Five of Swaziland’s biggest prodemocracy groups have
demanded the South African Government recall its High Commissioner from the
kingdom after he appeared to publicly support King Mswati III’s autocratic
regime and undermine their own campaign for multiparty democracy.
They were joined in the call by the Congress of South
African Trade Unions (COSATU).
The new South African High Commissioner to Swaziland, Happy Mahlangu,
was widely reported in the Swazi press seeming to support the present regime.
Swaziland has been ruled under Royal Proclamation for 40 years, when in 1973
King Sobhuza II abandoned the country’s constitution and began to rule by
decree. The proclamation has never been rescinded and today his son, Mswati
III, rules as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.
Elections are due to be held in Swaziland later this
year, but democracy groups are urging a boycott because political parties are
banned and the Swazi parliament has no real powers.
When Mahlangu went to present his credentials to King
Mswati, the Swazi Observer, a
newspaper in effect owned by the king, reported him saying, ‘I further wish to
make use of this opportunity to express South Africa’s best wishes to Your Majesty
and the people of Swaziland for success during the forthcoming elections. I
also want to assure you of South Africa’s support regarding the Swaziland
Elections.’
The Times of
Swaziland, the kingdom’s only independent daily newspaper, reported him saying,
‘It would be folly to force things on the people of Swaziland. It is the people
of Swaziland who should decide whether they want multiparty democracy. I think
South Africans believe that the best way of representation is multiparties yet
that is not the case.’
‘They have to understand the different types of
democracies of the world, in particular in the African continent.’
Six prodemocracy groups in a joint statement said, ‘We
believe that the South African Government must recall the High Commissioner and
provide him with a comprehensive briefing and then assess his suitability for
the post. His most recent statements do not inspire the confidence of the
peaceful democratic movement.’
The groups were the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress
(NNLC), the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Trade Union Congress
of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF), Swaziland
Democracy campaign (SDC), and COSATU.
The groups said Mahlangu needed to learn the realities of
life in Swaziland.
They said, ‘At present, peaceful democracy activists are
languishing in miserable prison conditions without charge or credible evidence
against them while awaiting the possible imposition of harsh sentences for
sedition. Many Swazis continue to suffer in exile, while those in Swaziland are
prevented from holding meetings, marches or any gatherings and are instead
beaten and humiliated for expressing their views about their country.
‘The trade union federation, TUCOSWA, is banned and their
leaders were arrested and prevented from celebrating Workers Day just this
year. The only “crime” these democracy activists are guilty of is to speak
out that democratic norms be accepted in Swaziland.
‘Not only are the Swazi people subjected to appalling
levels of poverty, but they are also robbed of resources, both land and
finances that should be placed at their service. The regime is considered to be
one of the most corrupt in the world.’
They added, ‘Repression in Swaziland is well documented
and makes up a major part of the submissions that were made to the UN’s
International Labour Conference and other international gatherings. These
respected institutions have in turn consistently criticised the Swazi regime
for trampling on the fundamental human and civil rights of the people of
Swaziland.’
The statement said Mahlangu was out of step with his own
government, which last year denied a financial bailout to the regime pending
moves towards democracy and with his own ANC party, which last week said, ‘The
democratization of Swaziland must preoccupy the work of the African National
Congress and all progressive forces as we call for the release of political
prisoners, return of exiles and free political activities in that country.’
He was also out of step with, ‘[T]he Commonwealth, the
United Nations, the SADC guidelines and protocols on elections democracy and
constitutionalism, and a global array of respected human rights organisations
who have painstakingly catalogued the abuses of the current Swazi regime.’
See also
SWAZILAND ‘BECOMING MILITARY STATE’
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/04/swaziland-becoming-military-state.html
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