Swaziland
Newsletter No. 740 – 19 August 2022
News from and about Swaziland, compiled by
Global Aktion, Denmark (www.globalaktion.dk)
in collaboration with Swazi Media Commentary (www.swazimedia.blogspot.com),
and sent to all with an interest in Swaziland - free of charge.
SADC needs a firmer strategy for the spiralling
Eswatini crisis
By Ringisai Chikohomero, ISS
Today, 15 August 2022
The Eswatini crisis
is descending into violent conflict, with the bombing of state institutions
and attacks against security forces on the
rise. At the same time, brutal repression of protests and apparent abductions
of civil society members continue.
Is King Mswati
III letting his fear of losing the monarchy get in the way of national peace?
His remarks at this year’s 5 August Eswatini Police Day show a lack of
commitment to true national dialogue. Referring to the increasing attacks on
state institutions, he called for ‘an eye for an eye.’ This
position moves the country away from talks.
The government
has also expressed its intention to go ahead with elections next year – flying in the face of
Southern African Development Community (SADC) efforts to resolve the political
crisis before the polls are held.
Regional efforts
to contain the situation and get the parties to talk also seem to be waning.
The much-anticipated dialogue promised during South African President Cyril
Ramaphosa’s visit to the country at the end of 2021 hasn’t happened. And the
Eswatini matter hasn’t been raised in recent SADC meetings. A special summit of
the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation to discuss the Eswatini
crisis, slated for 21 July, was cancelled at the last minute.
The government’s
intention to go ahead with 2023 elections flies in the face of SADC efforts
SADC’s 42nd heads
of state summit in Kinshasa on 17 and 18 August is expected to prioritise
Eswatini. The regional body needs a bold and clear position on the next steps –
such as assigning a high-level envoy to the kingdom.
For the
pro-democracy movement, there’s a sense that the king is being handled with kid
gloves while Eswatini sinks into turmoil. His lukewarm response to national
dialogue and regional mediation has been seen as arrogant and aloof, but then
again, he has more to lose. The prospect of potentially being the world’s last
absolute monarch, the threat to his wealth and the royal family's future
raise the stakes for him.
As violence
increases, SADC needs to ramp up its interventions to help solve the political
crisis. A recent Institute for Security Studies closed webinar showed that the
lack of consensus on the situation, including among political parties and civil
society in Eswatini, is a major stumbling block to talks.
Protesters are
becoming more militant, and the emergence of the Swaziland International
Solidarity Forces further complicates the crisis. The group claimed
responsibility for the January bombing that killed a police officer.
Political parties also seem to be gravitating towards violence. Calls by the
People’s United Democratic Movement president in July for the party’s ground
forces to be vigilant and attack key state institutions added fuel to the fire.
SADC should move
away from its collegial approach towards one that gets the king to engage in
talks
Despite the
problems, SADC is best placed to lead the national dialogue process. To do so
effectively however, there must be a deliberate change in strategy. First, the
regional body must act more boldly and with greater urgency. This means moving
away from its collegial approach towards one that gets the king to engage in
talks.
Mswati has been
given too much space to dictate the pace of a peaceful resolution, to the
detriment of the SADC initiative and Eswatini’s citizens. The regional bloc
should establish a high-level presence in the country rather than continuing
with intermittent visits by officials.
This can be
achieved using SADC’s existing structures, like its Mediation Reference Group
and the panel of elders currently led by former Tanzanian president Jakaya
Kikwete. These mechanisms have the mandate and capacity to engage with the
king. Activating them would also indicate to Mswati that SADC is serious about
finding a lasting solution.
One problem with
SADC’s efforts thus far is that the matter has been elevated to summit level
without clarity on how it will be handled. Leaving an issue for a summit’s
attention can vastly extend the time taken to resolve it. Zimbabwe’s political
and economic crisis is a good example, with SADC only appointing then South
African president Thabo Mbeki to mediate in 2008. Zimbabwe has since been
dropped from the regional body’s agenda altogether.
To avoid this
problem, SADC could designate a special envoy to Eswatini, as it did in the
case of Lesotho in 2018. Former South African deputy chief justice Dikgang
Moseneke was appointed special envoy by Ramaphosa, SADC’s
facilitator at the time. He worked tirelessly to support dialogue toward
constitutional reforms.
