.

Educational needs are not being met as children and orphans are excluded while teachers are transfered throughout the country even when there are no accommodations available.

Socially, the country is in chaos. Stories appear in the paper about young girls who are raped by their own brothers and teen aged girls passed over as sex-slaves to men outside the country.

All the while government keeps talking as their hands go from the public purse to their own pockets. The PM talks about their "good looking king" who attracts foreigners and the residents of the capital begin to notice the EMAZIMU - the cannibals!

Plutocracy is government ruled by the wealthy - Democracy is ruled by the people. Change is coming to Swaziland.

May 23 Health crisis

May 28 Govt fails to increase OVCs school fees

June 4 Swazi girl (14) sex slave in SA

June 6 Rabies-infected girl dies

June 7 National strike to demand parties in 2008

June 15 Our handsome king attracts tourists - PM

June 16 Emazimu!

To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

May 21 SD 2007

2007-05-21T18:08:00.000-07:00

In May 2005, Paul Boateng was appointed the UK High Commissioner to Swaziland, as well as South Africa. In Feb 2006, he caused a stir as he called for the unbanning of political parties when presenting his credentials at Lozitha Royal Palace in Swaziland. Two weeks ago he spoke of multi-party elections; he understands democratic principles and is a rare politician for speaking out so clearly on this matter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Boateng
Feb 17, 2006 Unban political parties says UK
May 10, 2007 British call for parties by 2008
May 14, 2007 Constitution implementation needs to move rapidly

Currently in Swaziland there is concern about housing for police officers. Earlier this month a single officer allegedly raped his house mate's teenage daughter. Single and married officers share accommodations and it seems male and female officers are also sharing their quarters. Clearly there is a problem and the government will no doubt set up a commission or inquiry but the situation is plain to all. To keep a tight grip of control on the people of Swaziland, the government increases the number of police but is unconcerned over the basis needs of these individuals. At the same time, police are not able to organize and form a union in Swaziland and recently two members have been fired from the police service for doing so!

May 4 Cop rapes housemate’s daughter
May 18 Police to probe female cop who shared with male
May 8 Cop union angered by continuous victimisation
May 21 Unions march to PM on ‘victimised’ cops

To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

May7 SD 2007

2007-05-07T16:51:00.000-07:00

It's a pleasure to receive feedback from these newsletters. After April's issue a question was asked about the use of the phrase "eradicate affluence" and here's a reply:

...at a recent Make Poverty History meeting the organizer mentioned a fund raising event at Western University. The young folks there were talking about the concept of "Make Affluence History" which seems an interesting twist of ideas....

...in the context of Swaziland, the king has since the early 1990s made public statements about how he would "eradicate poverty in Swaziland this year". He is a fool and a huge part of all the social, health, & education issues in Sd; yet owns millions of dollars worth of cars, palaces.....

The phrase was used to provoke thought and discussion. Thanks for your comments.

Yesterday the Prime Minister returned to Sd after seeking funds from Europe. How long will Europe continue to aid and abet Mswati's exclusively narrow government?

May 7 PM meets with European stakeholders over economy

May 5 Poverty drives residents to eat rubbish

May 4 PUDEMO to march to Cabinet

May 2 Corruption high in SD

May 2 Country has high tax rates

To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

April22 Sd 2007

2007-04-22T17:50:00.000-07:00

Birth of a king or death of a nation.

On Thursday April 19th king Mswati III of Swaziland celebrated his 39th birthday in royal style. When he was first crowned in the late 1980s many people of the nation hoped this young man would have some decency while several said "No, we can only expect self-interest from the royal family". Sadly he is a royal brat with a "sun-king" mentality and a hollow heart. He speaks of a peaceful nation and eradicating poverty using words from his spin doctors. In truth, Swaziland is a revolting nation which may prefer to eradicate affluence before poverty!

A few days before the birthday bash the king married yet one more woman. She was a teenager chosen a couple years ago and recently must have become pregnant. The king marries only those who produce more royalty - if non-productive they become a type of step-daughter for the king's mother.

And a few days before that, on April 12th, the royal police were once again showing what royal rottweilers they have been trained to be. As political activists protested the April 12th, 1973 Decree which banned political parties and gathering the "authorities" were up to the usual. A journalist from a local paper, the Times of Swaziland, snapped a photo of 4 officers carrying away one Pudemo member while a fifth officer was seizing the activist's throat. We need not wonder why it's easy to die in police custody in Swaziland! See photo at

http://groups.google.com/group/sa-swaziland-solidarity-eom-forum

LINKS:

Ap 19 Swazi Solidarity condemns the 15 million ($2 million US) birthday bash

Ap 20 A starving nation feeds a gluttonous king!

Ap 15 SWAZILAND KING SECRETLY MARRIES WIFE NUMBER 13

Ap 16 Pudemo Australia: Swaziland police attempt to murder political activist in public

Articles concerning the April 12, 2007 Border Blockade

To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

Mar22 SD2007

2007-03-22T18:40:00.000-07:00

In 2005, Maude Barlow wrote her fifteenth book entitled Too Close for Comfort: Canada's Future within Fortress North America. It's a chilling view of "deep integration" with the USA - we are to provide big brother with all the natural resources (oil, water, minerals, etc) and Mexico can provide the cheap labour. It's the American Dream. The 19th century notion of "manifest destiny" seems to be forever expanding. Their greedy eyes search each continent and they found a small African kingdom in the mountains. "Free trade" is always free for the USA but it's the people of the other country who will pay dearly.

According to the Times of Swaziland "March 17 either signals that freedom of peaceful assembly is finally being recognized or that every member of society is now unhappy with government and has moved from the comfort zones and demanding action." There were several organizational gatherings - the new police union, Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) the Swaziland Nurses Association (SNA), the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations (SCCCO) and the Swaziland Federation of Labour (SFL).They "were also planning on how to beat government." April 12th will mark the 34th anniversary of the 1973 Decree which banned all political parties and gathering - the Swazi people will not accept this any longer.

SWAZI STORY TO 18m US VIEWERS

THE OBSERVER TIES UP WITH US TV

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_Destiny

Mar 18 Police Union - We fooled them!

To follow current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

All issue of swazisolidarityca newsletters can be found on our new blog
at http://swazilandsolidaritycanada.blogspot.com/

Mar8 Sd2007

2007-03-08T12:12:00.000-08:00

Women of Inspiration

The king's newspaper, The Swazi Observer, is very much like a bad winter cold which just keeps spreading germs around and around. March 8th marks International Women's Day but Saturday's Weekend Observer got off to an early start with Dumisa Dlamini's article entitled Femininity is a Magical Wand for Women. Clearly it is the epitome of irrational thinking but what can we expect from the king's cheer leading journalists? Welcome to 21st century misogyny.

Dlamini's "feminine" depiction of half the population reduces women to objects of desire, materialistic wretches and empty headed vain creatures. This magical "she" is a perverted alchemist's concoction combining a seductive Salome, a materialist Marie Antoinette and a power hungry Margaret Thatcher! Is the author describing the mother of the king, the wives of the king, women in politics?

Indlovukazi - "she elephant", mother of the king - lives in luxury and tosses bit and pieces to destitute children and the elderly. Yes, isn't it generous to give stationary to rural schools while students can't pay school fees?

Inkhosikati - the wives of the king - are often the "patron" of NGOs or Arts organizations but prefer their Cinderella privileged lives. Need they pray for the nation?

And then there are women in politics like Constance Simelane. As Minister of Education, this absurdly ignorant women warned junior high students about the consequences of premarital sex - "crooked penises" and "mutilated genitals" - rather than explain the very real consequences of HIV/Aids! Now as the Deputy Prime Minister, Simelane wants parents arrested if they encourage their children to speak English at home.

So where shall girls and young women find their role models as we celebrate Women's Day? The true heroines of Swaziland are the young and teenage girls who try to manage family households after their parents are deceased, the grandmothers who watched their children die as they continue to care for the grandchildren left behind, and the widows who take to the streets to demand respect from the parasitic Swazi government. These are the women of dignity whom we remember and celebrate - the courageous and the noble. We shall not forget La Fakudze.

Jan 8, 2006 Death of LaFakudze

Feb 19, 2007 Widows’ march shocks traditionalists

Mar 3, 2007 FEMINITY IS A MAGICAL WAND FOR WOMEN

Feb 22, 2007 Indlovukazi donates E10,000 ($2000) stationery to rural schools

Feb 21, 2007 Inkhosikati LaMbikiza made executrix

Feb 22, 2007 Arrest parents who insist on English at home - DPM

Feb 24, 2007 Royal Exploitation:150 girls strip naked at Prince’s home

Feb11 Sd2007

2007-02-11T12:10:00.000-08:00

Give what you can, take what you need.

The cracks and fractures are all to apparent - the government of Swaziland is ready to crumble. Fiscal corruption is widespread, health and education are disastrously underfunded, labour, political, business and law organisations are united in believing the constitution does not enjoy popular legitimacy, credibility and acceptance, young police officers are harassed by their seniors for wishing to unionize, and the list goes on and on.

Globally there appears to be a new jargon as governments are all talking of their "Visions" - Sd is no exception. Last week the Minister of Economic Planning and Development stunned his colleagues with the notion of good governance - an unusual concept within the MP "team". It seems the fellows don't want to rush out of their comfortable seats very soon so their dream Vision is set for 2022. And it's 15 more years of watching those fat cats?

At the same two-day long review, this "team" of Ministers discussed issues related to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination on Women but ignored the story of a 15 year old girl that was traditionally married to a 44 year old man - she became his 6th wife!

And the generous king is allowing mining companies to rip apart this tiny and fragile country as long as he gets his 10% of the wealth. He's a royal plunderer!

Feb 11 Orphan was kicked out of School

Feb 10 King to get 10% shares from mines

Feb 9 Police union members shout intimidation

Feb 8 NCA gives govt 90-day ultimatum

Feb 8 More arrests looming in E50 million scandal

Feb 7 The hypocrites speak: Good governance key to Vision 2022 dream

Feb 6 Girl (15) forced out of school to marry

Jan28 Sd2007

2007-01-28T12:08:00.000-08:00

Several foreign AIDS organizations partner with HIV/AIDS groups in Swaziland but rarely wish to engage in a realistic analysis of that country. They avoid the topic of politics as if it were the plague. In hushed tones, Directors often claim "we can't get involved in the political situation because it could affect our funding" or "we don't want to be thrown out of the country". Why will they never demand of the Swazi government what they themselves expect at home - a system which is concerned with the public welfare?
Even an American business newspaper such as the Wall Street Journal points out the inter-connectedness!

'Swazi king sets poor example'
December 27, 2006
http://www.iol.co.za/

Swaziland - where one in three people between ages 15 and 49 are HIV-positive, according to UNAIDS - has the highest HIV prevalence in the world, and King Mswati III is the "elephant in the room when Swazis contemplate their Aids crisis," the Wall Street Journal reports.

To prevent the spread of HIV, the king in 2001 reinstated a custom that mandates that all girls under age 18 should not have sexual relations for five years and that any man who has sex with a virgin under age 18 must pay one cow to the girl's family, according to the Journal.

However, soon after reinstating the rule, the king became engaged to a 17-year-old woman.

In addition, although some HIV/Aids advocates "credit the king" - who has at least 12 wives - for declaring HIV/Aids a national disaster in 1999 and for his frequent discussion of the virus, some Swazis "privately say the 38-year-old monarch's own polygamous lifestyle sets a poor example for a nation dying of Aids," according to the Journal.

"There's a lack of role models," Agnes Mtetwa, HIV/Aids programme officer for the Council of Swaziland Churches, said, adding, "The king is a young man, and he has a whole host of the most beautiful girls in the land. ... Which young man doesn't want to be like the king?"

Researchers, health workers and the king's Aids council have said that traditional practices - including child marriage, polygamy and widow inheritance - are fuelling the spread of HIV and that HIV/Aids is intimately linked to the comparative powerlessness of women in Swazi culture (Phillips, Wall Street Journal, 12/20/2006).

For more information on Swaziland see

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/CURRENT+NEWS

Jan14 Sd2007

2007-01-14T12:06:00.000-08:00

Greetings for 2007 - Year of the Boar

The weekend before Christmas the People's United Democratic
Movement of Swaziland held its 6th General Congress which
resulted in a document entitled TARGETED SANCTIONS
AGAINST THE RULING REGIME IN SWAZILAND. This is
the clear vision of people focused on self-determination.

