Police in Swaziland turned the city of Manzini into a ‘battlefield’
and a ‘warzone’ on the second day of the national strike in the kingdom.
The Swazi Observer, a
newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati III, the kingdom’s absolute monarch,
said the bus rank in Swaziland’s major commercial city was ‘turned into a
warzone as stun grenades, teargas, teasers and rubber bullets became the order
of the day’.
It happened on Wednesday (19 September 2019) as
workers across Swaziland continued their protests against poor pay and other working
conditions. They are on a three-day stoppage coordinated by the Trade Union
Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA).
The Observer,
one of only two daily newspapers in Swaziland (recently
renamed Eswatini by the King) where the media are heavily censored, said
the bus rank was a ‘serious battlefield’ for more than four hours as armed police
and other state forces and workers ‘engaged in fierce confrontation’.
The Observer
reported, ‘The situation got out of control when public transport drivers and
conductors joined the protesting workers and clashed with the police.’
The Observer
reported, ‘The town was totally shut down as shops were closed and street
vendors halted business. Some terrified and frightened commuters sought refuge
in offices and shops as the “war” between the police, bus conductors and
workers took centre stage, unabated.’
The Times of
Swaziland reported police threw
explosive grenades and fired tear gas canisters at the
protestors.
The Observer
reported police threatened ‘everybody who was wearing a red T-shirt’. People in
Swaziland wear red to show their support for trade unions. It reported, ‘TUCOSWA
quickly understood this strategy and changed their red T-shirts and wore other
clothes.’
It added, ‘Efforts by the police to chase
away onlookers proved futile as the public made it clear that they are not
going anywhere until the strike is over and the kombis [buses]
were back
at the bus rank.
The Observer reported, ‘As early as 7 am, police officers and warders were sweeping the streets of Manzini, insulting and threatening to beat up anyone who was wearing a red T-shirt.
‘This prompted some
TUCOSWA members to change their red colours and wear different T-shirts. The
police went on to block any worker who tried to make an entrance to Somhlolo
Park where members were supposed to join other workers.’
It added, ‘Police tried firing stun grenades and
teargas at the protesting workers who were marching towards the Manzini bus
rank. In that moment, a police officer threw a stun grenade at kombi conductors
who had mingled with protesting workers.
‘This sparked trouble for
the police as conductors made it clear that they will not watch while their
customers were being abused by the police. The public transport operators said
since the roads were blocked, they could not carry out business anymore. All
hell broke loose when conductors threw stones at the police officers and burnt
tyres on the road.’
Police attacked members of the Swaziland
National Association of Teachers (SNAT) at their union headquarters in Manzini.
The Observer reported TUCOSWA
Secretary General Mduduzi Gina, ‘said they received reports that
some of the police officers stormed the SNAT Centre and ordered the teachers
out of the premises but they told the police that they were in a meeting as the
place was a private property, to which the police retaliated by throwing
grenades at them inside the premises.’
The newspaper reported him saying, ‘While
the teachers were running away for cover, they were assaulted by the police and
some are reportedly missing.’
It added, ‘Gina said according to the report
they received, one of the injured teachers was apprehended while trying to get
medical attention from the paramedics who were at the scene when the attack
happened.’
The Times of
Swaziland reported, ‘The protesting workers were stuck at SNAT Centre as
the armed police surrounded the building and threw stun grenades, while firing
tear gas canisters at anyone leaving the venue.’
Protests have been taking place in major towns
and cities, including Mbabane, Manzini, Nhlangano and Siteki.
In Nhlangano, several union leaders were detained by
the police, including SNAT Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini. The Observer reported, ‘There was
pandemonium earlier in the morning when protesters clashed with the police at
Zheng Young textile factory. Teargas was fired to disperse the strong crowd of
workers. In town, police prevented people from walking in groups.’
The Observer
reported that in Siteki, ‘people wearing red shirts had difficulty getting into
town as uncompromising police officers prevented them from stepping foot into
town. Also, people in the same T-shirts were told to immediately leave town.’
Armed police were deployed in Siteki as early as 8 am
and union leaders who were known to the police were barred from entering the
small town.
The Observer added, ‘Meanwhile, members of the public were also barred
from entering the Siteki Park as it was used as a meeting point by protesters.’
Most schools in Siteki remained closed.
Swaziland holds its national election on Friday (21
September 2018). Political
parties are banned from taking part. People are only allowed to elect 59
members of the House of Assembly; the King appoints a further 10. No members of
the 30-strong Swazi Senate are elected by the people. The King chooses the
Prime Minister and Cabinet members. He also chooses top civil servants and
judges.
Burning
tyres at Manzini bus rank
See also
Widespread
Condemnation of Swaziland Police Brutal Attacks on Workers
Vicious
Attack by Swaziland Police on Defenceless Workers Captured on Video
Swaziland
Police Fire Gunshots During Textiles Dispute, Third Attack on Workers in a Week
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