SADC could
designate a special envoy to Eswatini, as it did in the case of Lesotho in 2018
In Eswatini, the
special envoy would carry the bloc’s mandate and be dedicated to working on the
crisis. SADC can also place the special envoy in-country to enable real-time
monitoring of developments and direct access to stakeholders. While Lesotho
isn’t out of the woods yet, it has made progress through
Moseneke’s support.
To strengthen
the envoy’s position in Eswatini, an advisory team of regional government and
civil society experts could be set up. This would be a first for SADC. The team
would provide the envoy with a wealth of resources and support mediation by
mapping points of entry and leverage to keep opposing sides at the table.
This week’s
Kinshasa summit is the ideal opportunity to appoint the envoy. On 16 August,
before the summit starts, the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security
Cooperation will meet. Although Namibia chairs the organ from 18 August, South
Africa – with strong links to Eswatini and its closest neighbour – should
continue to play a role.
SADC must do
everything possible to prevent the Eswatini crisis from escalating into a full-blown
violent conflict. In a region already dealing with major challenges linked to
inequality and poverty, political strife caused by a lack of democracy in one
of its member states must be avoided.
Ringisai
Chikohomero, Research Consultant, ISS Pretoria
Communist
Party of Swaziland calling for ‘nationwide mass uprising against the regime’
Morning
Star (UK), 16 August 2022
THE Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) is calling for a “nationwide mass uprising against
the regime” after government forces opened fire on democracy protesters at the
weekend.
On Saturday, 15 marches were
held across the country, with petitions delivered to MPs demanding democracy in
Africa’s last absolutist monarchy.
In Manzini district, the
march was attacked by armed officers who fired live bullets at peaceful
protesters, although no injuries were reported.
Communists and trade
unionists took part in the activities, which called “for the economy of the
country to be democratically controlled by the people and the provision of free
quality healthcare, education as well as other services.”
Political parties were
banned in Swaziland — now known as Eswatini — in 1973, with King Mswati III
commanding absolute power over the judiciary, executive and parliament.
Close to 70 per cent live
below the poverty line, with more a third of the population in extreme poverty
and reliant on the World Food Programme for food.
The CPS blames the monarchy
for the situation and called today “for unity among the oppressed people for a
nationwide mass uprising” to bring down the regime.
“The call must be a unifying
one for democracy now, which includes the unconditional unbanning of political
parties, unconditional release of political prisoners, unconditional return of
political exiles, recognition and respect for the rights to freedom of speech,
assembly and association,” it said in a statement.
Shots,
tear gas at Mbongwa’s support march
By
Nhlanganiso Mkhonta, Times of eSwatini, 16 August 2022
MBABANE – The march organised in support of SNAT
President Mbongwa Dlamini turned violent as shots and tear gas canisters were
fired to disperse the supporters.
SNAT stands for the Swaziland National Association of
Teachers. Dlamini was yesterday double-booked as he was expected to hand
over responses to his ‘Show Cause’ letter to the Ministry of Education and
Training and further meet the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police William
Tsitsibala Dlamini, who had summoned him. At around 10am yesterday,
supporters of the SNAT president arrived at the ministry and started singing
political songs while waiting for him. The supporters included members of different
political parties, unionists and SNAT members. Bishop Mpendulo Nkambule was
also part of those who came to support Mbongwa.
Mbongwa arrived a few minutes later and joined the
supporters in song. SNAT Secretary General (SG) Sikelela Dlamini addressed
the supporters on the reason they were at the ministry. He then allowed the
Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) President, Bheki Mamba, to address
the supporters. The SNAT president then entered the ministry’s offices to
hand over his letter and he took less than five minutes doing so and returned
to the supporters. Thereafter, Sikelela addressed the supporters on the way
forward, which was proceeding to the police headquarters. However, Sikelela
told the supporters that only Mbongwa, the SNAT executive and other unions
executives would go to the police headquarters.
