SSN TO MARCH FOR LOAN CONDITIONS

Swaziland Solidarity Network

Statement

3 August 2011

SOURCE

SSN CALLS UPON ALL SOUTH AFRICANS TO CHALLENGE THE BAILING OUT OF DESPOT KING

The Times of Swaziland today confirmed what the Swaziland Solidarity Network already knew concerning the South African government’s bailing out of Swaziland’s greedy autocratic regime.

This error of judgement by the South African government comes at a few days after our sources revealed to us that the bulk of SACU’s last quarterly payments to the country ended up in royal hands.

King Mswati has apparently sworn that should the economy crumble, thus leading to an uprising in the country, he will have amassed enough wealth to last him a life time.

This is the same head of state who in 2008 instructed his appointee and long serving minister of finance, Majozi Sithole, to invest US$ 100 million in South Africa without the knowledge of cabinet, parliament nor the Central Bank of Swaziland.

The South African government is well aware of all this wanton siphoning of public resources in Africa’s last absolute monarchy. Instead of using Swaziland’s fiscal crisis to pave the way towards a democratic and transparent government that would repay its loan, South Africa has chosen to give away tax payers’ money to a money drain, an evil despot.

As an organization we cannot allow the South African government to get away with funding the lifestyle of a flamboyant dictator, the likes of which would make the late Mobuthu Sese seko look like a saint.

We are calling upon all comrades, our affiliate organisations and all South Africans to join us in a picket which we shall call soon. We will march to the Union building in Pretoria to demand that South Africa should place strict conditions on its loan.

These conditions include that the king should commit himself towards unbanning all political parties and allowing democracy to reign in the country. As a self-styled entrepreneur, king Mswati should also stop living off the state’s resources and fund his lifestyle with his own money.

Issued by Swaziland Solidarity Network