SWAZILAND’S FIRST PEOPLE’S DIALOGUE

The following is a media release detailing the ‘People’s Dialogue’ that takes place this Saturday (18 July 2009) in Manzini, Swaziland.

OPERATION SIDLA INHLOKO – THE PEOPLE’S DIALOGUE

SWAZIS CONGREGATE

TO CELEBRATE MADIBA’S BIRTHDAY & SHAPE THEIR DESTIY

Manzini, July 15, 2009-

On July 18^th – the Birthday of Nelson Mandela, Swaziland Civil Society will hold its first People’s Dialogue at John Bosco Hall in Manzini starting at 8:30am. The Churches, the Unions and the Swaziland Coalition are going to get the people talking. More importantly it will also get the people listening.

The day will start with a message sent to former South African President Nelson Mandela, affectionately known to millions around the world as Comrade Madiba on the occasion of his 91^st birthday.

The July 18^th event has been dubbed Sidla Inhloko in recognition of the widespread Swazi custom of eating cow-heads in the process of discussing important issues in the community. Traditionally this is reserved for the older men, but on the 18^th women, young people and everyone else are going to be welcomed at the feast as equals.

The main organizers of the event, the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organizations, Organised Labour, The Council of Swaziland Churches and others have made it clear that this is NOT an anti-government protest, but a way to help the leadership of civil society to stay in touch with the needs and opinions of its membership at the grass roots. Its purpose is to collect and collate.

Jan Sithole, the spokesperson for the Sidla Inhloko gathering stresses this point:

“We want Swazis from all walks of life to come together and talk about issues that affect the vast majority of the people in this country. Everyone wants to live a healthy life. All parents want to educate their children. All the youth want access to more secure futures with good jobs earning decent pay. Women and men of goodwill want to stop the carnage of violence and acts of rape against women and girl children. Corruption is a scourge that affects all of us. These are cross cutting issues that should concern all of us, irrespective of our political beliefs and affiliations. That is why we urge EVERYONE to show up. We want everyone to be part of history, we want everybody to help shape their destiny.”