He urged the supporters to remain at the Ministry of
Education as the executives would return to address them. However, the
supporters heard none of this and decided to march on their own, heading to the
police headquarters via the road passing by the Mbabane Government
Hospital. Just before reaching the police headquarters, the marchers were
met with armed police officers from the Operational Support Services Unit
(OSSU) and other police officers. There were over 100 police officers who
stopped the marchers. The police informed the supporters to leave and fired
shots in the air as well as tear gas canisters. The supporters ran
helter-skelter while the police persuaded them.
Some of the supporters ran to the construction site
near the Mobeni Flats below Mvwakwelitje area. The police invaded the
construction site where there were workmen busy with their work. They
reportedly assaulted some of the protesters who were hiding in the construction
site. One of the supporters who was assaulted was a teacher from Evelyn Baring
High School by the name of Lucky Mamba. Others who were injured during the
skirmish were reportedly rushed to the hospital.
Media
capture: It’s a battle for power and influence.
By Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 16August,
2022
Machawe Nxumalo, the then Times
News editor has tried twice to establish an online publication but despite
being backed by the regime with funds, all his media projects collapsed.
The former Channel Swazi
Manager first tried to establish the Swazi Journal before grouping State
journalists for another online project known as “Eswatini Bulletin”.
All these online
publications collapsed in less than six (6)months and the State journalists
went back to the Times and Observer.
Now, Nxumalo who once
invaded the online space scandalizing ‘Zwemart’ [Zweli Martin Dlamini] while
presenting himself and other State journalists as ‘real scribes’ knows
that it’s not a joke to run an online publication, it is far different from
being employed.
But it is not only Machawe
Nxumalo, more State journalists are attempting to penetrate the online space
but their greatest fear is competing with the Swaziland News whose
following is now fast approaching two hundred and fifty thousand (250 000).
As a result, the State
journalists who lost relevance after Swazis embraced the Swaziland News are
plotting ways of tarnishing the image of ‘Zwemart’ to push him out of the
‘game’ so that they could emerge and be embraced by the audience.
A Coordinator from one of
the reputable international media organizations sent me a piece of writing
purported to be authored by me, where it is alleged that I called for the
assassination of King Mswati.
A State journalist authored
that piece of writing with an intention to influence a global media
organization to take action against me, but those efforts failed because the
author failed to fake my style of writing.
It is very important to
state that my position about the future of King Mswati as a Head of State in
this country is very clear, Mswati must be removed from power.
But despite my political
opinion and position on Mswati’s future, captured journalists must relax
and refrain from trying to fake my sentiments.
My style of writing cannot
be faked by any State journalist and I told the Coordinator that I would not even
entertain that ‘rubbish’.
She even laughed after I
asked her to analyze my style of writing and that of the fake article.
The State journalist
authored the fake article, under the byline “By Zweli Martin Dlamini” and sent
it to the reputable media organization with an intention of tarnishing my
image.
But he was too shallow
minded and couldn’t imitate my style of writing because,like singing, writing
is a unique skill with identity and a ‘password’ that cannot be easily cracked.
It’s true that the power of
influence has shifted from the traditional media to online publications, this
did not come overnight but through hard-work, perseverance and dedication.
It’s a pity that State
journalists don’t understand the cycle of nature in the context of skills, power
and influence in society.
As a result, we are seeing
Diego Maradonas and Jomo Sonos in the media who want to compete with Christiano
Ronaldos and Lionel Messis, they are doing everything in their power to try and
tackle new players hoping they would re-emerge and be influential.
Leadership suggests that as
you grow older, you must transfer the skills to young people so that your
legacy can continue, State journalists opted to sell the integrity of the media
to Mswati.
In this country, the regime
captured almost all journalists who were once trusted by the people, now those
journalists, after being dumped by the masses who boycotted their newspapers
think scandalizing “Zwemart” will help them regain popularity among the masses,
it’s a nightmare.
The truth is; in every job
there’s retirement, in the media we have Mkhulus who are fast approaching 60
years, they want to compete with young and energetic journalists and even go as
far attempting to scandalize us.
Establishing and managing an
online publication is not a joke, at times you sleep around 2am, writing, editing
and uploading articles, the Mkhulus and Gogos in the media who are busy
scandalizing young journalists cannot survive that pressure.
In conclusion, let me make
it clear that the online space is open, all State journalists are free to
establish platforms, the audience will decide who to follow.