PUDEMO: TARGETED SANCTIONS AGAINST THE RULING REGIME IN SWAZILAND

With a king like mSwindler III of Swaziland, it's not surprising
his children would be schooled in foreign countries where
leaders like Bush (more of a little shrub) and Blair (as in
blaring idiot) rule the roost. The "minny me" Dlamini royalty go
far away for an expensive education and an exclusive education.
And of course the folks at Buckswood School, Hastings, UK
gladly take mSwindlers cash!

http://www.ukstudy.com/Show_Front.php?Page=ViewSchool&SchoolID=126&L=1

Below is the most recent letter from the Commonwealth.
Once again they attempt to defend their own complacency
by speaking of quiet diplomacy. It is simply more
hogwash to begin this Year of the Boar.

For current events in Swaziland see LATEST NEWS

COMMONWEALTH
SECRETARIAT
22 November 2006

Dear Mr MacIntyre

Thank you for your letter dated 30 October 2006 wherein you raise concerns on the current situation in Swaziland.

The Commonwealth’s engagement with Swaziland as a member state has been focused on ensuring their compliance with the 1991 Harare Principles. Until the implementation of the Constitution in February this year, this has been at the level of a good offices engagement. The specific objective of the Commonwealth’s engagement from the outset was to facilitate the movement from an absolute monarchy to a democratic constitutional model. Such a model was to include a bill of rights; establishment of an elected Parliament; measures to further entrench the independence of the judiciary and generally the opening up of political space.

The formal adoption of the new Constitution in February this year with these provisions marked the beginning of the final phase of that process. It would thus be inaccurate to say that the Swaziland people live in “horrendous conditions” and the present system prevents people selecting their own representatives.

The Constitution of Swaziland allows for the freedom of association and assembly. His Majesty King Mswati III has confirmed the abrogation of the 1973 decree, which had originally banned political parties.

The focus of our approach now is to continue to engage with the Government and civil society groups so as to provide all the support necessary for the implementation of the Constitution. We have gone this far adopting quiet, and discreet diplomacy, far from the glare of publicity. We will maintain that approach and appreciate the support and interest of Commonwealth member nations and their governments.

Yours sincerely,
Matthew E. K. Neuhaus

Director Political Affairs Division

Hon Roly MacIntyre

Minister of Supply and Services

P. O. Box 6000

Fredericton

New Brunswick

Canada E3B 5H1

c.c. H. E. Mr Jim Wright

High Commissioner

Canadian High Commission

Macdonald House

1Grovenor Square

London W1K 4AB

Dec17 Sd2006

2006-12-17T12:05:00.000-08:00

From December 20th ~ 24th PUDEMO's 6th General Congress will take place in the Republic of South Africa. Discussions will focus on building a Roadmap to Democracy for 2008. Topics include the strategic role and historic tasks of the People's United Democratic Movement, building a national democratic front and creating conditions, and activism as a tool for liberation.

This democratic congress must occur in a foreign land as political parties can not exist in Swaziland - a fact we keep trying to point out to our Canadian politicians and the Commonwealth. Surely, this will be the last Congress in exile!

Some stories from last week:

Dec 17 14-year fraud probed at National Courts
Dec 17 SD stifling Africa’s plan
Dec 14 PM robbed
Dec 14 MISA completes study on what makes news
Dec 13 PUDEMO chief Mario Masuku is sick
Dec 11 Nationwide power blackout
Dec 11 Govt policies blamed for loss of foreign aid

Dec2 Sd2006

2006-12-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

On Nov 30th, the Swazi Times published an article entitled PUDEMO to hold rally on Saturday which stated:

The People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) will on Saturday morning hold a political rally here.[Manzini]

The rally will be held in commemoration of all fallen comrades of PUDEMO and also mark 24 years of the political party's struggle.

As political parties are banned in the kingdom such events are risky - everyone is aware of the potential brutality of the Swazi Police and Royal Army.

At about 6pm Swazi time, I talked to Mphandlana Shongwe, a well known political activist in Swaziland. While Canadians were busy watching the Liberals choosing a new party leader in Montreal, the police were physically beating those who believe in democracy within Swaziland. Mphandlana said many were beaten, three were arrested and an elderly lady was in critical condition. He had just come from the hospital after receiving stitches to his head.

This is the "unique democracy" of Sd as the Commonwealth calls it!

The Commonwealth remains silent, we shall not.
Write to the following addresses:

Mr Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Harper.S@parl.gc.ca

Mr Peter MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs
min.dfaitmaeci@international.gc.ca
MacKay.P@parl.gc.ca

Mr Vincent Charron
High Commission Swaziland Desk
Vincent.Charron@international.gc.ca

1) condemn these brutal acts
2) request sanctions be placed on the Swazi regime
3) call for Canada to publicly support the unbanning of political parties in Sd

Copy these notes to:

Mr Themba Dlamini
Prime Minister of Swaziland
sec-tocab@realnet.co.sz

Edgar Hilary
Commissioner of Police
compol@realnet.co.sz
rsppro@realnet.co.sz

Mr Don McKinnon
The Commonwealth Secretary-General
info@commonwealth.int

Mr Matthew Neuhaus
Director of Political Affairs
m.neuhaus@commonwealth.int

Ms Rabab Fatima
Adviser & Head of Human Rights Unit
r.fatima@commonwealth.int

Postal addresses can be found at Write Letters

To follow current events in Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/

Nov26 Sd2006

2006-11-26T12:02:00.000-08:00

While Swazi royalty now wants to take South Africa to the World Court over a territorial dispute Nov 18**Swaziland to go to World Court to 'reclaim' SA land a German journalist talked to one of the king's wives, La Mbikiza. Seems the Germans are feeling that usual Christmas generosity and want to give a donation to starving orphans but decided to have tea with the lawyer queen first. These zombie-type journalists who continually fail to see the causes of social ills in Sd are amazed by this wife who sounds quite modern and educated yet eats the same cake as Marie Antoinette.Nov 24 German TV praises Inkhosikati LaMbikiza

Others stories from this week:
Nov 26 Dialogue the key for PUDEMO
Nov 23 40 foreign parties call for sanctions against SD
Nov 23 Discontent during 2008
Nov 23 USA, EU keeping close eye on govt
SSN Statement Nov 21
Nov 21 NCA still wants to march to king

Below read the ANC's Youth League article concerning Sd claims:

Hlomelang

African National Congress Youth League

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

"Now King Mswati III wants to spread his dictatorship to South Africa"

“What the early liberation struggle leaders avoided, therefore, was a long and massively bloody struggle around territorial issues due to complex disputes over boundaries. We know the dangers of these from the conflicts between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which has had untold misery on both sides. ”

WHILE WE ARE BUSY TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE OUR DEMOCRACY AND MEETING OUR PEOPLE’S NEEDS, a despot next door, King Mswati III of Swaziland, wants pieces of South Africa’s land and people, to add to his dictatorship.

Many people may have heard of Swaziland as the country of the maidens that dance before the King, wherein he is free to choose wives annually from virgins, giving each of his conquests an assortment of luxuries in cars and palaces, while the majority of Swazis languish in poverty. Recently, the King has gone on an overdrive to market his dictatorship and present this as healthy as any democracy, bringing both domestic and international celebrities as the new face of his Kingdom.

Indeed, like most countries in Southern, Central and West Africa, Swaziland is naturally beautiful, a largely mountainous country. However, beneath this undulating beautiful landscape, like still deep waters that hides some folktale beast, lies the beastly repression of a young king, whom at the age of 38 has already married at least 12 wives. He holds the title of being “Africa’s last absolute monarchy”. Not that there are no more monarchies in Africa, there are in fact plenty, we have some here in South Africa, we understand some Ugandan tribe not long ago had a boy king whom we believe strive to this day. But the difference in all these instances, is that the monarchies subscribe to democracy, while King Mswati III does not.

While the king is on his overdrive to market the lie that Swaziland is a dignified member of the international community of democracies, we are prepared as always, to join the Swazi progressive movements to tell the politically suppressed truth about this tiny kingdom. We know much about Swaziland, because it is our neighbour, we have sent political delegations there, we have read about it, and very importantly, we have hosted various political conferences of the youth of Swaziland who are directly suffering the repression of the Swazi King.

Swaziland got its independence from Britain without firing a gun in 1968. Together with Lesotho and Botswana, Swaziland was part of what became known as the British High Protectorate States. They attained this accolade after they had requested Britain to colonise them. This may sound rather strange and perhaps to those uninitiated with the history of colonialism may think colonialism was a cozy and sweet thing. We say a big NO! Colonialism was barbaric and it was attained by the use of force and in this instance it was but an exception. But the Swazis were apparently between a rock and a hard place, or should we say between the devil and deep blue sea, as this may be about taste and choice of metaphors.

As the situation was, there was a scramble for Southern Africa. The British East India Company, the Portuguese East India Company and the Dutch East India Company had all made Southern Africa their stop station, in their sailing on spice trade journeys to and from India. Jan van Riebieck had first made permanent station in the Cape, to supply fresh vegetables to the ships that were sailing between the western countries and India, via the southern tip of Africa. Fresh vegetables were a prized commodity for those who sailed for weeks and months without access to fresh produce, because they could be vulnerable to various diseases, particularly scurvy.

That was before the Suez Canal was built, making a shorter route via the North of Africa. “By and large”, as sailors’ tactics to navigate the stormy waters of both the Atlantic and Indian oceans, they were refreshed by the vegetables grown by the permanent stations such as that of Good Hope during their stopovers.

Later, as the colonialists realized how beautiful Africa was, decided to make Southern Africa their permanent home. They began fighting both the native Africans and amongst themselves, over political hegemony of southern Africa and the scramble over the region and its natural resources had begun. This scramble, was intensified by the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand area and diamonds in Kimberly. Diamond mining latter peaked to the extent that the first street lights were erected in that small town to enable work at night.

Amongst the wars fought amongst the British and Dutch settlers was what has become known as the Anglo-Boer war, waged from 1899 to 1902, resulting in the heavy defeat of the Dutch settlers by the British.

However, in 1909, the British Parliament resolved on the creation of the Union of South Africa, which effectively disenfranchised the Africans, resulting in the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, two years before the ANC was launched in 1912. The historical events of 1910 influenced the launch of the ANC.

Long before the Union of South Africa was subsequently launched in 1910, which gave name to the Union Building, a name hitherto we rightly want changed, the scramble for southern Africa had reshaped Africa’s boundaries.

Amongst those affected were the Swazi people, who themselves in the 1800 were in the process of forming their kingdom, through King Mswati I, the founding leader of the Swazi kingdom. King Mswati, apparently running away from King Shaka’s conquests, in turn made his own conquests of various clans and chiefdoms and founded Swaziland as a result. King Shaka himself, was in the process of consolidating the Zulu nation.

Upon realizing that the boundaries were increasingly being re-shaped, the Swazis had sought refuge in the British, legend has it that they had made their own calculation that the British were temporary colonialists while the “Boers”, as the Afrikaner community were known, were here to stay. It was a case of the lesser devil.

The British, the legend goes, obliged, and conferred the status to Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana the status of British High Protectorate States. This conferring of this status was clear message to the “Boers”, because they had suffered defeat in various battles with the British, amongst which had led to the “Great Trek”, which gave prominence to leaders such as Paul Kruger.

Later, in 1885, the colonialists, amongst whom were Belgians, British, Portuguese, Germans, Italians and others, convened a meeting popularly known as the Berlin Conference. The meeting confirmed the portioning of the continent amongst these victorious colonialists over the Africans. Basically, Africans had no say. Amongst the boundaries agreed to then were those of the current Swaziland.

This injustice is historical, wherein Africa had its affairs decided upon in Europe, and this should never be glorified by Africa’s posterity. Basically it was one of the worst human rights violation by European powers that used their military superiority to effect a barbaric order in our native land.

However, the Organisation of African Unity, formed in the early 1960’s to forge solidarity around the struggle for independence from colonialism, ratified the partitioning of Africa by the Berlin Conference. The early leaders of our struggle for independence and freedom had little options. The slightest options which could have been ambitious but very dangerous at the same time, could have been to revisit the African boundaries prior to the Berlin Conference. Some of the boundaries were in fact sketchy prior to the Berlin Conference and were not formally documented amongst the States themselves, because some States like that of Swaziland and South Africa, were in the process of being made.

