Swazi government trying to crush union movement, says Amnesty report

“The rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly [in Swaziland] continued to be violated, with arbitrary arrests and excessive force used to crush political protests,” Amnesty International write in their 2013 Annual Report that was published today [23. May]. “Torture and other ill-treatment remained a persistent concern.”

Swaziland is an absolute monarchy where a 40-year-long state of emergency and oppressive anti-terror laws have meant that the space for peaceful political protest is virtually non-existent. The political space there is has been filled mainly by the unions, who Swaziland’s government have attempted to neutralize by de-registering the newly formed Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA).

PUDEMO: Valgboykot i Swaziland virker

”Valget i år i Swaziland giver ingen mening for os, for det skaber et parlament der ingen magt har. Valget er kun til for at legitimere et illegitimt regime”, fortæller generalsekretæren for People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Skhumbuzo Phakathi under et dialogmøde om valget i Swaziland, der blev holdt i Johannesburg i sidste weekend.

PUDEMO er et politisk parti eller bevægelse i Swaziland – et enevældigt kongedømme hvor alle partier er forbudt, hvor kongen bestemmer alt, og hvor al opposition til kongen brutalt undertrykkes. Enhedslisten har et partnerskab med PUDEMO der støttes af Institut for Flerpartisamarbejde, og Skhumbuzo besøgte i denne forbindelse Enhedslisten sidste år.

Wonder Mkhonza released on bail, not free

Asked whether his imprisonment would dampen his political activism, Wonder Mkhonza replied “of course not! The threat of jail can no longer dent our spirit as we push for democracy in Swaziland.”

Wonder, who is the National Organising Secretary of Swazi liberation movement PUDEMO and Deputy General Secretary of the Swaziland Processing, Refining and Allied Workers Union (SPRAWU), spent a month in prison on charges of sedition but was released on bail yesterday. His alleged crime -  being in possession of political pamphlets.

Wonder Mkhonza granted bail

According to a statement today from PUDEMO national spokesperson, Zakhele Mabuza, Wonder Mkhonza has been granted a bail of 15 000 emalangeni, approximately 1650 US$. Wonder Mkhonza was arrested on April 12 for allegedly possessing 5000 political pamphlets, and the international ACT Now: Free Wonder Mkhonza campaign started by Africa Contact has called for his release ever since.

“This is quite a huge ransom to pay for ordinary poor Swazis who live on under $ 1 per day,” says the statement. “But Leo Gama, Wonder’s lawyer has been able to convince the court and secure the release on bail.”

PUDEMO outlines road to democracy in Swaziland during visit to Denmark

“Swaziland is a dictatorship where the king rules by decree. You should go there to see for yourselves how PUDEMO-members and those who are associated with them are treated. Conditions are worsening and the youth are becoming increasingly impatient,” Linus Mavimbela told members of Danish party the Red Green Alliance.

Linus Mavimbela, International Secretary of the banned Swazi party the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), visited Denmark between the April 25 and May 2 2013. He was meant to have been accompanied by PUDEMO’s Organising  Secretary, Wonder Mkhonza, but Wonder was symptomatically arrested by just prior to the visit, charged with sedition for allegedly being in possession of 5000 political pamphlets.

ANC calls for the release of political prisoners in Swaziland

In a statement from Chairperson of the African National Congress NEC Sub-Committee on International Relations Obed Bapela on May 7, the ANC called for the release of all political prisoners in Swaziland.

“The democratization of Swaziland must preoccupy the work of the African National Congress and all progressive forces as we call for the release of political prisoners, return of exiles and free political activities in that country.”

The ANC has previously called for the unbanning of political parties of Swaziland without any apparent success. In October 2012, ANC Chairperson  Baleka Mbete said that “we need to make sure Swaziland is liberated including the unbanning of political parties,” and in June 2012 President Zuma’s foreign policy advisor Lindiwe Zulu said that South Africa must press Swaziland to unban political parties.

“Incompetent” and “catastrophic” Swazi regime ignores Swazi people

“The results of Mswati’s absolute rule for the Swazi people have been catastrophic,” independent watchdog organisation Freedom House writes in the excecutive summary of their new report on Swaziland, Africa’s last refuge of feudalism.

“This desperate economic and social situation is the product of 40 years of incompetent government during which two despots have used Swaziland for their personal purposes while ignoring the needs of the Swazi people and their legitimate rights to have a say over how they are governed and how the country’s resources are used.”

Dansk udviklingsbistand beslaglagt i Swaziland

Myndighederne i Swaziland har spærret projektkontoen hos Swaziland National Ex-Mineworkers Association (SNEMA), efter at organisationens ledelse var blevet afhørt af politiet i tre timer forleden. ”Vi ser dette som et angreb imod vores organisation, og på demokratibevægelsen i Swaziland som helhed”, skriver SNEMA i en pressemeddelelse.

SNEMA er projektpartner med den danske solidaritetsorganisation, Afrika Kontakt, og på SNEMAs konto er der projektpenge fra det danske udenrigsministerium / CISUs projektpulje.

Afrika Kontakt har henvendt sig til den danske ambassade i Pretoria (der også dækker Swaziland). ”Vi ønsker at ambassaden handler på sagen og tager kontakt til myndighederne i Swaziland hurtigst muligt.

1. maj arrangement stoppet af Swazilands politi

Det er langt fra alle lande, hvor utilfredse borgere kan tillade sig at buhe landets statsminister, og andre ledende medlemmer af regeringspartierne, af scenen 1. maj.

I Swaziland må man ikke engang fejre 1. maj. Landets regime stoppede tidligere i dag  fagbevægelsen fra at afholde 1. maj, ved systematisk at sætte lederne af landets politiske partier og fagbevægelsen under husarrest, samt arrestere mange andre almindelige mennesker. Da præsidenten for landets største politiske parti, Mario Masuku fra PUDEMO, og præsidenten og generalsekretæren for landets fagbevægelse, TUCOSWA, forsøgte at deltage i et 1. maj arrangement, blev de således alle arresteret.

Den 1. maj 2010 blev et ungt PUDEMO-medlem, Sipho Jele arresteret for at bære en t-shirt

Maxwell arrested again

According to a source within the democratic movement, Secretary General of SWAYOCO Maxwell Dlamini and Secretary for International Affairs Sonkhke Dube were arrested this morning. “They have been arrested and are in the custody of the Royal Police. The charges are not clear. Both of them were arrested this morning,” the source says.

According to PUDEMO, “about 23 Police officers arrested SWAYOCO Secretary for International, Comrade Sonkhe Dube. He was arrested at Matsanjeni. This Government is in a serious mission to silence and send more threats to the entire glorious movement.”

Last time Maxwell Dlamini was arrested he was tortured be Swazi police and put on trial for possession of explosives, a case that has been postponed several times. Africa Contact led a campaign for his release that saw his released on bail.