PROTEST WAS ‘A HISTORIC SUCCESS’

The Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) has called the mass protest last Friday (18 March 2011) that called for the Swazi Government to resign a ‘historic success’.

In a statement published today (25 March 2011), SUDF says, ‘Swazis can now unite in their diversity to speak in one voice against 37 years of Tinkhundla oppression.’

It said ‘a much bigger, more widespread, more determined, more resolute, and decisive march’ will take place in the not-so-distant future.

The statement is reproduced below.

SOURCE

18^th March Mass Protest a Historic Success!

The Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) declares the protest march called by the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and joined by civil society, labour unions, students, and Swazis of all political and ideological persuasions through the streets of Mbabane to demand an end to undemocratic Tinkhundla on the 18^th March 2011, a resounding and historic success. The SUDF notes that:

1. Swazis can now unite in their diversity to speak in one voice against 37 years of Tinkhundla oppression
2. The over 10,000 marchers bore testimony that the voices for multiparty democracy can no longer be conveniently dismissed as an insignificant minority by the Tinkhundla regime
3. Swazis can be disciplined and focused in making their legitimate demands known to Tinkhundla and the world
4. A much bigger, more widespread, more determined, more resolute, and decisive march will take place in the not-so-distant future at venues to be announced shortly.

The SUDF takes this opportunity to salute SNAT for a brave initiative. We also salute our affiliates for heeding the call to flood the streets of Mbabane. We equally salute the entire labour movement for sacrificing for the wider freedom of their fellow countrymen and women.

We cannot leave out the gallant tertiary studentry who have always shown rare grit to grab the bull by the horns whenever they have been called upon to do so. To wider civil society, comprising the church, NGOs, women’s organizations, the disabled, the youth, etc., we say thank you for your notable presence and telling contribution.

We finally say a BIG THANK YOU to our international solidarity partners such as COSATU, the ANCYL, the SSN, the South Africa Chapter of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC), ACTSA, etc., for the part they each played in publicizing and popularizing the march through specific statements and activities in their respective locations. We ask all of you and more others to continue supporting our cause for the political emancipation of our only motherland, Swaziland. Amandla!!!