Therefore, scandalizing
‘Zwemart’ will not attract any following for Tinkhundla propaganda platforms,
people want the truth.
The basic principle of journalism
is to act in the public interest, State journalists must do just that and they
will attract a huge following online.
The problem starts when
these journalists establish online platforms, act in King Mswati’s interest and
then expect the public to follow and embrace their platforms.
I fully understand that the
campaign to tarnish my reputable is a battle for power and I will handle it
well.
It’s over ten (10) years now
since the State media started scandalizing me and I am not going down.
‘An
eye for an eye’ Swazi King closes door to peace
By
Dr Jabulane Matsebula, Swati Newsweek, 15 August, 2022
King Mswati, the last absolute monarch in Africa,
instructed the police force to use revenge and lethal force against Swazi
citizens calling for democracy. King Mswati's statement effectively transforms
the police force from a professional organisation responsible for maintaining
law and order to a retributive vigilante group. The statement is irresponsible
and represents a serious failure of leadership. Instead of showing leadership
and good judgement, Mswati wants to push the country into more chaos. The statement
is yet another example that the king has no respect for the rule of law and
life. Police violence and retaliation is not an answer to the political crisis
in Swaziland.
King Mswati must take a deep look into his behaviour
and responsibility for the current political instability in the country.
Violence will not benefit anyone and has no place in our society. Members of
the police force must disobey the order to retaliate. It is for the benefit of
this country and its people that the police force conducts its policing duty
within the law no matter the circumstances.
PUDEMO is deeply concerned about the ongoing
warmongering posture by king Mswati. In June/July 2021, Mswati led a vicious
war against unarmed civilians which resulted in many deaths and countless
injuries. He is now spoiling for another war and has closed the door to a
peaceful resolution of the political crisis.
When Mswati promised to hold a national dialogue to
resolve the political crisis in the country, we warned against complacency,
misplaced optimism and false belief. The whole idea of a national dialogue was
hollow, farcical and ambiguous. It was used as a trajan horse to calm the
walters and overpower the liberation movement. Mswati was never committed to
dialogue. He does not believe in a peaceful resolution of the political
troubles engulfing the country. His recent instruction to the police to kill
civilians is a clear indication that political dialogue remains a distant
dream. The people of Swaziland have no choice but to regroup into a mass revolt
to remove the royal family from state power.
Dr Jabulane Matsebula is PUDEMO’s
representative in Australia
Eswatini political crisis deepens as the promised
dialogue remains a wish
By Zakithi
Sibandze, Democracy in Africa, 16 August 2022
On the 12th of April 1973, Eswatini’s
newborn democracy was cut short at its prime when a decree banning political
parties was issued by
the then King Sobhuza II, giving way to new political system (introduced as
Tikhundla) which is promoted as “unique” to the Swazi condition, embracing
“African values”. This decree made Eswatini into an absolute monarchy, granting
the king control of all the three arms of government, in addition to being
above the constitution. This reversed the gains of Swazi people in their
struggle for independence in the colonial era. As a result, today Swaziland is
in labor for freedom.
This has always been a ticking time bomb that could have exploded at any time, no wonder the
recent events that has taken lives and spread violence across the country.
Amidst all the recent upheavals that have demonstrated deep anger among the
people due to many factors, a quench for social change has grown naturally with
the demand to recognize the rights and freedom of every person as a major demand.
The once open and closed struggles gave birth to a political turmoil that
started last year after the death of a university student. Ever since then, the
country is slowly disintegrating into a war zone as state brutality rises and
pro-democracy forces respond.
More than a year now have passed since the
government promised dialogue
to the nation and SADC chair President Cyril Ramaphosa personally visited the
country, calling for calm and dialogue. Due to the respect and commitment displayed by
South African presidency, Swazis were able to calm down and seek peaceful ways
of resolving their challenges which was the ‘dialogue’ everyone yearns for.
Despite these efforts, the Eswatini state has
not listen and
taken the calls for dialogue seriously. To them, it one of the ways to keep
people calm by telling them what they want to hear. Up to this day, true
dialogue has not been materialized and squabbling continues
between vocal members of parliament and the prime minister.
