PM BARS DEMOCRATS FROM SWAZI SENATE

Members of political parties advocating for democracy in Swaziland will not be allowed to become members of the Swazi Senate, the kingdom’s Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini has decreed.

Swaziland goes to the polls later this year to select a parliament, generally considered outside the kingdom to be without powers and simply a fig-leaf for King Mswati III to claim he does not rule as an absolute monarch.

Ordinary people are not allowed to vote for members of the Swazi Senate. Of its 30 members, 20 are chosen by the king and 10 are elected by members of the House of Assembly.

Of the 65 members of the House of Assembly, 10 are chosen by King Mswati and 55 are elected by the people.

All political parties are banned from participating at the elections. King Mswati claims that political parties are allowed to operate in his kingdom, but he has banned completely all parties that oppose his absolute rule and advocate democracy in Swaziland, because he considers them to be ‘terrorists’.

The Prime Minister told the House of Assembly on Monday (13 May 2013) that members of the banned political parties, most notably the Peoples’ United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and its youth wing, the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), would not be allowed into the senate. 

He was responding at a meeting of PM’s office portfolio committee to a question from Lobamba MP Majahodvwa Khumalo who wanted to know if he could elect a card carrying member of any of the proscribed entities in the kingdom.

Dlamini, himself was not elected Prime Minister, or even to parliament. King Mswati, who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, personally appointed him following the last election in 2008. 

Despite the claims of King Mswati and his supporters that ordinary Swazi have representation in parliament, King Mswati is in complete control of his kingdom. Last August (2012), at the Sibaya People’s Parliament (a quaint idea of democracy where people turn up at a cattle byre and voice their opinions on topics of concern to them) speakers overwhelmingly called on the government to resign, citing its inability to control an economy spiralling out of control as a major reason. The king claims that Sibaya is the supreme governing body in Swaziland and is above the king, but he ignored the peoples’ voice.

In October 2012, the House of Assembly passed a vote of no-confidence in the prime minister and cabinet. In such circumstances the constitution requires the monarch to sack the government (he has no discretion in the matter), but King Mswati ignored this and put pressure on the House to re-run the vote, this time ensuring that it did not have the required majority to pass. Members of the House did as they were told and the government continued in office. 

A number of prodemocracy groups have called for a boycott of this year’s election. These include the Communist Party of Swaziland, Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) and the Swaziland United Democratic Front. They describe the Swazi system of governance known as Tinkhundla as ‘illegitimate, unpopular and a mockery to democracy’. 

King Mswati has yet to set a date for the election. He has sole say over its timing.

See also

SWAZI ELECTION ‘WILL BE A FRAUD’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/02/swazi-election-will-be-fraud.html

ANC ANGRY AT BRUTAL SECURITY FORCE

The African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa is the latest organisation to condemn Swaziland’s use of security forces to brutally quash democracy protests.

Swaziland is set for national elections later this year and democracy activists have been trying to draw attention to King Mswati III’s autocratic rule in the kingdom as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

But, attempts to hold a prayer at a cathedral,a public meeting at a restaurant and a public rally in a township were all put down by police and security forces. Police claimed they were all threats to state security.

Leaders of the protests have been charged with sedition.

Chief among the democrats’ concerns is that political parties are barred from taking part in the election. Generally, in Swaziland, any political party that opposes the king’s autocratic rule are branded ‘terrorists’, banned outright and supporters are hounded by state security forces.

The ANC, in a statement, said it was, ‘[D]eeply concerned about the current political environment in neighbouring Swaziland where a group of unarmed civilians involved in a peaceful demonstration has been violently broken up by security forces.’

It likened the current situation in Swaziland to that under the apartheid regime in South Africa.

It said, ‘Having emerged from a brutal past of apartheid that has led to scores of our people being assassinated, assaulted, detained and imprisoned, South Africa is today a world-renowned democratic constitutional model. Were it not for the National Party-led minority regime having been forced by the masses of our people to engage in a dialogue with the African National Congress (ANC) and other liberation movements prior to 1994, this would not have been possible.

‘We therefore, call on the government of Swaziland to work towards the normalisation of the political environment by unbanning opposition political parties, releasing political activists and engaging in a meaningful dialogue with opposition political and trade union leaders to find a collective solution to the socio-economic situation faced by that country.

‘As seen in South Africa prior democracy, the use of security forces to quell any form of political dissent and failure to address legitimate concerns of citizens, can only lead to the worsening of relations between government and civilians, something that does not augur well for economic stability.

‘In the interest of maintaining the much-needed stability within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), we strongly believe that the situation in Swaziland requires an urgent attention.’

