The Congress of South African Trade Unions announced this week that it wants ‘to bring to a total stop the tendency by Swaziland's royal family regime to get away with conducting undemocratic and illegitimate elections, yet still be accepted as a legitimate government’.
The election will be held even though political parties are banned and the parliament that is elected has no real power. The Prime Minister and many cabinet ministers are selected by King Mswati III. The present Prime Minister of Swaziland, Themba Dlamini was selected by the King, even though Dlamini had not been elected to Parliament.
COSATU says the present ruling regime in Swaziland has ‘instituted a perpetual state of emergency and criminalised all forms of political activity, including marches and demonstrations. It has also denied the people their rights to organise, associate and speak freely.’
COSATU is organising a blockade on18 September 2008 at the South Africa/Swaziland border.
Last week, a two day strike and demonstrations brought international attention to the lack of democracy in Swaziland. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators.
COSATU says, ‘The state resorted to its usual language of violence and more violence against peaceful marchers. Amnesty International has on several occasions condemned the Swazi regime for torture, violence and brutality against political activists, which has seen many of them being forced into exile.’
Last weekend the 40/40 celebrations to mark both the 40th birthday of the King and the 40th anniversary of Swaziland’s independence from Britain were widely condemned in the international community for their lavishness. It is impossible to calculate the cost of the 40/40 celebrations but some estimates put it as high as E70 million (7 million US dollars).
COSATU says, ‘Greed and corruption have become endemic in Swaziland, with the royal family having unlimited access to national resources in the name of Swazi culture and tradition. Lack of accountability breeds corruption and cancerous greed, hence the massive, legalised looting of the economy by the ruling elite, buying expensive goods, living extravagant lifestyles and splashing the country's wealth around in shows of might and display of royal power, including buying allegiance and patronage.’
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