What the early liberation struggle leaders avoided, therefore, was a long and massively bloody struggle around territorial issues due to complex disputes over boundaries. We know the dangers of these from the conflicts between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which has had untold misery on both sides. What this show, is that the evolution and formation of States was never a cut and dry issue, and this is true in Africa and across the world and throughout history. The African leaders convened by the OAU, had the wisdom to avoid bloodshed, which thing could have made the continental bloodshed that we know so far look like some picnic.

In 1982, the apartheid regime noted the Swazi kingdom’s ambitions to revisit the Berlin Conference decisions, and to overlook the OAU’s stance around the issue of international boundaries. As a result, the apartheid regime offered the Swazi government a price to claim certain land from South Africa, and that price was to stamp hard on the underground structures of the ANC that were operational in that country.

The Swazi’s obliged, now this is not legend. As a result, many comrades suffered the brutality of the Swazi monarch’s government, all done with the false hope that one day the Groot Krokodile PW Botha’s regime would relent and give them these claimed lands. The price was too high but nonetheless paid, but the commodity was never granted, now the Swazi monarch cries foul!

Perhaps the present King was too young then, and perhaps therefore he could not claim responsibility for what his government did to our cadres and in the first place agreeing to the apartheid regime on such a hilarious offer. Like Joseph’s brothers, the Swazi government was prepared to sell their own brothers to the colonial masters.

However, lest history be distorted, many Swazi citizens, who were very much politically enlightened and already fighting for democracy against the monarchy, helped many of our comrades. Therefore it was not a Swazis against ANC operatives affair, rather it was a case of two undemocratic regimes working together.

Now the Swazi government under King Mswati III, want to invoke the 1982 hilarious agreement between his regime and that of PW Botha, may the latter’s soul rest in peace!

We believe that King Mswati, instead of taking the matter to some court in The Hague, he should rather consider the African Union, where his own peers would educate him on the merits and demerits of revisiting the Berlin Conference’s decisions. Many African leaders now lead democratic governments, and for that reason are very much enlightened about the intricacies of spearheading change amidst the outlay of antagonistic but democratic forces.

What King Mswati should focus on, is bringing about democracy in his own country, stop repressing political organizations such as the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAOCO), who are amongst the leading forces for political change in Swaziland. He should adhere to a people’s assembly, where a proper constitution would be formulated democratically and offer lasting peace, freedom and stability to all the contending political forces and people of Swaziland. In other words, he should nullify the current constitution which was drawn by his proxies, and adhere to internationally acclaimed democratic principles of free political party participation and the freedom of speech of the media.

What King Mswati III should know also, is that Africa is undergoing change, and that the stereotypes of nationalism are being overridden by calls for increased political and economic cooperation. The SADC itself, to which he is still afforded participation, is undergoing rapid integration, reminiscent of the European Union. Sooner than latter, people from Swaziland and South Africa, as well as with the rest of their sister countries in the region, would move freely and trade freely without some of the current inhibiting bottlenecks particularly around trade issues.

We therefore unconditionally reject the calls by the King, as outdated, irrelevant and very dangerous. If we were to take his example, Africa would be on fire in proportions never seen before. We appeal to his peers in the AU and SADC to convince him to desist from these hallucinatory views, because they spell danger for the continent.

They must also give him an ultimatum, that he should comply to democratic values in his own country or face expulsion from the AU and SADC. We in the ANC Youth League will bounce our views with our sister organization SWAYOCO, to consider the possibility of campaigning for the expulsion of the King and his family from the AU and SADC, before we hear more of his outdated views. Of course we would wish to do that with the most minimum hurt to the ordinary Swazi people, who have already suffered enough under his heavy yoke of king-subject relationship.

As the ANCYL, we will not succumb to some legendary claims on our national territory, and we will defend this together with the progressive and freedom loving people of Swaziland. We say “legendary” because these claims relate to issues that have been considered now irrelevant to the configuration of the States in the continent as we now know them.

From: http://www.anc.org.za/youth/

Nov13 Sd2006

2006-11-13T12:01:00.000-08:00

Economic Panel or Business Wine Club?

King Mswati III of Swaziland has established an economic panel in a futile attempt to fix the ailing economy. The panel, Business Economic Advisory Panel (BEAP), was officially launched by the Prime Minister in a lavish dinner on October 30, 2006. BEAP membership is drawn from local and foreign business leaders.

Whilst this may seem a noble idea, this is yet another face-saving strategy – a political scam which will not benefit anyone but King Mswati and his family. Even if the panel succeeds in attracting direct foreign investment, its efforts will be drowned by the high level of political rot which is a key element of this government. The appointment of a minister with an undisputed record of incompetence to the Deputy Prime Minister position is fresh evidence of this rot.

It is now absolutely clear that this government is determined to press on with its fatalistic policy of separating the economy from the political process. Let it be known that any attempts to rescue the economy without serious consideration of the current political conditions will never succeed. Too many initiatives have ended up in a heap because of narrow, disjointed and ad hoc approaches to national issues. Previous initiatives such as Smart Partnership, National Dialogue, Smart Programme on Economic Empowerment and Development (SPEED) and Job Creation collapsed. The Millennium Project is in serious financial trouble.

PUDEMO’s vision

PUDEMO has consistently called for a parallel approach which locates the economic malaise within the broader political conditions. Politics and the national economy are intrinsically linked and do not operate independently of each other. Good governance provides the conditions necessary for economic growth. Where there is bad governance, it is inevitable that one will find poor economic performance. Thus initiatives to boost economic growth must, as a matter of principle, be complemented by significant political improvement.

In Swaziland, this would require a radical shift in thinking among the current generation of politicians. Central to this shift, is developing the ability to understand the interplay of economics and politics. In the words of the American sociologist, C.W. Wright Mills, such shifts involve developing the quality of mind or a broader vision of society. Unfortunately, this does not appear possible at all under this regime which discourages different ways of thinking. The prohibition of political party participation in the governance of this country is blinding evidence of this hostility towards alternative views. Consequently, the majority of politicians and state officials do not possess the quality of mind which would enable them to operate efficiently and effectively. Those who do posses the quality of mind are frustrated, marginalised, intimidated and denied promotion. Hence, the braindrain to neighbouring South Africa.

In view of this situation, PUDEMO calls for an overhaul of the political system as a necessary step towards an effective and long-lasting strategy to resolving the economic situation. Our policy priority is to create the conditions for economic recovery and growth by fixing the political crisis. We will invest heavily in this project because we believe that good economic policy comes from an effective system of government with clearly developed mechanisms of delivery. This is PUDEMO’s goal in government – to build an effective vehicle for economic and social growth. As is evident in South Africa and Mozambique, a stable and functioning political system is the main driver for economic recovery. Our neighbours have grown from crisis to strength whilst Swaziland slides backwards with great SPEED.

The government has had abundant time but failed to fix the political crisis. The Commonwealth-sponsored constitution making project was a farce. It delivered no real progress but maintained the status quo. We were told by the Commonwealth to be patient and we were assured that the constitution will deliver a solution to the political crisis. Ten years down the track things have gotten worse. Time has run out and Swaziland can no longer afford to entertain strategies that aim to give comfort to the regime. As evidenced by the economic collapse and ever increasing number of deaths from HIV/AIDS and poverty, these strategies have had catastrophic implications. Like its predecessors, BEAP is a misconceived project and has no capacity or intention to turn things around. It can be best described as a business wine club rather than a serious attempt to rescue the economy.

Some of the business leaders involved in the king’s economic panel may have genuine intentions of helping the country but they will have very little or no influence on the issues that count. Speaking on behalf of BEAP during the launch, Illovo Director, Mandla Hlatshwayo, reminded the government that economic recovery will not occur without political progress (Times of Swaziland, November 1, 2006). But Hlatshwayo might be one of the lone voices in the panel. It is likely that he was invited to join the panel not because of his undoubted experience and potential to contribute to a way forward but because of his strategic position as a director of the biggest sugar industry in Africa. The regime is not interested in innovative ideas but in status and window dressing. It has been very successful in using the status of individuals and institutions (such as the Commonwealth Secretariat) to help improve its public image. Its strategy is always the same – to seemingly offer people the chance to contribute to relieving the misery of Swazi citizens, whilst tightly controlling the process so that no real change can ever occur. The result is a long list of distinguished and probably well-meaning contributors to maintaining the misery in Swaziland. Notwithstanding the fact that these people should know better than to get involved in the first place, it is very difficult for them to withdraw or denounce the process once they have signed up, as the Commonwealth found to its cost in the Constitutional Review process. As with any good scam, the trick is to get people sufficiently involved that even when they discover the nature of the scam, they stay involved in it because to withdraw would simply be too embarrassing. Thus, with BEAP, like previous regime scams, we should not be fooled into thinking that the process has merit just because it includes a few people of good reputation and intention.

Whilst people like Hlatshwayo have the courage to speak out about the important issues and show leadership, others in BEAP might prefer the wine. The morality of these people ought to be seriously questioned. This government is well known for its bad human rights record including political repression, political incompetence, lavish royal spending, corruption and strong opposition to democratic forms of governance. Even former insiders such as Prince Mfanasibili are now speaking and writing about the entrenched culture of corruption within the current system of government. In one of his newspaper weekly commentaries, Prince Mfanasibili commented that the government has a long history of recruiting and keeping corrupt politicians and state officials (Times of Swaziland –SUNDAY, October 22, 2006).

It is already evident that BEAP business will be governed by the government tradition of secrecy. The lack of detail available about the operation of BEAP is startling. The public has not been given any information about budget allocation, consultation, monitoring, evaluation, reporting processes and time-frame of this project. The terms of reference are, at best, very scratchy. We are told that all those in BEAP have volunteered their services and the government will only pay travelling and accommodation expenses. That is welcomed and the services of those with genuine intentions of helping Swaziland are appreciated. One would assume that in a functioning government, these expenses will be officially accounted for in the national budget. Where is the money to feed, fly and accommodate members of the club coming from and why is this information hidden from the public? Did the government dream of BEAP overnight without budgetary consideration?

PUDEMO encourages any members of this club who have a strong sense of social justice to be a link between the club and the general population by ensuring that the public is informed about it and by inviting public opinion on BEAP. Business is not only about profit making but it is also about social responsibility.

Signed

Dr. Jabulane Matsebula

PUDEMO Representative

Australia, Asia and the South Pacific Region
Date: November 2, 2006

pudemo@yahoo.co.uk

For other news from Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/CURRENT+NEWS

Nov5 Sd2006

2006-11-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

This week there was a shuffle, a Cabinet shuffle.
But if they scuffle a bunch of rotten apples what can we expect to happen?
The entire lot must be tossed away....

Constance Simelane was named Deputy Prime Minister on Thursday Oct 26. She is the infamous Minister of Education known for her utter lack of knowledge. The following article exhibits her ignorance and leads one to belief the Swazi government will soon implode upon itself.

'Save Yourselves For Marriage; Otherwise...'
Swazi Times Nov 26, 2005

" Education Minister Constance Simelane has warned pupils to desist from practising premarital sex, saying such results in crooked penises. Simelane said such penises served no intrinsic purpose after marriage. The minister was addressing pupils, parents, and teachers of KaLanga, outside Siteki, before officially opening KaLanga High School yesterday. Simelane said she did not preach condom usage to pupils because there were no sizes to fit them. Instead, she said, pupils should abstain until they get married. 'Condoms were never meant to be used by pupils, which explains why there are no sizes made to fit them,' she added. 'If you (pupils) persist on indulging in premarital sex, there is a great risk that your penis will shrink and get crooked, ' she said. She said some of the people who had shrunk penises started practising sex prematurely, and were now paying for their actions. The minister said she learnt the theory from experts in human biology. On the same wave-length, Simelane said illicit sex resulted in female organs membranes sustaining injuries, resulting in paralysis of the genitals."

At that time, a Canadian volunteer at an Aids organization in Manzini wrote:

I wonder how Swaziland can move forward with leadership like this...

No, this is not a joke...Okay fine, you have to laugh because it is absolutely absurd. I would like to know which human biology experts she consulted... Did I mention cabinet is appointed by the King?

Also see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/PM+s+cocktail+%28Comment%29

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Reshuffle+a+shocking+joke+-+SNAT

Oct29 Sd2006

2006-10-29T11:59:00.000-08:00

'Save Yourselves For Marriage; Otherwise...'
Swazi Times Nov 26, 2005

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Reshuffle+a+shocking+joke+-+SNAT

Oct22 Sd2006

2006-10-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

In the majority of the world a scholarship is a gift of money or a financial award for scholarly achievement but that's not the case in Mswati's kingdom. His government gives with one hand and then comes around to the back door with two hands! Accessible education, for all ages, is necessary.