The use of state security forces to quash legitimate protest in Swaziland has put the international spotlight on the kingdom in recent weeks.

The Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) and the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC), in a joint statement said police in Swaziland were now a ‘private militia’ with the sole purpose of serving the Royal regime. 

In April, the  Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) reported to the AfricanCommission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) meeting in The Gambia that Swaziland was becoming a ‘military state’. OSISA reported that the Swazi army, police and correctional services were being deployed to ‘clamp down on any peaceful protest action by labour or civil society organisations ahead of the country’s undemocratic elections’. 

Separately, the US Embassy in Swaziland voiced its ‘deep concern’ about the way the police engaged in ‘acts of intimidation and fear’ against people seeking their political rights. 

See also

NOW, ELECTION MEETINGS ARE ‘SEDITIOUS’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/now-election-meetings-are-seditious.html

SWAZI POLICE NOW ‘A PRIVATE MILITIA’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/swazi-police-now-private-militia.html

SWAZILAND ‘BECOMING MILITARY STATE’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/swaziland-becoming-military-state.html

‘NOT AFRAID OF JAIL’ – SWAZI ACTIVIST

Kenworthy News Media

May 14, 2013 

SOURCE 

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.

“I was interrogated by an army of police who used a variety of strategies to make me speak,” Wonder said of his prison ordeal. “The prison authorities refused me visitation rights for my colleagues and friends and I was to moved to the maximum section in solitary confinement at Matsapha.”

Wonder thanked those who had contributed to his bail and campaigned for his release. “I appreciate the support that was given to SPRAWU, PUDEMO and to me and family personally” he said. “And I appreciate the support from our international allies – both organizations and individuals – who went out of their way to support our struggle for a just society in Swaziland. On that note I wish to applaud the speed with which the campaign for my release was implemented; it made a huge difference.”

Although he is now out of prison, Wonder is not a free man. Amongst other things he has to report every week to a police station and surrender his passport, and the court cases of political activists in Swaziland such as Wonder are deliberately drawn out for years.

“He joins a growing list of many political prisoners [in Swaziland] who have been out on bail, but their cases are deliberately not finalized. In the process these are suffering from the extremely stringent conditions that are imposed on them,” as PUDEMO National Spokesperson Zakhele Mabuza put it.

See also

ARRESTED ACTIVIST MKHONZA GETS BAIL

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/05/arrested-activist-mkhonza-gets-bail.html

DEMOCRATS WANT S. AFRICA H.C. RECALLED

Five of Swaziland’s biggest prodemocracy groups have demanded the South African Government recall its High Commissioner from the kingdom after he appeared to publicly support King Mswati III’s autocratic regime and undermine their own campaign for multiparty democracy.

They were joined in the call by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).

The new South African High Commissioner to Swaziland, Happy Mahlangu, was widely reported in the Swazi press seeming to support the present regime. Swaziland has been ruled under Royal Proclamation for 40 years, when in 1973 King Sobhuza II abandoned the country’s constitution and began to rule by decree. The proclamation has never been rescinded and today his son, Mswati III, rules as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

Elections are due to be held in Swaziland later this year, but democracy groups are urging a boycott because political parties are banned and the Swazi parliament has no real powers.

When Mahlangu went to present his credentials to King Mswati, the Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by the king, reported him saying, ‘I further wish to make use of this opportunity to express South Africa’s best wishes to Your Majesty and the people of Swaziland for success during the forthcoming elections. I also want to assure you of South Africa’s support regarding the Swaziland Elections.’

The Times of Swaziland, the kingdom’s only independent daily newspaper, reported him saying, ‘It would be folly to force things on the people of Swaziland. It is the people of Swaziland who should decide whether they want multiparty democracy. I think South Africans believe that the best way of representation is multiparties yet that is not the case.’

‘They have to understand the different types of democracies of the world, in particular in the African continent.’

Six prodemocracy groups in a joint statement said, ‘We believe that the South African Government must recall the High Commissioner and provide him with a comprehensive briefing and then assess his suitability for the post.  His most recent statements do not inspire the confidence of the peaceful democratic movement.’

The groups were the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC), the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF), Swaziland Democracy campaign (SDC), and COSATU.

The groups said Mahlangu needed to learn the realities of life in Swaziland.

They said, ‘At present, peaceful democracy activists are languishing in miserable prison conditions without charge or credible evidence against them while awaiting the possible imposition of harsh sentences for sedition. Many Swazis continue to suffer in exile, while those in Swaziland are prevented from holding meetings, marches or any gatherings and are instead beaten and humiliated for expressing their views about their country.  

