Swaziland Solidarity Network press statement on the arrest of SWAYOCO President Comrade Wandile Dludlu and National organizer comrade Themba Mabuza.
27 November, 2008
The Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] condemns with strongest possible way the arrest of Swaziland Youth Congress [SWAYOCO] leaders by the Swaziland regime. The comrades are the president comrade Wandile Dludlu and the National organizer comrade Themba Mabuzu, The two leaders of SWAYOCO a youth league of The People's United Democratic Movement [PUDEMO] have now joined the people's president comrade Mario Masuku PUDEMO president, who was arrested on the 15th November, 2008 Mswati is now filling his prisons with members of PUDEMO and SWAYOCO.
As SSN we agree fully with SWAYOCO to demand the following:
- Unconditional release of PUDEMO president cde Mario Masuku, SWAYOCO president cde Wandile DluDlu and SWAYOCO national organizer cde Themba Mabuza.
-Mswati must unconditionally apologies to the nation for declaring war on defenseless citizens.
- Withdrawal of the evil Suppression of terrorism Act, which declares SWAYOCO and PUDEMO as terrorist organizations( PUDEMO is a liberation movement).
-The world must apply sanctions on the Swazi regime elites and their families.
- SADC must reconsider their decision to give Swaziland the chair of the organ for peace and good governance and withdraw it immediately.
- Return to multi party democracy without further delay.
- A new and democratic constitution that will guarantee freedom of association, speech and that will be inclusive of a bill of rights.
We also wish to repeat our communicated message to SADC (Southern Africa Development Community) that says:
Over the years King Mswati III has relentlessly pursued his father’s heritage in suppressing the democratic forces in Swaziland. The sympathetic way in which South Africa and the SADC has handled him, giving him stature and honour, has further bolstered his ego, to the point where he now thinks he is untouchable and his ‘Swazi Style’ of democracy is widely accepted by international bodies.
The criticisms from AU (African Union) and SADC against undemocratic practices in Africa, seem to not have gone home to Swaziland. Recently Mswati has been made the Chairperson of SADC Troika on Security and Defence. This is an utter embarrassment to all democratic forces in Southern Africa. We appeal to SADC to take firm action against Mswati, and stop appeasing him in these ways; to put serious pressure on him, before Swaziland turns into a born-fire of violence. We have had enough of a small Tin-pot dictator who enjoys too much respect in respectable democratic institutions like AU and SADC. "Swazi Style of Democracy" is merely a smokescreen for simple tyranny.
Issued by the Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN]
For more information contact:
Sikhumbuzo Thomo- Secretary General [SSN]
+27 73 170 1205
See also
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