Oct 19 Repay scholarships, graduands reminded

The king often speaks of Swazi culture which he holds so dear. He will not embrace change for it is the old ways which he prefers. The discussion about respect for culture will sound of hypocrisy when Chief Bantu Holomisa of South Africa meets with the king this week.

Oct 21 Holomisa to meet king over Mzikayise burial

For more information about Swaziland see

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/

Oct15 Sd2006

2006-10-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

Although the Commonwealth refers to Swaziland as a "unique democracy", take a look at what the people are saying!

Constitution does not allow political parties
BY INNOCENT MAPHALALA
Swazi Times Oct 12, 2006

MBABANE – Under the new constitutional dispensation, political parties are neither allowed to register nor take part in national elections.

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Constitution+does+not+allow+political+parties

Govt given seven - day ultimatum
BY NIMROD MABUZA
Swazi Times Oct 10, 2006

MBABANE – The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) has given government seven days to action a list of 11 concerns it has submitted and failure to do so, the organisation will peacefully approach the king.

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Govt+given+seven+day+ultimatum

NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY OCT 9, 2006
Re: Urgent Petition on issues of governance

Believing that those that govern do so on the basis of the genuine will and the mandate of the governed;

Aware that silence in the face of oppression, exploitation, servitude and corruption, makes the silent party equally guilty in the same manner as the perpetrator of injustice;

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/NCA+Petition+Oct+9%2C+2006

Oct8 Sd2006

2006-10-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

This week king Mswati made the Swazi news a couple of times. He was paid a visit by two former Presidents of Southern Africa and no doubt they were telling him things must change!

Oct 5 Ex-Presidents meet king privately

It seems Mswati did not attend the funeral of Deputy Prime Minister Albert Shabangu but his official mouthpiece was there. The king's message was that Shabangu had not been "bewitched". Swaziland is a land of superstition and myth as this self-serving royal master gives the orders.

Oct 7 King speaks on DPM’s death

Yesterday the University of Swaziland held it's graduation ceremony. A honourary degree was conferred upon Mr Donald McKinnon, Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Swazi establishment believes this man needs recognition for helping them retain the power and wealth of Swaziland. Mr McKinnon is the fellow who talks as "right" as Mr Blair and Mr Bush! Yes, he thinks Swaziland is a unique democracy and in his corrupted mind, culture means poverty.

About this "honour" Bongani Masuku of Swaziland Solidarity Network writes:

Poor Swazi regime trying to massage and seek extended favours from their master whose duty is to protect the rotten child of the family, wonder for how long!!!!

McKinnon was absent from the ceremony but the king showed up and gave a talk about too many grads and not enough jobs. When we read his comments we think "Can anyone be so stupid?", but this is the leader Swaziland is currently stuck with. It can only get better when less selfish people have power in their nation.

Oct 8 King raises concern over

Oct 8 King shows up early for Uniswa’s Grammy’s

It is interesting to note that the king who is always talking of Swazi culture wouldn't wear traditional attire to such a ceremony. Oh, but yes, the emperor has new clothes.

Oct1 Sd2006

2006-10-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

This week king Mswati was in the southern region of Swaziland attending yet one more Reed Dance. Seems he is forever wanting another girl as the kingdom falls deeper and deeper into crisis; hospitals are without medicines, grandmothers and little girls are being raped, workers are continually striking and students are delivering petitions to the government. The corruption and royal oppression have continued for far too long.

Oct 1 Chief Pharmacist paying company that does not exist
Oct 1 Corruption is rife at Health
Sept 30 Teacher accused of molesting 13 pupils
Sept 30 What happened to that E60 million?
Sept 30 Chief (25) wanted for raping a grandmother (56)
Sept 29 More than 200 deliver petition
Sept 28 Ngwane Teachers College closed
Sept 27 SFTU to join nurses in march
Sept 27 SCOT closes down
Sept 26 Three hundred students deliver petition to acting PS
Sept 26 When government can’t afford chalk ( Comment )
Sept 26 Lecturers engage in strike at Ngwane College
Sept 25 Drug shortage hits RFM hard
Sept 24 Youths march to protest over police brutality

As Swazi newspapers are weak examples of journalism, it is rare to find an article which looks critically at any topic. Letters to the editor are often too true to print and PUDEMO members are at risk to sign their own names. Read "Change is coming" by anonymous. Write to the editor as well.

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Change+is+coming

Signe Hermann is a researcher from Denmark who spent time in Swaziland earlier this year. She will be heading to Canada in a few months and has plans to work with Swazi-Solidarity while doing graduate work in Moncton. Signe has written an essay entitled "On Swaziland, HIV/AIDS and epidemiology" which is linked below.

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/On+Swaziland%2C+HIV-AIDS+and+epidemiology

Sept24 Sd2006

2006-09-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Swaziland Solidarity Network Canada began its website in January of this year. To date, almost 1000 articles and documents have been submitted and readership is growing. A note of gratitude must go to Domza of Johannesburg for his encouragement and patience as this project began to germinate. To review our growth see:

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/space/stats
(Click CSV to read numbers rather than graphs.)

For Canadians wanting to support democracy in Swaziland, the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) has provided a foundation of details. PUDEMO members have written documents which enable the international community to understand the situation in Swaziland. In their struggle for democracy, PUDEMO realized internal change can be influenced by external factors and it become part of their comprehensive strategy to inform world organizations of their plight.

The attachment below is a result of the unwavering diligence of Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) of South Africa. By informing world organizations none can then plead ignorance. Communication from an individual or an organized collective can lead to an informed international community. The letter sent by SSN to the Commonwealth Human Rights Network immediately pushed Swaziland onto the agenda. Others may contribute in keeping it there.

Addresses can be found at http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Write+Letters or
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Send+E-mail

To follow current events in Swaziland see

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/

*********************************************************************
Below are e-mail communications between CHRN and SSN.

-----Original Message-----
From: Commonwealth Human Rights Network
[mailto:chrn@humanrightsinitiative.org]
Sent: 15 March 2006 08:22 AM
Subject: Reaction to the last email about Swaziland

Dear Mr. Masuku,

I am sure you will be interested to note that other organisations have read with concern our last email concerning the situation in Swaziland and have decided to take action as you can see from the email below which I am sending you. Also attached is the letter which has been sent to the Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

yours sincerely,

Commonwealth Human Rights Network Secretariat

-----Original Message-----
From: Fakun, Prem [mailto:prem.fakun@icftu.org]
Sent: Monday, March 13, 2006 9:38 PM
To: Canon Samual D John; Mr Davidson A. Kuyateh (Sierra Leone); Mr Jese
Sikivou (Fiji); Mr John Foster (Canada); Mr John Samuel; Mr John Samuel
(Thailand); Mr Warren Nyamugasira (Uganda); Mrs Bernice Sam (Ghana); Ms
Fatma Alloo (Tanzania); Ms Jo Howse (New Zealand); Ms Joan-Grant-Cummings (Jamaica); Ms Nelcia Robinson (T & T); Ms Nkoyo Toyo (Nigeria); Ms Rae Julian (New Zealand); Prof. Tim Shaw (UK); Cncil for Ed in the Commonwealth; ComHabitat - UK; Comm H Rhts Initiative; Comm Human Ecology Cncil - int; Comm Nurses Fed - UK; Comm Policy Studies Unit; Comm Youth Exchange Council; Int Inst of Ageing - UN; John Wood; Nrth South Institute - Canada; Royal Comm Society - UK; ACTU Australia; ACTU Australia; ACTU Int Officer; Annie Watson; Antigua; Antigua Trades and Labour Union (ATG); Bangladesh BJSD Zafrul Hasan GenSec; Barbados; Barbados - Joseph Goddard NUPW; Belize Nat TU Congress; Bermuda BTUC; Bermuda Industrial Union; Cameroon Conf of T Unions; Canada CLC; Cananda CLC; CLC Canada; Cooks Islands Workers Assc; Cyprus Workers' Confederation SEK; Dominica T Union; Dominica Waterfront & Allied W Union; Fiji TUC; Ghana - Samuel Kumitse ; Ghana TUC; Grenada TUC; Guyana TUC; HMS India; India INTUC Secretary; INTUC India; Jamaica CTU; Kenya COTU; Lesotho LECODU; Malawi Congress TU; Malaysia CUEPACS Ah Shah GenSec; Malaysia TUC; Malaysia TUC S SAHIR Pdt; Malta CMTU ; Malta GWU; Malta GWU Int Officer; Mauritius Fed of prog Unions; Mauritius MLC; Mauritius NTUC C/O FCSOU; Mauritius TUC; Mozambique OTM; N Zealand - Ross Wilson; N Zealand CTU; N Zealand CTU; Namibia NUNW; Nigeria NLC; Nigeria NLC GenSec; Nigeria NLC Int Sec; Nigeria NLC Pdt; ORGS AFRO; ORGS APRO; ORGS ILO; ORGS OATUU; ORGS PSI; ORGS SATUCC; Pakistan - Khurshid Ahmed; Pakistan - Muhammad Ahmed ; Pakistan - Muhammad Zahoor Ahwan; Papua N Guinea TUC; Samoa TUC; Seychelles SFWU; Sierra leone SLLC; Singapore NTUC Frederick Ho; Singapore SNTUC; South Africa; South Africa; South Africa; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka CFTU; Sri Lanka CWC; St Kits; St Lucia; St Vincent; swaziland SFTU;
Tanzania TUCTA; Tanzania ZATUC; Tonga Teachers; Trinidad & T; Trinidad &
T; Uganda; UK Int; UK TUC; UK TUC Int; UK TUC Int; Zambia - S Tembo;
Zambia ZCTU; Zimbabwe; Zimbabwe ZCTU; Zimbabwe ZCTU Pdt
Cc: Clare Doube; TUC-GBR - Tudor, Owen; TUC-GBR - Kothalawala, B.; SFTU
(SWZ); jsithole@yahoo.com; ICFTU-AFRO (KEN); Kuczkiewicz, Janek; Ryder,
Guy
Subject: FW: CHRN: Outrage by Organisations in Swaziland over new
Constitution

Dear Friends,

We would like to bring to your kind attention and for follow-up action as
well concerning the situation in Swaziland.

On this auspicious occasion of the Commonwealth Day, the ICFTU has had to
appeal to the Commonwealth Secretary General to support an ever growing call
for democratic changes in the country. Please see copy of the ICFTU letter
attached herewith. The CHRN statement below throws further light into the
need for the Commonwealth Secretariat to review its stand on Swaziland in
order to live up to the Commonwealth values.

It would be appreciated if your organisation can also send appeals to the
Commonwealth Secretary-General through fax no. 00 44 20 7930 0827 or email
info@commonwealth.int.

__________________________________________
Prem Fakun
Contact Person
Commonwealth Trade Union Group - CTUG
c/o ICFTU
Boulevard du Roi ALbert II no: 5 Bte 1
B - 1210 Bruxelles
Tel. ++32 (0) 2224 0211 Direct: ++32 (0) 22240223
Fax: ++32 (0) 2201 5815 - 2203 0756
http://www.icftu.org

Sept17 Sd2006

2006-09-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

Crisis in education, crisis in government:
The University of Swaziland threatened with closure

The People's United Democratic Movement of Swaziland
(PUDEMO)International Office
(Australia, Asian and the South Pacific Region)
E-mail: pudemo@yahoo.co.uk
September 13, 2006.

The People's United Democratic Movement deplores the threat to shut down the University of Swaziland if students do not return to class. This bullying approach to genuine student concerns has been the culture of this institution since the Liqoqo regime in the early 1980s. Successive leaders at the university have been socialised into this defective leadership culture in which threats and aggression rather than reason is a preferred model of administration. Consequently, the university has become a microcosm of the broader political system that is characterised by extreme levels of intolerance, incompetence and absence of public accountability.

One of the students' grievances is the late payment of scholarship allowances, which means that they are unable to purchase basic necessities such as food and stationery. This is a recurring issue that has a long history. University and government officials have shown no capacity and will to adequately address concerns by generations of university students about this matter. Instead, they resort to aggression and ridicule. On numerous occasions, the university administration has shut down the institution in an attempt to mute students' concerns. Armed police are regularly used to violently suppress students' peaceful protest.

