Labour Federations Report back from ILO Conference!

Press Release

The Swaziland Chapter of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC) hereby invites workers’ unions, progressive formations, employers (business), and organized civil society leadership to the aforementioned event.

Date:   Saturday 26^th June 2010

Venue: The George Tum’s Hotel, Manzini

Time:   15:00hrs

Agenda:

1. ILO Conference Feedback
2. SCCCO outlines its programme of action (PoA)
3. SDC leads consolidated discussion (PoA)

We will see you all there.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Mary Pais Da Silva (Convener)

(+268) 7603 0076

mpsdasilva@gmail.com

Dr. Sikelela Dlamini (Secretary)

(+268) 7617 1151

sikamd@gmail.com

SDC launches civil disobedience/defiance campaign!

Press Release

In its report-back meeting held in Manzini on Saturday 12^th June 2010, the Swaziland Chapter of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC) launched the penultimate phase of its campaign to accelerate Swaziland’s peaceful return to multiparty democracy. This is arguably SDC’s most serious and significant assignment in that:

The activities that kick off in June 2010 will involve rolling mass protests inside Swaziland that will culminate in a global march for democracy inside Swaziland to coincide with Independence Day on 6^th

1. September 2010.
2. Swaziland is already not only currently visibly in a state of emergency, but the country also increasingly resembles a police/military state where the state security forces have firmly hit the panic button and engaged in erratic behaviour as they violently crack down on political dissidents courtesy of the globally-condemned Suppression of Terrorism Act (2008).
3. The defiance campaign launch happens at an interesting time when local labour federations have, alongside their international solidarity partners, successfully put Swaziland firmly in the dock in the ongoing ILO Conference in Geneva. To this end, an ILO delegation is due to begin a formal investigation of human rights violations, which, for the first time, places Swaziland’s human rights scorecard on the global radar screen.
4. Depending on the findings of the ILO investigation, the Tinkhundla regime suddenly stares the stark eventuality of smart sanctions squarely in the face.

The SDC takes this opportunity to congratulate the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU), the Swaziland Federation of Labour (SFL), COSATU, and all our international labour solidarity partners for standing firm on insisting that Swaziland has a case to answer as regards its human rights record. We view the ILO ruling as a victory for labour and all democracy-loving Swazis as we intensify the resolute march toward multiparty democracy in our lifetime. The time for standing on the fence has truly ended. We now enter a phase where we appeal to all who seriously seek a peaceful democratic resolution to put their hands up and join us on the final lap to the Promised Land. Amandla!!!

For more information contact:

Ms. Mary Pais Da Silva (Convener)

(+268) 7603 0076

mpsdasilva@gmail.com

Dr. Sikelela Dlamini (Secretary)

(+268) 7617 1151

sikamd@gmail.com

Police escort us to Ncabaneni

Yesterday afternoon SWAYOCO President, Wandile Dludlu, Ndlavela Dlamini from the Ex-Miners’ Association, Goodwill Tsabedze from the Foundation for Socio-economic Justice, and myself paid an impromptu visit to the late Sipho Jele’s homestead at Ncabaneni. I have no idea how the police got to know about the visit, but we started noticing that a white Toyota Corolla sedan was tailing us as we passed Luyengo, some 10 kilometres from our destination. The car followed us from a safe distance, slowing down or stopping whenever we stopped.

As we entered the Jele homestead, our police ‘escort’ parked at the nearby sports ground and alighted from the car to watch our movements. As we started to drive back, the police re-occupied their car and parked it some distance from where we were to drive past, I suspect that they wanted to track us from behind again. We drove straight for them this time, parking our car just a couple of metres from theirs, close enough to get a clean cell phone picture (we had difficulty uploading it, though) of the two policemen. I identified the passenger as Bheki “Maponyane” Mazibuko, a talented footballer recruited to the police in recent years to beef up police Premier League side Royal Leopards F.C.

Our daring act must have scared them off their pants as they followed us only to disappear before we even reached the main road on our way back to Manzini. Meanwhile, elderly Janet Jele, Sipho’s aunt, remains as strong and as defiant as ever. She has since been summoned to the Royal Residence to discuss God-only-knows-what. She is also awaiting the results of Jele’s post-mortem and will know as soon as those become available what labour unions and progressives inside Swaziland consider to be the next course of action. Ou Lady Janet also revealed that traditional authorities told a recent community meeting that the police had since apologized (to community) for causing a ‘fracas’ but without being explicit about its nature. I tell you that homestead is forever under the radar…

PUDEMO’s Bhekinkhosi “Mbilini” Dlamini summoned by Chief of Elwandle

Press Release

The Swaziland chapter of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC) is in possession of a letter of summons (I failed to append scanned document or even our logo this time around – the police could be responsible!) served on the Commissar of the Manzini branch of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and his entire extended family to appear before the Inner Council of the Elwandle Royal Residence on Saturday 5^th June 2010. The following details are particularly worth noting:

1. PUDEMO is a proscribed political organization in terms of the Suppression of Terrorism Act (2008), which outlaws political group affiliation despite the Constitution (2005) guaranteeing freedoms such as the right to peaceful assembly, association, and expression
2. Bhekinkhosi, a nurse by profession, was born at KalaMgabhi northwest of Manzini and has lived with his mother and maternal relatives at Elwandle from a young age, and this is the only place he has always called home
3. Chief Nhlonipho Nkamane Mkatshwa of Elwandle has previously summoned Bhekinkhosi’s mother and cautioned her against Bhekinkhosi’s active membership of PUDEMO
4. The summons, signed by the headman of the Elwandle Royal Residence, Ben Mshamndane Nsibandze, who also doubles as the Regional Administrator for the Hhohho Region, was served on Bhekinkhosi’s family on Sunday 30 May 2010.
5. Bhekinkhosi is in no doubt that the summons has to do with a Times of Swaziland Sunday front-page picture of him as MC at the late Sipho Jele’s funeral the previous two weekends
6. Bhekinkhosi is half-bother to Minister for Public Works and Transport, Ntuthuko Dlamini, who verbally reprimanded Bhekinkhosi for “spoiling things for the family…” when he saw Bhekinkhosi’s picture in the newspaper and before the summons was served

The SDC is following the developments with keen interest as we believe Bhekinkhosi and his maternal household are the victims of state-perpetrated persecution of opponents of the Tinkhundla dictatorship headed by King Mswati III. We condemn such acts in the strongest terms possible and will be writing a formal letter of complaint to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) as we have done previously. We once again appeal to the international community to note and take appropriate action against the Swazi regime with a view to ending rampant human rights violations and restoring civil liberties like all civilized 21^st century societies.

For more information contact:

Ms. Mary Pais Da Silva (Convener)

(+268) 7603 0076

mpsdasilva@gmail.com

Dr. Sikelela Dlamini (Secretary)

(+268) 7617 1151

sikamd@gmail.com