Build
up to the dialogue
In late June 2021, a SADC Organ Troika Ministerial
Fact-Finding Mission was dispatched to
the Eswatini, followed by a technical fact finding mission the following month.
These missions engaged with key stakeholders in the Kingdom of Eswatini with a
view to assist the Organ with clear understanding of the prevailing political
and security situation in the country. After collecting facts, the SADC Organ
extended a hand in line with its policies by proposing and
drafting Eswatini’s framework for Inclusive National Dialogue with its
findings, observations and recommendations.
Among the objectives was that the dialogue is based on
national ownership, domestic measures, and peaceful co-existence. It further
made recommendations of establishing a multi stakeholders national dialogue
committee and a proposed Roadmap for conducting a national dialogue. With all
this effort the government has downplayed this subject within parliament and
fed strongly to the narrative that the state never wanted dialogue but simply
wanted to calm protestors and minimize the blowback it faced. Since the
announcement that Sibaya will be conveyed to help nation find solutions to problems,
the government has given one excuse after the other as it was first reported
that the government sought to delay dialogue until after the Incwala ceremony.
After that they said they are waiting for SADC secretariat which was helping
with terms of reference and the terms were presented.
The government has never been short of excuses as they
now allege the environment is not conducive for dialogue as there is violence
where properties of pro-democracy leaders and some government leaders were
burned down. The cycle of lies and political dribbling has
intensified with the total avoidance of the subject of dialogue.
MPs could not keep quiet on it yet still find no
answers on what is happening, only to be promised that there will be dialogue
when time is right without explaining what constitutes a right time and who is
planning the dialogue if it’s not people delegated by them as rightful
representatives of the people. This situation illuminates the reality of Swazi
politics, which is captured and directed outside the walls of parliament and
ultimately centered in the royal family.
A
cycle of violence is brewing
There are now new growing threats to
Eswatini as state security forces have become ubiquitous and there have been
killings targeting these security personnel. Many citizens feel betrayed by
SADC and fooled by the government, making efforts at reconciliation even more
difficult. The government continues to use the media solely to discredit
pro-democracy forces and authorities use derogatory names for these groups.
This hate speech has the power to brew hate crimes as burnings of pro-democracy
properties and killings of state security continue unabated. The king
recently charged police
officers that they must meet insurgencies eye for an eye.
Obstacles
to dialogue
The blame for this violence is solely on the
government’s side as progressives were the first to call for dialogue and have
been eagerly waiting for it. Challenges of not having the much anticipated
dialogue emanates among other things on: Firstly, the king’s remarks that they
can’t dialogue with ‘dagga smokers’(equating supporters of democracy with those
that are intoxicated) point to a painful reality that those in authority do not
recognize all citizens as equals. Secondly, the current system dominated by
royalty and immediate relatives and associates has for too long lived
unchallenged. Adapting to new realities is hard for the leaders and their past
deeds towards the people increase the level of mistrust between the state and
society.
Thirdly, the Swazi state is a one party state where
there is no opposition.
Their politics is limited to how they understand and want to play their own
politics. The rhetoric of home grown democracy has reached its elasticity level
as more people decry the system and its failures. Fourthly, the state has
strong international supporters such as the Equatorial Guinea government whom
it is believed it sent some of its armed forces (photographic evidence of which
circulates online platforms and in testimonies of victims).
SADC has also fed this complicity. As we learned from
a leaked video
by the resigned army commander, SADC has pledged to be on the Kingdom’s side
politically, which resembles the way it shielded ex-president of Zimbabwe Mr.
Robert Mugabe from responsibility of Zimbabwe crisis.
The
importance of dialogue
Dialogue will give the nation a chance to resolve our
political difference with less violence and minimize the human cost that might
have occurred during violent political conflict. Swazis has a long culturally
believe that if problems are big there is a need to sit down and talk which is
commonly known as Kungena endlini kagogo which can be
interpreted as getting together and talking. The effect of the last unrest
continues to show its ugly faces as many people are suffering including young
children who lost parents or guardians. This is breaking families and
communities in ways we have not imagined as the scourge of violence seems to be
the only adopted ways of resolving problems.
To read more of this article, click
here: https://democracyinafrica.org/eswatini-political-crisis-deepens-as-the-promised-dialogue-remains-a-wish/
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