When university students marched to the Ministry of Education and the Prime Minister's office on September 7 to deliver a petition, they were confronted by armed police. A violent skirmish ensued, leaving scores of injured students. Even the Police Commissioner, Edgar Hillary who is renowned for his violent aggression, commented that the police violence was uncalled for. Hillary must do more than this by instituting strict disciplinary actions against the senior officers who ordered the attack. It would be generally expected under a responsible system of government that an independent investigation into the violence would be conducted. However, Swaziland is a failing state with no political will and limited administrative competence to exercise the responsibilities of a responsible government.

In a functioning state with proper financial systems, it really is not difficult to ensure that students or any other group of citizens receive the payments to which they are entitled. After the state has allocated budget to tertiary scholarship, the funds must be quarantined and not used for any other purpose. This guarantees the orderly payment of tuition fees and student allowances. If errors are made in a functioning state, it is no big matter to apologise and fix the problem. Consider the situation in Swaziland, where the government is repeatedly unable to pay the allowances in a reasonably orderly fashion, presumably because it has squandered the money on new luxury cars for the king's wives. Then, when the students request that the problem be fixed, they are demonised and physically injured by the police, whose role is supposed to be to protect the public! It is like a man who drinks all the money for his family then beats up his wife and children when they ask him for food.

The Swazi government is stumbling from crisis to crisis and each time its corruption and incompetence is on display for all to see. This kind of governance is a problem for those people immediately affected by the crisis (in this case the students) but it is also a problem for all Swazis and its effects last for a long time after the crisis has been resolved. For example, this kind of incompetence has significant implications for how Swaziland is regarded by business and other countries. If we repeatedly present ourselves as a country that cannot manage basic financial transactions or peacefully resolve what is a very simple conflict, then we are continuing to build an image of Swaziland as a poor candidate for investment and economic growth. The collapse of the rule of law in 2002 was profoundly embarrassing and the many subsequent crises of poor governance can only further damage our image. If Swaziland continues to present itself as a national joke, we will find it difficult to attract quality economic growth. If we are seen as incompetent, investors will stay away. If we are perceived as oppressive as well as incompetent, we may find that some investors come to Swaziland but that we have attracted those who see the combination of incompetence and oppression as an opportunity to exploit the government and our people.

The Minister of Education's response to the scholarship matter has been pathetic. Her initial reaction was to rebuke and demonise the students as a "crowd" and "mob". This is a typical example of an incompetent politician who resorts to degradation rituals to cover up her incompetence. According to the Swazi News (09/09/06) report, the minister told the university Student Representative Council that "...as a ministry we are not here for playing...", but this is what exactly the ministry is doing - playing with the future of our education system. Constance Simelane is a national disgrace and has done so much damage to our education system.

In a functioning state, the issue of scholarship and particularly the payment of student allowances would not have come this far. However, in a failing state such as Swaziland where corruption and incompetence are the only visible features of governance, nothing gets fixed. Whilst the Minister has finally assured students that their allowances have been deposited into the bank, she does not have a long-term strategy to deal with this recurring problem. Instead, she will sit on her hands and wait for another class boycott and more injured Swazis before she again reacts to this long-standing concern with another short-term fix. This week students at the Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT) are also boycotting classes because of this problem.

Education is one of the most important sectors for national growth. It is irresponsible for any government to entrust responsibility of this sector to an incompetent minister. PUDEMO has earmarked education, health and the economy as our policy priorities. We strongly believe that a government that does not regard these sectors as priorities for public investment is a failed government. When we take over government, we will revolutionise these sectors by building efficient systems of service delivery and management. Our immediate goal in government is to put a stop to corrupt practices and lavish spending for the royal family. We believe that corruption and royal spending consume a significant percentage of national revenue. Putting a stop to this rot and recovering this revenue is the task to which we have committed ourselves in government.

The university class boycott must be understood within the broader political context which promotes a culture of incompetence and irresponsibility. It is a result of decades of leadership failure at state and institutional levels. Both the government and the university administration must take full responsibility for the recurring problem that led to the class boycott. It is time for the university leadership to make a significant culture shift by adopting new ways of dealing with student grievances. As it has been demonstrated from time to time, bullying tactics have not resolved the problem. The university desperately needs a new generation of leadership with fresh insights into tertiary administration. We deplore the continued dominance of the university administration by a tired old guard which has become a total liability to the future of this institution.

Signed:

Dr. Jabulane Matsebula
PUDEMO Representative
Australia, Asia and the South Pacific Region

To follow current events in Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/

To read the South Africa Contact newsletter see

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/

Sept10 Sd2006

2006-09-10T11:50:00.000-07:00

An Old Wives' Tale
Utsiteni, Make?

In former days, when royalty wanted to find a hangman in Swaziland a caring mother chose drastic action. If she wanted to protect her son from becoming a henchman, she would dip her son's right hand into very hot porridge and slightly burn her own child so that when the scouts came looking her son would be using his left-hand. These wise mothers knew the superstitious would never choose a left-handed boy for the task. Perhaps the mother of Khethokwakhe Ndlangamandla never heard this tale.

Khethokwakhe Ndlangamandla is one of "Mswati's elite", answerable only to the king and infamous for his brutality. It is this man whose name continues to surface when talking of torture and abuse in Swaziland. Unlike the hangman, whose role was to cause the death of a person convicted by law, Ndlangamandla selects the innocent. He targets those who speak out against the status quo, those who believe in democracy and those who are brave enough to challenge the corrupt system in Swaziland.

Khethokwakhe Ndlangamandla

This week as the king was ogling the bare-chested teenagers, PUDEMO member Sicelo Vilane won a clear victory in court. This case was once again pointing to the notorious Khethokwakhe Ndlangamandla.

Sept 7 Cops ordered to stop harassing activist

On Thursday Sept 7 students from the University of Swaziland (UNISWA) went to the capital, Mbabane, to deliver a petition concerning tuition fees and scholarships. Last year, on the exact date, students had also marched to the Ministry of Education where they were greeted with water cannons and tear gas. This year they again witnessed the repression of the state.

University Students March Sept 7, 2006

Unfortunately, the Commonwealth believes Swaziland is a "unique democracy". Director of Foreign Affairs, Mr M Neuhaus, wrote a letter to a Canadian politician stating political parties are allowed in Mswati's kingdom and freedom of assembly is permitted. Please continue writing e-mail to his office pointing to the facts.

Mr Matthew Neuhaus
Director of Political Affairs
m.neuhaus@commonwealth.int

Copy to:

Mr Don McKinnon
The Commonwealth Secretary-General
info@commonwealth.int

Ms Rabab Fatima
Adviser & Head of Human Rights Unit
r.fatima@commonwealth.int

Sept4 Sd2006

2006-09-04T11:48:00.000-07:00

Culture versus Exploitation
If history is simply his/story, where shall we find her story?

Last week the king called all the flowers of the nation. In traditional Swazi culture people are divided into regiments according to age and the Imbali, the flowers, are teen aged girls. Each year king Mswati looks over his 14 to 18 year old subjects and chooses yet one more female to give birth to his off-spring, the privileged ones.

The 'Flowers' from all over the nation gather to sing and dance - orphaned daughters who take care of their siblings, girls who enter the sex trade due to poverty, educated girls, and uneducated girls who can not attend school because of compulsory fees. A family can be fined if they do not send their daughters to the Reed Dance.

The girls may catch a glimpse of a princess or two wearing designer sun glasses and one inch artificial finger nails. It's hard to imagine them eating a traditional Swazi meal of pap and lakusha (porridge and greens) using their hands! This is not Swazi culture - it is aristocratic greed.

Umhlanga 2006 - Reed Dance
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Umhlanga+2006

After the dance and festivities, the girls all go home and continue to be the most vulnerable in their society. Children and youth are often abused in Swaziland and reading through daily papers indicates how girls are perceived. Rape is reported on a regular basis, unbearable stories of fathers raping daughters, uncles raping nieces, men raping children and step-brothers raping their step-sisters. There are organizations which seek to help these victims of abuse yet the government will not provide a safe society for young girls and women.

When basic rights are neglected how can a culture of exploitation be praised?

To follow current events in Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/

Aug27 Sd2006

2006-08-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

From a Northern Angle: A perspective on Swaziland

Most Canadians would have a hard time locating Swaziland on a globe; generally, they say "Switzerland?". It's such a tiny kingdom in southern Africa that until its recent notoriety concerning HIV/Aids it rarely concerned the international media. Occasionally King Mswati's name has made the headlines due to his luxurious taste and "cultural habit" of taking a new teen aged wife each August.

The Kingdom is a tiny country about a quarter the size of New Brunswick and has a population of 1.1 million. It was a British protectorate ("protected" not "colonized") from 1877 til 1968 when independence was granted and the parliamentary system of a Constitutional Monarchy was adopted. Within 5 years that constitution was gone as king Sobhuza II declared all political parties and political gatherings illegal. The 1973 Decree was quite convenient for the neighbouring Afrikaners in South Africa; in effect, it chased the African National Congress (ANC) out of Swaziland in addition to giving Sobhuza absolute control.

Shortly after Sobhuza died in 1982 a group of young politically minded students at the University of Swaziland and William Pitcher College secretly formed the Peoples United Democratic Movement, PUDEMO. In 1983 this was a huge risk but they felt compelled to resist the oppressive royal family. They felt a sincere obligation to their community - the aristrocracy did not deserve their respect but the community, their nation of people, most certainly did.

In 1986, four years after Sobhuza's death, one of his many sons was selected to rule. (Sobhuza is said to have fathered over 200 children with more than 100 wives!) Mswati III was crowned and many Swazis believed their lives would improve under this young 18 year old boy. The king proved otherwise.

Mswati quickly became know for his selfishness and used "culture" to justify the status quo. Simply put, the royal Dlamini clan still enjoyed the wealth of Swaziland while the majority watched. The king obeyed "cultural dictates" such as umhlanga - the Reed Dance where the king chooses a new teen aged girl as his fiance each year (only if she becomes pregnant will they marry) - yet ignored the plight of the people and the concerns of the nation. In 1986, the division of classes was extreme and plain to see, it was only to become more extreme.

Mswati has been king for 20 years and during that time Pudemo has never ceased moving forward. They have remained loyal to the people and watch Mswati's treachery. Pudemo has criticized the king who squanders millions of dollars on cars for himself - Maybach and Cadillac, cars for his wives (14 BMWs were bought in 2005) , palaces for his 12 or 14 wives, and tuition at foreign schools for his children. Pudemo has also criticized the Commonwealth for keeping a blind eye on the situation.

As Pudemo questions the Commonwealth's commitment to the Harare Declaration of 1991, the hypocrisy becomes apparent. Both Canada and Swaziland are signatories to this document which speaks of promoting democracy yet political parties and gatherings are still banned in Swaziland. Three weeks ago, Saturday August 5, 2006 a rally turned violent as police shot rubber bullets and teargas at a peaceful gathering celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco). Three men were injured and two women were taken by the "Royal Police" and severly beaten. Political repression is openly visible yet Canada and the Commonwealth are oblivious to these events. Will our commonwealth also become our common brutality?

Statistics from Swaziland are shocking:

- 69% of the population lives below the poverty line of E128 ($21 Can) per month.

- 48% of the population live under abject poverty

- 40% of households have never had enough to eat

- More than 300 000 people depend on food aid to survive

- Unemployment is more than 40%.

- HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is estimated at 42% making the country the highest in infection rate in the world.

- 56.4% of the wealth is held by the richest 20% whilst the poorest 20% hold only 4.3%

- Total population of disadvantaged people is estimated at
756 000 and is ever escalating. This represents more than 70% of the population.

- The health facilities are worse than in colonial times. You cannot find a simple pain killer in any government hospital today. Rats were seen in the capital hospital in December 2005.

- The education system has crumbled under Royal administration. Children no longer have access to government scholarships when those of the Royal family attend pre-schools in England and America.

Pudemo, Swayoco and the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) are actively engaged in creating a more equitable and just system in their country. They know this can not be accomplished without international support and are establishing stronger ties overseas. Pudemo has a representative in Australia, SSN works diligantly in South Africa and South Africa Contact of Denmark provides support and produces a bi-monthly Swazi-newsletter.

Swazi-Solidarity Canada has been working closely with SSN in South Africa and wishes to engage in political, as well as, humanitarian action. As the history of the Republic of South Africa has taught us - internal pressure can not work in isolation, international solidarity is essential.