‘The trade union federation, TUCOSWA, is banned and their leaders were arrested and prevented from celebrating Workers Day just this year. The only “crime” these democracy activists are guilty of is to speak out that democratic norms be accepted in Swaziland.

‘Not only are the Swazi people subjected to appalling levels of poverty, but they are also robbed of resources, both land and finances that should be placed at their service. The regime is considered to be one of the most corrupt in the world.’

They added, ‘Repression in Swaziland is well documented and makes up a major part of the submissions that were made to the UN’s International Labour Conference and other international gatherings. These respected institutions have in turn consistently criticised the Swazi regime for trampling on the fundamental human and civil rights of the people of Swaziland.’

The statement said Mahlangu was out of step with his own government, which last year denied a financial bailout to the regime pending moves towards democracy and with his own ANC party, which last week said, ‘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.’

He was also out of step with, ‘[T]he Commonwealth, the United Nations, the SADC guidelines and protocols on elections democracy and constitutionalism, and a global array of respected human rights organisations who have painstakingly catalogued the abuses of the current Swazi regime.’

See also

SWAZILAND ‘BECOMING MILITARY STATE’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/swaziland-becoming-military-state.html

DEMOCRACY TALKS: BUT NOT IN SWAZILAND

This is a tale of democracy and two neighbouring nations: the kingdom of Swaziland and the Republic of South Africa.

In Swaziland police have broken up a number of gatherings in the kingdom called to discuss the national election due in the kingdom later this year. They said the discussions were a threat to state security.

King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch and the government ministers he selects, argue that people in Swaziland love their political system and do not want it to change, so there is no need to have discussions about the election.

Switch to South Africa, where for two days this week students at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg hosted an ‘international dialogue’ on the elections. Among those gathered were political parties that are banned in Swaziland, academics, and civic society groups. 

The dialogue was co-hosted by German Institute, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

The dialogue in South Africa was held to discuss the election in ways the Swazi people are prohibited from doing themselves at home.

Organisers said in a press release in advance of the event that objectives of the dialogue included:

·         To understand the tenets of democratic electoral systems and compare these with the current electoral system in Swaziland;

·         To explore the current Swazi electoral system in detail, in particular how political power is formed, coalesced, and contested and the pitfalls and opportunities in this process;  and

·         To draw comparisons between the Swazi and other regional and International electoral role of different national interest groups in electoral systems.

‘We anticipate an open and vibrant dialogue among varying participants with a range of viewpoints,’ organisers said.

Such a dialogue is illegal in Swaziland.

On 12 April, democrats wanted to mark the 40^th anniversary of King Sobhuza’s Royal Decree that in 1973 turned Swaziland from a democracy to a kingdom ruled by an autocratic monarch, by holding a public meeting to discuss the forthcoming national election in Swaziland. All political parties are banned from taking part and the meeting was to discuss why this was so.  

Armed police and riot troops, acting without a court order, physically blocked the restaurant in Manzini where the meeting was to take place. The police said the meeting was a threat to state security. 

A week later, on 19 April, the 45^th birthday of King Mswati III, the banned youth group SWAYOCO tried to hold a rally at Msunduza Township in Mbabane to discuss the election. Again, police, forced the meeting to close. Organisers of the meeting have been charged with sedition. 

Following these events, raids on the homes of democracy activists in Swaziland took place. Wonder Mkhonza, the National Organizing Secretary of the banned political party the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) was allegedly found in possession of 5,000 pamphlets belonging to PUDEMO. He has been charged with sedition. 

The Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) and the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC), in a joint statement said police in Swaziland were now a ‘private militia’ with the sole purpose of serving the Royal regime. 

In April, the  Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) reported to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) meeting in The Gambia that Swaziland was becoming a ‘military state’. OSISA reported that the Swazi army, police and correctional services were being deployed to ‘clamp down on any peaceful protest action by labour or civil society organisations ahead of the country’s undemocratic elections’. 

Separately, the US Embassy in Swaziland voiced its ‘deepconcern’ about the way the police engaged in ‘acts of intimidation and fear’ against people seeking their political rights. 

While the dialogue was taking place in Johannesburg, King Mswati was attending the World Economic Forum Africa conference in Cape Town. He told that meeting that he ruled his country only at the pleasure of his people. 

Media reports said the king told the forum, ‘They [the Swazi people] are happy with the system. They don’t want to see any change. And as a king you are ruled by the people, you don’t want to impose on the people.’ 

The king added, ‘In our system we allow every Swazi person a decision, to decide how we do the politics.’

See also

RIOT POLICE FORCE HALT TO PRAYER

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/03/riot-police-force-halt-to-prayer.html