SWAZILAND SOCIAL FORUM BANNED

The unelected Acting Prime Minister of Swaziland has announced a ban on a ‘social forum’ that is due to take place in the kingdom this week.

Bheki Dlamini, says the forum is not in the ‘national interest.’

He warned that if the Southern Africa Social Forum went ahead ‘the law will take its course’.

Organisers later confirmed that the meeting would go ahead despite the PM’s ban.

The Times of Swaziland reports today (14 October 2008) Dlamini saying, ‘From the information available it is the view of the Swaziland Government that the hosting of the meeting in the country will not be in the national interest, and will compromise peace, security and stability of the kingdom of Swaziland . Consequently, the meeting cannot be held in the kingdom. Government wishes to state that in the unlikely event that the meeting goes ahead despite her position on this matter, the government will be compelled to apply the law to its fullest extent.’

Of course, nowhere does the Swazi Government state in which ways the meeting due to take place on 16-18 October will be against ‘the national interest’. It seems the government doesn’t like the fact that the meeting is taking place at all. The new Swaziland Constitution allows for freedom of association and freedom of assembly, so the government has no right in law to ban the forum

According to the Times, the meeting’s objective was to discuss socio-economic issues affecting the country. Regional and international guests were expected at the meeting. It was being organised by organisations that included the Coordinating Assembly for Non- Governmental Organisations (CANGO), the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) and the country’s two labour federations, the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) and the Swaziland Federation of Labour (SFL).

Shortly after the ban was announced the forum organisers sent out a statement, ‘to reassure ALL colleagues and partners in the struggle’ that the forum would go ahead at a new venue, the Salesian Sports Arena, Manzini.

We must now wait to see how the Swazi Government intends to ‘apply the law to its fullest extent.’

Meanwhile, the Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (Cosatu) announced a picket in protest against the ban to be held outside the Swazi Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa, today.