To follow events in Swaziland see
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/

To read the South Africa Contact newsletter see
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/SAK-Swazinewsletter

For more information, please write to:
PUDEMO International Office - pudemo@yahoo.co.uk
SSN South Africa - swaziland@union.org.za
Swazi-Solidarity Canada - swazisolidarityca@yahoo.ca

Aug20 Sd2006

2006-08-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
w.b.yeats

This week in Toronto more than 20,000 people gathered for the
XVI International Aids Conference. The registration fees were
posted in US dollars ranging from $550 to $995 for regular
delegates and $150 to $240 for youths/students. (American
dollars in Canada eh?) Added to that the cost of travel,
accommodation and meals, it's easy to see how these events
become big business.

While participants discussed microbicides, ARVs, vaccines,
malnutrition, poverty, women's rights, 3 by 5, traditional
medicines and so on, the newspapers in Swaziland choose
a different angle for the HIV /Aids crisis. You see, if God has
all the cures then the Swazi government can not be held
responsible.

Aug 14 Accept Jesus to overcome HIV/AIDS, says activist

Last month the Commonwealth Secretariat replied to a letter by a
Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of New Brunswick.
Matthew Neuhaus, Director of Political Affairs, wrote "Under
the new Constitution, Article 25 guarantees the freedom of
assembly and association, which includes the establishment
of political parties...The Commonwealth is in close dialogue
with His Majesty the King and key political leaders on this,
to ensure that this constitutional right is upheld and protected."
It seems Mr Neuhaus didn't read the news article "NNLC
Rejected" from March 11th of this year.

Mar 11 NNLC rejected

The Peoples United Democratic Movement of Swaziland has
criticized the Commonwealth's position for more than a decade.
Dr Jabulane Matsebula, of PUDEMO's International Office in
Australia, once again responds to this ongoing hypocrisy. He
brilliantly points out what the Commonwealth refuses to look at
in his paper entitled Violent Political Repression in Swaziland.

Aug 14 PUDEMO: Violent Political Repression in Swaziland

If you've an opinion for the Commonwealth Secretariat, let them hear it!

Director of Political Affairs - Mr Matthew Neuhaus
m.neuhaus@commonwealth.int

Secretary General - Mr Don McKinnon
info@commonwealth.int

Ask you MLA to write a similar letter to the Commonwealth.
MLA addresses can be found at http://www.gnb.ca/legis/index-e.asp
If that page is not working, try first name.last name@gnb.ca

FOR MORE INFORMATION see http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/

Aug13 Sd2006

2006-08-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

When you are going through hell, keep going.
Winston Churchill

Last Saturday, Aug 6, the Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco) planned a 15th anniversary gathering which the police were certain to attend. What we take for granted in Canada, the freedom to gather, is not a privilege in Swaziland. The "Royal Police" used teargas, rubber bullets and live ammunition on the youth. Three men were hit by the bullets and two women were taken to the police station to be severely beaten while being questioned.

Aug 6 Forward ever - SWAYOCO
Aug 6 Comrade shot by police
Aug 6 Another rally gone chaotic

Political parties and political gatherings have been illegal in Swaziland since the 1973 Decree of king Sobhuza II. Canada and Swaziland have both ratified the Commonwealth Harare Declaration of 1991 but that seems irrelevant. Chapter 9 which speaks of "promoting democracy" is of no significance. It seems some countries in the Commonwealth "are more equal than others"!

Aug 7 Swaziland Youth Congress’s 15th Anniversary: police Victims profiles
Aug 9 Politics makes a tentative comeback

Police brutality in Swaziland is an ugly but constant theme as Amnesty International reports indicate. From Nov 1990 - "Black Wednesday",
when police and army units beat students at the University of Swaziland campus - until the present, there has been only one response by the authorities as students and youths have formed protests. The authorities physically smash their opposition!

Amnesty International: Swaziland

In Sept 2005, university students marched to the capital to meet with the Minister of Education about their promised scholarships - they were greeted with water cannons and tear gas. In Mswati's kingdom all must appear peaceful and if anyone is so bold as to criticize, then she or he must be prepared to be tortured when the police take them to be "interviewed".

Please write a letter or send an e-mail calling for
1) an end to police brutality and close monitoring of events in Swaziland
2) the respect of human rights
3) an immediate unbanning of political parties
4) the Commonwealth and Canada to end their complacency

Write to
Mr Don McKinnon
The Commonwealth Secretary-General
info@commonwealth.int

Ms Rabab Fatima
Adviser & Head of Human Rights Unit
r.fatima@commonwealth.int

Ms Sandelle Scrimshaw
Canadian High Commissioner to South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho
pret@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

Mr Peter MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs
MacKay.P@parl.gc.ca

Other addressed can be found at http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/GET+INVOLVED

Aug2 Sd2006

2006-08-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

Stop rubbing sand in our eyes!

As the Israeli assault on Arab civilians continues, Canadians are becoming
more and more disgusted with the arrogance of Prime Minister Stephen
Harper and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter MacKay. Many feel that Canada
has sunken to an all time low (some would say we're living in the dark ages)
while the Conservative minority in Ottawa aligns itself too closely with Bush.
When Canada and the USA talk of "Fortress North America" we shudder! Is
there no end to this madness?

Pudemo as a peoples' movement in Swaziland has long understood the
struggles of oppressed peoples. Simply, they choose people before profit,
courage before complacency and struggle before surrender! Concerning
the crisis in the Levant Pudemo's secretary-general, I.B. Dlamini, has
released a statement last week.

Aug 3 PUDEMO statement: The Middle East Crisis is the greatest threat to world peace

Bongani Masuku of Swaziland Solidarity Network has also issued a release concerning local and international events.

Aug 3 SSN Statement on the appointment of former apartheid President Frederick De Klerk as king Mswatiï¿½s adviser and the challenges of a world at war

While the world reacts to the horrendous events in Lebanon, Mswati keeps
himself busy lusting over teenaged girls, hand-picking members for the Chiefs
Council and whinning to American CNN reporters that it's tough being king!
To hear this boy/man called king, who's lived a priviledge life in luxury and
wealth, whimper to an American audience is pathetic. Perhaps it is only in
that country that he could find a sympathetic ear.

July 31 IT'S TOUGH BEING KING
Aug 4 His Majesty forms Chiefs Council
Aug 4 What human rights? - Chiefs

Since 1983 Pudemo has continually challenged the corrupted governing
system in Sd. The peoples' movement has shown the intellectual bankruptcy
of the royalist and the ethical vacuum from which they operate. The people
will continue to push the country forward until a more equitable system is in
place.

A recent manifestation of the peoples' dedication is evident in the creation
of the International Research Academy for Labour and Education - SIFUNDZA SIZABALAZA.
IRALE or the Swazi Labour Academy has made its documents available at :

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Swazi+Labour+Academy

********************************************************************************
At 12 o'clock, Aug 9th at the Saint John public library Steve Baird will be speaking about his recent volunteer work in Nkomazi, Swaziland.

Jul23 Sd2006

2006-07-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

As the world watches Israel destroy the country of Lebanon, newspapers in most countries relay the horrific story as the cover story. But not Swazi papers, they have their own obsession. Today's front page news in the corrupted kingdom focused on the sexual performance of MPs as rated by their wives. The headlines read "Minister sizzles in bed" and "Lutfo 'hot' in bed, says wife". Lutfo is a Member of the Swazi Parliament.
http://www.times.co.sz/058.html#article9

Last week the Prime Minister, Themba Dlamini, felt it was his role to tell the nation that men should "satisfy their wives in bed"! With all the urgent matters in the country one sees a new level of absurdity unfolding.

But who can blame the men and their obsession with sex while their leader, the king, is busy lusting over the "flowers of the nation". Next month, at the Reed Dance, he will choose a new girl who will only become his wife when she becomes pregnant. She'll be wife #14 or 15 and her role is to produce more of the royal clan.

Unfortunately, the majority of Swazi editors and journalist can't seem to differentiate between newsworthy articles and cheap tabloid gossip. They are too often negligent in their role of informing the public and perhaps are quite comfortable with the status quo.

Has sex replaced religion as the "opiate of the people"?

*************************************************
News this week

July 23 A sorry excuse for a school
July 23 Hospital is filthy as it runs dry
July 21 Marchers attack PM’s official
July 19 Some cultural practices may spread HIV - report
July 17 Over E63 million (Can$12 million) spent by Swaziland National Treasury (King's Office)

Jul10 Sd2006

2006-07-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

A garden at Lesibovu

Some years ago World Vision in Swaziland had gone to
Lesibovu with the idea of a community garden and began
a project with 14 local women.The organization spoke to
the chief about a piece of land, built an irrigation system
with sprinklers, put up fencing and provided seeds. Initially
it seemed a successful project but after a short time the
flaws caused the fields to be totally abandoned.

When designing the irrigation system for this garden a
watering trough for cattle was also included; unfortunately,
it was built within 30 feet of the garden. So as the gardens
grew cattle were constantly pressing against the fence to
reach the produce. It was not possible to keep the animals
out and the garden was discontinued since these women
did not have funds to rebuild an appropriate fence.

In Swaziland cattle are not kept in compounds and one
wonders why this fact was not considered in the original
design work. Additionally, the sprinkling system is poorly
conceived as the roots, not leaves, need watering; this
method of irrigation is the most inefficient and wasteful.

Projects like this are not sustainable because local people
have not played an active role in solving their own crises,
they are recipients but rarely consulted for imput. Human
dignity is reduced as individuals are told "what is best". Their
knowledge, wisdom and significant contribution are never
realized.

It is this same group of women at Lesibovu with whom
Mphandlana Shongwe will begin working as we develop
an organization entitled "Sustainable Development Initiative".
Our intention is to plan farming projects which will not
erode in a short time but lead to communities that blossom
with potential. Last week over $1000 was sent from Canada
- if you'd like to contribute please reply.

*******************************************************************
Yesterday's Sunday News indicates that once again "tis the
season for lusting". August usually marks the reed dance
when the "flowers of the nation" (teenaged virgins) dance
before the king and he chooses his annual wife.
July 9 Drunk soldier abducts girl for king

*******************************************************************
Saturday's Swazi News had a surprising story that FW
de Klerk was advising the king of Swaziland. So we ask,
if de Klerk is advising Mswati, who is Mandela advising?
July 8 F.W. de Klerk is king’s advisor

*******************************************************************

News this week
July 8 Swaziland signs deadly agreement with USA
July 7 Minister quizzed on decline of donors
July 7 External forces working against SD’s prosperity
July 7 Jan accused of being a dictator
July 7 Jail MP Titus says DPP
July 6 PUDEMO calls for isolation of Swaziland
July 5 America determined to help SD says Lucke
July 4 Murder & torture at royal residence
PUDEMO’s Mlumati Declaration July 2006
July 3 Mission accomplished - ILO delegation

Jul2 Sd2006

2006-07-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

As we celebrated Canada Day this weekend, the Peoples
United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) held its annual
conference in the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The reasons
for meeting outside Swaziland were noted by IB Dlamini,
Secretary General of PUDEMO:

Preparing for an annual conference is taxing in terms of
time and resources. It would have been unwise of PUDEMO
to risk all the effort by holding this meeting in Swaziland
where the Royal hit squads marauding as police would
disrupt the conference.

Another factor is that Swaziland is second only after
Zimbabwe to generate exiles. We have quite a sizeable
number of our members who fled Swaziland over the years
because of political persecution. They are in Australia, UK,
RSA and other countries. They need to attend the conference
as well so that they can contribute to the liberation plan as
it is unfolded.
Secretary General Statement:PUDEMO goes to annual conference – 28th June to 2nd July

Mario Masuku, President of PUDEMO, clearly knows the
hardships of the non-elite of Swaziland as he has promoted
democracy in Swaziland for decades. He was tried for sedition
in 2002 and found innocent - after months of house arrest,
imprisonment and nearly 2 years of awaiting trial.
(See 2002 SEDITION TRIAL )

This brief excerpt from the President's address is to be noted
because we in Canada sometimes question the value of our
contributions - we wonder "What can a letter accomplish?".
Our solidarity is felt and our support is acknowledged.

