SOLIDARITY FOR A FREE SWAZILAND

Support for democracy in Swaziland is growing in neighbouring South Africa.

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), one of the main groups organising for freedom in the kingdom, reports that it is building new groups as part of a ‘political strategy to ensure the presence in every community and each household, of activists that understands the plight of Swazis under the current oppressive King Mswati III’.

SSN reports that branches have recently been launched in Midrand, Johannesburg and at the Johannesburg Art Gallery.

SSN says another ten branches will be launched including Central Johannesburg, Orange Farm, Braamfontein, Yeoville, Newclare and Rossetenville.

In Soweto groups will be launched in Diepkloof, Naledi, Mndeni and Mapetla. The North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo are amongst provinces that will launch structures of SSN within the next two weeks.

SSN says these new solidarity groups have been able to attract community activists, academics, researchers and politicians in their ranks and also initiate ‘raging debates about lack of democracy and the violation of human rights’.

The SSN National Congress to be held in September 2009 will deliberate on a strategy to provide Swazi’s with solidarity support. Congress is also expected to devise a strategy to counter international investments during the 2010 world cup that ‘will benefit the King and his cronies’.