Aug27 Sd2006

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

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

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

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 Mswati�s 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

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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

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

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

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