....we take this opportunity to salute the work of our international
friends and structures, key amongst them are the South African
tripartite alliance components, our European counterparts in
Denmark and Netherlands in particular, our newly established
Canadian structure of the Swaziland Solidarity Network and its
main body, the South Africa based Swaziland Solidarity Network
(SSN), our international offices in Australia, and South Africa,
all of them have done us proud. Without their active and
consistent support, we would not be where we are today.
We dare not let down their contributions, but demonstrate
renewed commitment to the cause.

June 28 Presidential Political Report 2006: Proclaiming the day of Liberation for Swaziland

In sharp contrast to PUDEMO's belief in a more fair distribution
of wealth is the government's belief in elitist absurdities. This
week the Swazi government announced it would spend E200
million ($40 million Can dollars) on new vehicles! The current
government is quite concerned with appearances and believes
new cars or a ‘facelift for the royal residences’ are priorities.
The health system is in crisis (even those money-hounds at
the World Bank have noticed!), orphans (estimated at 70,000
by UNICEF) can not attend schools because of fees, 70% of
the youth are unemployed, etc., but government officials seem
oblivious to the basic needs of the Swazi people.

PUDEMO and the Swaziland Solidarity Network have published
documents which do address the needs of the people. They see
a need for a sustainable development so that the majority of the
people will do more than simply "subsist". We at SSN Canada
will begin a pilot project with longtime activist Mpandlana
Shongwe who will act as a co-ordinator for a community garden
project in Lesibovu. One thousand dollars have been collected
to date and if anyone wishes to contribute please reply. Thanks.

News this week

July 1 World Bank tells it all on Govt. hospital
July 1 Over 300 graves removed for LUSIP Dam project
June 30 Govt will buy 1000 cars
June 29 Facelift for royal residences
June 29 OVCs fund being misused - Senators
June 28 Britain bans Swazi aircraft
June 26 70% youth unemployed
June 26 Govt’s E200m shopping spree
June 25 Swazi nepotism again
June 24 Mbho Shongwe equates Tinkhundla to Apartheid

June25 Sd2006

2006-06-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

EQUAL RIGHTS AND JUSTICE

There are two English daily newspapers in Swaziland, Swazi
Times and Swazi Observer. The latter, having royal interests,
is not much more than a cheerleader for the monarchy. There
is never any authentic journalism, simply a retelling of
events. The Times is slightly better but seems to prefer
stories of a sensational rather than analytical nature. These
papers continually describe the current situation yet rarely
indicate how this state of being has come to exist.

To look at either paper on-line go to www.swazi.com

Last week newspapers reported that the king had returned
to Swaziland from his two week trip to Taiwan and Thailand.
They also noted he was surprised to learn about the nurses
overtime-pay issue. Nurses in the country have been waiting
for their overtime-payments for more than 3 years! Seems
Mswati doesn't even read his own paper.

What both papers failed to report was that a Danish delegation
which recently visited the Kingdom to assess the country's
political climate has urged the international community
to impose sanctions on Swaziland!
Thankfully African News Dimension covered the story.
www.andnetwork.com

Article Link
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/International+community+urged+to+impose+sanctions+on+Swaziland

Please write a letter to Mr Peter MacKay requesting that
Canada and the Commonwealth recognize this crisis in
Swaziland and impose sanctions. Additionally, these
letters could be copied to "Letters to the Editor" of any
local papers. Thanks.

Mr Peter MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
(postage unnecessary)

June18 Sd2006

2006-06-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

EQUAL RIGHTS AND JUSTICE

June 16 marked the 30^th anniversary of the Soweto Students Uprising of 1976.
Mandela and his companions had been imprisoned on Robben Island since 1964
when students marched against the education system of the apartheid state.
The youth wanted to learn English not Afrikaans, they wanted to decide their
future. At that time brilliant young people, like Steve Biko, wrote about
self-consciousness and self-determination. He was murdered yet his words live
on and on.

30 years later, Swazi youth are calling for an inclusive system, self-determination
and a more equitable economic system. The Swaziland Youth Congress
(SWAYOCO) and PUDEMO have for more than 20 years rejected the royal
exclusivity and promoted equal rights and justice.

A few articles from last week

While king Mswati was jet-setting to Thailand and Taiwan his mother was
handing out blankets to health centers. Such is health care in the kingdom!

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/King+arrives+safely+in+Taiwan

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Philani+donates+to+13+health+institutions

MORMONS donate toothbrushes.

“Blessed are those who worry about teeth when there is no food”. This verse is
taken from the Book of Hypocrisy, Chapter 1 Verse 1.

If Christians are given to such generous acts, please lead me to the atheist!

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/US+company+pledges+3+000+toothbrushes

The Prime Minister wishes to keep the people away - it's security he needs
while consumed by greed. He is afraid to move into his luxurious new place.

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/PM+rejects+E8+million+residence

Bongani Masuku, secretary-general of SSN, has written an article
analysing the HIV/Aids crisis in Swaziland. His perspective shows the
need for a political as well as humanitarian response.
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/HIV+and+AIDS+crisis+as+a+political+question+in+Swaziland

June11 Sd2006

2006-06-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

King Mswati III left for the UN about 2 weeks ago carrying with him millions of emalengini for the week extravaganza. Last September, when he also visited the UN in New York City, he was reported to have withdrawn E19 million - about $4 million Canadian dollars for that week of pleasure. His trips cost his subjects dearly.

The daily news out of Swaziland is tragic:

May 31 - Swaziland has only 92000 workers out of a population of 1.1 million.

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/SD+has+only+92000+workers?token=abebf7cd5155a52ccc092e332522f791

June 6 - The Swazi Observer (the King's paper) reported King brings good news from the UN summit. Mswati asked the Global Fund for more financial assistance!

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/King+brings+good+news+from+UN+Summit?token=85595fa259756ae974668507b1114216

June 6 - The same paper admits 69 percent live below the poverty line of

E125 ($25 Can) per month.

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/69+percent+live+below+poverty+line?token=ad40042ccac9c11193c2aaadc927ef8f

June 10 - Mswati left the country for a visit to Thailand and Taiwan. He'll be joined by 30 dancers (female) in Taiwan. Government will spend close to E500 000 on air tickets, accommodation and allowances for Eswatini Cultural Dance group. Mswati's allowance wasn't mentioned.

With money planned for a new international airport, a new parliament building and more palaces for the future wives one wonders how the Global Fund can tolerate the requests of this corrupted king. The photo of Mswati greeting Kofi Annan (sorry I'm unable to attach it) seems to depict a stern expression on the latter's face. Perhaps it is with disgust that hands are shaken at the UN.

Swazi activist Bongani Masuku has written an extremely comprehensive paper on globalization and the urgent transformation which is necessary within the Swazi economy.
http://amadlandawonye.wikispaces.com/Global+economy%2C+apartheid+plan%2C+and+Swazi+economy%2C+Masuku?token=bfe5272bb932ea7a0fdf621c78b2235e

More information can be found at http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/?token=6b53f550163832b259d02277934c9155

Also see SAK - South Africa Kontact of Denmark

If you wish to subscribe to their newsletter send a note to

SAK-Swazinewsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk
Issues can be read at

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/SAK-Swazinewsletter
See also the newly established photo archive.

May30 Sd2006

2006-05-30T13:13:00.000-07:00

Today on CBC's Maritime Noon, Elizabeth May spoke of being in

a "democracy crisis" when we've become so comfortable with the

status quo. Her discussion centered on environmental activism yet

the themes of engagement and effective citizenry are far reaching.

May talked about her work with the federal government and stated one

letter going to Ottawa counts as the "voice of thousands". From her

experience, one letter represented between 5,000 and 10,000 people!

It is important to note that letters need not be elaborate, they can simply

state that you are concerned about an issue. May also said form letters

and e-mail were less effective.

If several of us write to the Minister of Foreign Affairs more attention can

be drawn to the crisis in Swaziland. Please write to

Mr Peter MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
(postage unnecessary)

************************************************************************************
On April 12, South Africans protested in solidarity with the People's

United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). They blocked 5 border

crossings and drew more attention to the "special kind of democracy"

in Swaziland. Tonight PUDEMO has announced that more of this type

of action is to occur.

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Opposition+announces+another+border+blockade?token=72e814ee03a7b66fd29ee3accfbb49ac

*************************************************************************************
On Saturday king Mswati left Sd heading for the UN in New York. His

companions are his latest fiance, a 17 year old girl he chose last year,

and a newly appointed Minister of Health.

"King Mswati III is scheduled to participate in five roundtable meetings

and five technical discussions on the summit agenda, with the hope of

sharing experiences in HIV/AIDS prevention work with the other countries

and contributing to the summit's ultimate political declaration.

However, analysts have questioned what King Mswati III is going to

present before the rest of the world alleging that he is turning a blind

eye to the seriousness of the pandemic ravishing his nation. The

analysts cited the decrease of the ministry of Health and Social

Welfare budget as evidence that King Mswati III's government still

fails to prioritise on improving better health for its people.

“HIV/AIDS is seriously ravishing Swaziland such that many homes

are now child headed. Government is doing little if any to assist

these children, some as young as 6 years are forced to look after

their fellow brothers and sisters. What does the King and government

assist these orphans... instead lucrative money is diverted to the

King's birthdays to benefit royalty,” said the analysts."

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/King+Mswati+III+to+address+UN+summit+on+HIV+AIDS?token=b394760e521121ff8c0f88e212e0e41a

May23 Sd2006

2006-05-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

Royalty attempts a defense of the undemocratic tinkhundla system
(May 20th link below)

Prince David, selected by his brother king Mswati III, tries to defend Swaziland's
elitist government while ignoring simple facts:

The king spends lavishly and members of the royal family lap up the gravy while two thirds of the population live on less than US $1 per day.

Lovely palaces are built for Mswati and his numerous wives but the kingdom's unemployment is about 69%.

UNICEF estimates 70 - 80,000 orphans in Mswati's kingdom and a quarter of "his subjects" require food aid.

David attempts to justify a horridly corrupted form of governance where avaricious royal rights supersede basic human rights. The prince would have us believe that this culture of poverty and oppression is acceptable!

In solidarity with the people of Swaziland, write, fax or e-mail Allan Rock, our Ambassador to the UN. Ask where Canada and the UN stand on the question of Swaziland. Additionally, as Mswati III is scheduled to visit the UN on June 1st, encourage the ambassador to have a frank discussion with the king. It is essential that Canada engages in dialogue to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Ambassador to the UN

Ambassador Allan Rock
Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations
One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza
885 Second Avenue, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10017
USA

Fax: 1-212-848-1195

e-mail: prmny@international.gc.ca
(If you can, send e-mail daily until you receive a reply.)

*************************************************************

Prince David defends the undemocratic Tinkhundla system

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Prince+David+defends+the+undemocratic+Tinkhundla+system?token=4558ef78e23c695a919ee7b69eb9fc1f

For current news from Swaziland see http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com

If you do not wish to receive these Swazi updates simply reply, thanks.

May14 Sd2006

2006-05-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

As we mark Mother's Day in Canada I find myself

remembering Indlovukazi - the Swazi queen mother.

She is the "elephant" who rules with her son, the "lion".

The elephant traditionally symbolizes wisdom and

strength but even tradition is over-shadowed by

absurdity and avarice.

Marula is a fruit that grows readily in Swaziland and

about 2 years ago Mswati's mother decided a marula

business would be profitable. "Swazi Secrets" now

produces marula massage oil, soaps, etc. As a result,

when you visit a nursery in Sd the employees will tell

you they are not permitted to sell marula trees because

the royals have got into the business.

**********************************************************************

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com

is opening but is unable to edit; therefore, new article pages

have been made but not posted. We're waiting for the help

desk to correct the error and if you have problems send a

few words to help@wikispaces.com .

***********************************************************************
Here is a sample letter that you may modify and send to

your MLA as well as MP. As this is a federal matter,

request that they write to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

on your behalf.

Since Mswati plans to visit the UN in New York on June 1st,

a letter should also be sent to our Ambassador at the UN,

Allan Rock, asking where Canada and the UN stand regarding

the current unstable condition in Swaziland.

Ongoing Political Repression in Swaziland Demands a Clear Response

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Ongoing+Political+Repression+in+Swaziland+Demands+a+Clear+Response?token=162d4100ffaa7f16635b1309486adc75

MLA addresses (New Brunswick)

http://app.infoaa.7700.gnb.ca/gnb/pub/ListMLA1.asp

MP addresses http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E

Ambassador to UN - Allan Rock

e-mail: prmny@international.gc.ca

***********************************************************************

1991 Harare Commonwealth Declaration begins chapter 9 with:

Having reaffirmed the principles to which the Commonwealth

is committed, and reviewed the problems and challenges

which the world, and the Commonwealth as part of it, face,

we pledge the Commonwealth and our countries to work with

renewed vigour, concentrating especially in the following areas:

*the protection and promotion of the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth:

*democracy, democratic processes and institutions which reflect national circumstances, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, just and honest government;

*fundamental human rights, including equal rights and opportunities for all citizens regardless of race, colour, creed or political belief;

To read the complete Declaration

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Harare+Commonwealth+Declaration+1991?token=e8e866535e4220e27ddcf6d8dd3e09ea

May7 Sd2006

2006-05-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

Canada celebrates Labour Day in September but the majority of the world marks May 1st as "Workers Day". Monday at May Day celebrations in Swaziland Jan Sitole, leader if the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) called for the king to "step aside".

This week also saw a pro-democracy Swazi delegation travel to Denmark to discuss their situation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Danish parliamentarians. Britain and the Netherlands have publicly called for the unbanning of political parties yet the Canadian government seems complacent.

The International Crisis Group based in the Netherlands issued a letter from Nairobi and a journalist in Zimbabwe writes about Mswati's heresy.

If you have a few minutes please write to Ms Scrimshaw pret@dfait-maeci.gc.ca and Mr Charron vincent.charron@international.gc.ca of the Canadian High Commission for Swaziland. Encourage more dialogue with the pro-democracy groups from Swaziland. Thanks.

Links:

Step aside - Jan pleads with king.

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Step+aside+-Jan+pleads+with+king

Swaziland delegation to Europe. http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Swaziland+delegation+to+Europe

Beyond Royal Rule And Naked Reed Dances.
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Beyond+Royal+Rule+And+Naked+Reed+Dances

No Holds Barred: King Mswati's Heresy

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/King+Mswati+s+Heresy

April27 Sd2006

2006-04-27T13:24:00.000-07:00

Last week in South Africa, President T. Mbeki honoured Sobhuza II of Swaziland by making him a companion to the Oliver Tambo Order. The current king, Mswati III, is one of Sobhuza's 250 children!

This move by Mbeki has shocked many South Africans since Sobhuza II was the man who was assisted by the apartheid regime in writing the 1973 proclamation which banned political parties. This "State of Emergency Decree" enabled Sobhuza to gain absolute power five years after England had left the country; additionally, the decree forced the ANC living in exile in Swaziland to flee. Sobhuza can not be seen as anything other than "an apartheid puppet"!

LINK: Sobhuza does not deserve an award http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Sobhuza+does+not+deserve+an+award+

Since the April 12th Border Blockades the king has talked of peace and calm in his country but seems never to notice the utter poverty.

On April 19th Mswati celebrated his 38 birthday and April 24th marked the 20th anniversary of his coronation. He referred to himself as "a unifying symbol in Swaziland" and is misleading the public by saying the "1973 Decree is dead". The new Constitution does not allow for political parties or gatherings.

LINK: Unban political parties – no more public relations games!
http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/SSN+statement+Unban+political+parties+-+no+more+public+relations+games

CANADA MUST PUBLICLY CALL FOR THE UNBANNING OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN SWAZILAND.

Please write to

Mr Peter MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs
MacKay.P@parl.gc.ca

Ms Josee Verner
Minister of International Cooperation
Verner.J@parl.gc.ca

Canadian High Commission in Pretoria
Ms Sandelle Scrimshaw
High Commissioner to South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho
pret@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

Mr Vincent Charron
High Commission Swaziland Desk
Vincent.Charron@international.gc.ca

April17 Sd2006

2006-04-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

THIS WEEK IN SWAZILAND

Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), PUDEMO, SWAYOCO, COSATU, SACP and YCL were on picket lines Wednesday April 12 at the border crossings between South Africa and Swaziland.

OSHOEK - Over 200 members of local and South African unions gathered to block entry or exit through the Oshoek Border Post for the better part of April 12.

(Pic: Bonisile Makhubu)

People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Statement: (excerpt) April 16

Intensify the border blockade against Swaziland

On April 12, 2006 South African workers and supporters of the struggle for democracy in Swaziland staged successful blockades at all of Swaziland’s borders. The protest was in commemoration of the death of democracy on April 12, 1973. On this fateful day, the late King Sobhuza II suspended the Independence Constitution, declared an indefinite state of emergency and imposed a life ban on political parties. In the 2006 blockades, more than twenty people were arrested and some sustained injuries when the South African Police Service (SAPS) used rubber bullets to disperse the peaceful protest. Those arrested include senior members of the South African labour movement.

Condemn police violence

The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) is extremely disturbed by the apartheid-style police violence against South African citizens who participated in a peaceful protest to support the struggle for democracy in Swaziland.

The police violence is abhorrent and unwarranted. It invokes painful memories of a pro-apartheid police establishment whose main goal was to sustain an evil system of government. We did not expect this from a post-apartheid police organisation governed by one of the most progressive democratic constitutions in the world. Police brutality against peaceful political protest is symptomatic of intolerant totalitarian regimes such as the absolute monarchy government of Swaziland. In the lead up to the border protest, the regime in Swaziland warned its citizens against participating in the protest and deployed troops and armed police at its border posts.

Through this brutality, the SAPS has disgraced the South African system of democracy, political tolerance and respect for human and political rights. Thus the conduct by the SAPS must be seen by all as a shameful act which warrants the strongest condemnation possible. Democratic forces around the world must register their disgust against this police violence. PUDEMO is pleased to learn that the police have now released all those who were arrested. However, it is not known whether charges have been preferred against the pro-democracy activists.

The entire 10 page statement can be read at

http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/PUDEMO+Statement+Intensify+border+blockade

Please write to pudemo@yahoo.co.uk to voice your support for their commitment to the people of Swaziland.

Other e-mail addresses can be found at http://swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada.wikispaces.com/Send+E-mail

The following is from COSATU's Press Statement:

"On this day 33 years ago, 12 April 1973, a new era in the political life of Swaziland began when King Sobhuza proclaimed a perpetual state of emergency, whose provisions, amongst other things, included the banning of political parties, 60-day detention orders without trial, banning marches and demonstrations and the removal of the independence constitution and its replacement with a draconian order called the 1973 king's decree. 33 years later nothing much has changed and the state of repression has continued unabated."

The first three linked items below contain many statements about the historic April 12th, 2006 actions on the Swaziland border.

COSATU and SFTU statements on border blockade, April 13 (825 words)

Articles from Times of Swaziland, via Lucky Lukhele of SSN (1291 words)

DITSELA solidarity message to COSATU and SSN (216 words)

ARTICLES FROM THE SWAZI TIMES APRIL 13, 2006

1. Many people forced to turn back at borders
BY MUSA NHLEKO and BONISILE MAKHUBU

MBABANE - Many people felt the brunt of the blockade staged by the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), as they were forced to go back to their respective homes.

This was after the blockades at five of the country's borders into South Africa were blocked by political formations from both South Africa and Swaziland.

Affected

Most affected were kombi and mini bus operators who, after spending hours waiting for the blockade to end, were forced to drive back home.

"I thought the prime minister said there will be no problems at the border," said one kombi driver at the Lavumisa Border Post while a number of truck drivers stood by and watched.

People travelling on their own, were equally disappointed and opted for the easy way out, which was to go back home.

"Will it be like this tomorrow as well?" one woman who looked obviously irritated wanted to know? The authorities on the Swaziland side looked at her with no solution to the problem and stated that they had no idea.

2. There is no rift between SFTU, COSATU- Jan
BY BONISILE MAKHUBU

MBABANE – The Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) has denied allegations of a conflict with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)

In a statement issued yesterday SFTU Secretary General Jan Sithole confirmed their strong and unreserved support of the action and the agreement with the issues for which the blockade was called.

Breakdown

"Our non-participation in this event is as a result of communication breakdown and not a misunderstanding," he said.

Sithole said it should be noted that it was not COSATU that called for the blockade but it was participating in support of the Swazi struggle.

He emphasised that SFTU together with the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) overly denounced the constitution through a petition, a position that they still uphold.

Said Sithole, "We condemn the arrest and shooting of protesters that took place at the South African side of the borders and we call for the release of the arrested protestors."

Sithole said they were against the SA police brutality on Deputy President for COSATU, Deputy President NEHAM, Deputy President NUMSA and Treasurer NEHAM who were taken to hospital after the police shot them.

Sithole concluded by saying, "SFTU denies the aspects of the article on the third page of yesterday's Swazi Observer titled "Blockade today dismissal tomorrow" and some of the citations under the topic "tight security at border posts" alleged to have been said by the Secretary General.

Apology

This issue has since been discussed with the Observer editor. The parties have since agreed to settle with an apology from Observer.

When called last night the editor confirmed discussing the discrepancies carried in the article. "We have made an arrangement to run a retraction," he said.

3. Block future blockades ( Comment )

The action by South African trade unions to stifle the local economy by staging a blockade in the name of a "peaceful protest" warrants serious action by the local and South African Governments.

In fact it calls for SADC attention.

Unions cannot hold any country at ransom in total disregard of existing bilateral and trade agreements, irrespective of the course.

The SA government's delayed action to disperse the crowd is also a cause for serious concern.

Peaceful demonstrations are one thing but blocking movement of people and goods in and out of the country is a totally different matter and it should not have been allowed to happen, not for one minute.

Unions have an obligation to respect the sovereignty of other nations and a duty to observe structures put in place to deal with matters of a political nature, as much as they call upon governments to respect labour laws and basic human rights.

If anything, the unions exceeded their mandate to cause untold harm to an economy that supports the workers in whose sympathy they staged the blockade.

The SA union leaders demonstrated total disregard towards the interests of the Swazi workers who had made it abundantly clear that they would not participate in the blockade.

We do believe there are structures within the SA government through which they could have channeled their concerns and lobbied for action. Employing guerilla or mafia tactics of blocking the road and denying citizens of both countries, business people and tourists their right to move freely deserves stern action that will put an end to such barbaric acts in future

4. Eight shot during blockade
BY BONISILE MAKHUBU

OSHOEK – Eight people were rushed to the Shongwe Mission Hospital, Malelane, after being shot at by police during the 'Bad Good Friday for Swaziland' blockade at the Matsamo Border Post.

During the shooting 30 other people were arrested for refusing to disperse after being ordered to do so by members of the South African Police Services (SAPS). The police used rubber bullets to disperse the otherwise determined crowd, which seemed determined to see its objectives through.

That eight people had been rushed to hospital and that 30 were arrested was met with sounds of viva from the over 200 members of different organisations from both South Africa and Swaziland.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) President, Zwelinzima Vavi, announced the news of the arrests and injuries. Vavi said he had just received a call from four of the arrested who said they were at the back of a police van that was transporting them to a police station somewhere in Phongola.

"All I can say is that we are sympathising with them but we are not surprised by this because it goes with a real struggle," he said.

He said he was also a victim and has been arrested countless times for participating in political struggles.

Vavi said this to the applause of the comrades who shouted "viva" and promised to go straight to Phongola after finishing off with the border blockade.

At the time of compiling this report, it could not be established whether any of the local protesters were injured or arrested. Similar accidents were not reported at the other border gates where the blockades were staged namely; Oshoek, Lavumisa, Mahamba and Mananga. Most people who formed part of the blockade said there was no need to worry about the arrest of the 30 members because the situation they are in now will give them some kind of training and they will grow stronger.

The Swaziland Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Vusie Masuku said he heard about the arrests but could not comment as it happened on the South African side of the border. Strong police and army presence was witnessed on the local side of the borders. While distancing itself from the blockade, citing its lack of participation to communication breakdown, the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions condemned with contempt it deserves the arrest and shooting of protesters, which took place at the South African side of the borders, and call for the unconditional release of the arrested protesters. "We further vehemently condemn the brutality by the South Africa Police on peaceful protesters from which the Deputy President of COSATU, the Deputy President of NEHAWU, the Deputy President NUMSA and the Treasurer of NEHAWU got hurt." According to information gathered, four of the arrested are;

* Joe Nkosi – Deputy President of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)

* Cedric Gina – Second Deputy president of the National Union of Metal Workers (NUMSA)

* Zet Luzipho – Secretary of COSATU (KwaZulu Natal)

* Michael Makwayiba – Second Deputy President of the National Health, Education and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU).