Swaziland
Newsletter No. 742 – 2 September 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.
eSwatini
opposition parties call for boycott of King Mswati’s annual Reed dance
following allegations of paedophilia
Independent
online (South Africa) 31 August 2022
The United Democratic Front in eSwatini
(formerly Swaziland) has called on parents of Swati girls to pull their
children out of the King's annual Reed dance, labelling it a paedophile
festival.
The opposition group, also known as Lubambano,
said over the years the Reed dance had lost its meaning, with reports of the
king’s friends using the festival to choose young women to sleep with and
salivate over.
The Reed dance was meant to promote
chastity among young women, while promoting solidarity among the women.
The king also had the privilege of also
identifying a potential wife at the reed dance. Culture dictates that the girls
would be half naked, clothed in their cultural attire during the ceremony,
which ends with a dance in front of the king.
A spokesperson for the United Front for
Democracy, Vusi Shongwe, said the reed dance had lost its cultural meaning
because of the human rights abuses that continue in Swaziland.
“Lubambano Lwenkhululeko yaMaSwati's main
goal is the total liberation of the people of Swaziland,” Shongwe said. “We
reiterate our total opposition to royal oppression in whatever form it may be
presented by the ruling elite, in this case being disguised as a cultural
event.”
Shongwe said for many years the girls who
attend the Reed dance were being transported from their villages to the Queen
Mother's village using unsafe modes of transport, such as construction trucks.
He said in 2015 a road accident occurred
in which most of the girls died. At the time there were allegations of
witchcraft concerning the accident.
“As if this was not enough, the royal
family showed to all their inhumane side by forcefully denying the deceased
family members the right to view the remains before their burial. This fuelled
suspicion that the bodies could have been used for ritual purposes before being
handed over to the families,” Shongwe said.
Some political parties in Swaziland have
been calling for the end to Africa’s last monarchy because of instability in
that country.
It is estimated that around 40 000
girls take part in the reed dance every year. The reed dance festival started
on August 30, and was expected to end on September 5.
Swazis
overwhelmingly boycott Mswati’s umhlanga ritual
Communist
Party of Swaziland statement, 31 August 2022
In line with the Communist
Party of Swaziland’s call for the boycott of Mswati’s umhlanga ritual, young
girls in Swaziland have overwhelmingly rejected the annual exploitative ritual.
Escorted buses and lorries,
dispatched by Mswati all over Swaziland to fetch young girls, returned empty
from pick-up points. This is a victory for all Swazis. Mswati and his murderous
regime are becoming increasingly isolated.
This overwhelming boycott is
yet another act which proves beyond any doubt that Swazis are fed up with
Mswati and his autocratic tinkhundla system as well its backward practices.
The entire Swazi population
now wants democracy.
As the CPS, we commend the
display of courage and bravery by the Swazi young women.
The CPS’s campaign against
the umhlanga ritual also calls upon female members in the security cluster, now
being used as replacement to swell numbers, to also break from the yoke of
oppression.
As part of his contingency
plan, Mswati has now organised female army personnel, police officers and
warders. His objective is to have them parade for him to spread the lie that
throngs have attended this year’s event, when the fact is that the masses of
our people stayed at home and shunned this practice.
For his and his guests’
entertainment, under the guise of culture Mswati has for years commanded young
girls to come to his palaces to parade for him and his perverted guests
half-naked, with their breasts exposed.
Now more than ever, the
people yearn for a free Swaziland.
Mswati, Africa’s last
remaining absolute monarch, rules the country with an iron fist.
The CPS continues to
organise the masses to create platforms to educate the masses for the
revolution. Every gathering and activity shall be for uniting the masses for
the revolution.
Swazis should take courage
and faith in that the end is nigh for the tinkhundla system. To ensure that the
people win in the end, the people must organise themselves in their communities
and continue building community councils as the basis for democracy.
Thokozane Kenneth
Kunene, General Secretary, Pius Vilakati, International Secretary
Some
chiefs cite fear as imbali figures less
By
Khulile Thwala Times of eSwatini, 31 August 2022
MBABANE: Some chiefs have blamed fear as
the main reason for what they have summed up as low numbers of maidens who were
picked up at chiefdoms to attend the Umhlanga Reed Dance.
In 2019, on the first day of the Reed
Dance, 90 000 maidens were confirmed to have registered. The figures could
not be ascertained yesterday at the time of compiling this report, however,
most of the interviewed chiefs conceded that the maidens was quite less
compared to past years, prior to the COVID-19 era. “Fear is one of the reasons
for the low numbers,” is a summation of what the chiefs said when conceding on
the recorded low numbers in maidens who showed up at chiefdom level to travel
to Ludzidzini and Ngabezweni royal residences for the commencement of the
annual Umhlanga Reed Dance Ceremony.
When reached for comment, the chiefs
stated that the numbers of maidens who showed willingness to attend Umhlanga
this year were less than in years passed. This, they attributed to threats the
maidens disclosed they had been made aware of, either on social media or from
other members of society. “The number of maidens who showed up to be
ferried to Ludzidzini are not as high as in previous years but the reasons
vary, with most registering fear as their major factor. The number recorded was
almost 25 maidens, which was unlike in the past, or before COVID-19, where we
would get a higher number,” stated Luzweleni Chief, Sotunwane Sacolo. He said
when they called upon the maidens over the weekend, in order to advise them as
per procedure, some came through and an attempt was made to ease the
apprehension caused by threats they had expressed worry about.
To read more of this report, click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/136754-some-chiefs-cite-fear-as-imbali-figures-less.html
eSwatini
unrest: King Mswati’s security officers disappear with guns, demand democracy
By Zweli
Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 29 August, 2022
MBABANE: Sergeant Bhekani Magagula allegedly grabbed and disappeared
with weapons, he is demanding democracy from King Mswati.
A civil war is looming in this tiny Kingdom of eSwatini after King
Mswati refused to participate in a political dialogue as per recommendations by
SADC Troika,more security officers are defecting to join the pro-democracy
movement and fight Mswati’s regime.
The senior Correctional Services officer sent a video to this journalist
on Monday afternoon, confirming that he had resigned adding that the weapons were
handed over to the Commander of Swaziland International Solidarity Forces (SISF).
Speaking to this Swaziland News, Sergeant Bhekani Magagula said
he resigned with officer Phakamani Magagula.
“It’s true that we have left the Correctional Services with weapons to
be used in the fight for democracy. As I am talking to you, we are in a safe
place,” said the security officer.
About four (4) weeks ago, Sergeant Bhekani Magagula told this journalist
that he was planning to leave the Correctional Services to join those fighting
for democracy.
Magagula has been supporting the pro-democracy movement while inside the
Correctional Services.
Due to his alleged involvement in fighting for democracy behind the
scenes,Sergeant Magagula was transferred from the Matsapha Maximum Prison with
other pro-democracy senior officers who were suspected to have smuggled
cellphone for incarcerated pro-democracy Member of Parliament(MP) Bacede
Mabuza.
But Sergeant Magagula when speaking to this publication earlier, denied
and refuted media reports suggesting that he was among those who allegedly
smuggled cellphones for the incarcerated MP. He said some of his superiors
who are supporting the Monarchy knew that he was pro-democratic and decided to
link him to the smuggling of cell-phones scandal.
Superintendent Gugulethu Dlamini, the Correctional Services Spokesperson
said she would have to seek permission from Government before commenting on
such matters.
“I will have to first seek permission from Government before
commenting,” said the Spokesperson of the Correctional Services when speaking
to this Swaziland News earlier.
Reached for comments, the Commander of the Swaziland International
Solidarity Forces (SISF) confirmed receiving the weapons adding that such
equipment would help them during their operations in the fight against Mswati’s
regime:
“This will really assist us in our operations. But we will issue a
detailed comment once the weapons are kept in a more secure place,” said the
Commander of the Solidarity Forces.
Eswatini is in the midst of a political crisis after King Mswati refused
to engage in a political dialogue despite being pressured by the Southern
African Development Community (SADC).
King Mswati subsequently unleashed soldiers and the police to shoot and
kill dozens of civilians merely for demanding democratic reforms.
Before shooting and killing the civilians, the King, through the then
Acting Prime Minister Senator Themba Masuku issued a decree stopping the
delivery of petitions in demand for democracy.
As a result of the deteriorating security situation in this tiny
Kingdom, allegedly perpetrated by the King who commanded the shooting and killing
of civilians during the Police Day, more security officers contacted this
publication saying they wanted to resign with weapons and hand them over to the
Solidarity Forces.
The SISF is an Underground Unit of the pro-democracy movement, members
of the Solidarity Forces normally target security officers who shoot and kill
innocent civilians
Earlier this week, one senior member of the Royal Close Protection
Unit(RCPU) told this publication that he was willing to share information about
King Mswati’s movements.
The officer said as security officers they were the most oppressed
adding that they normally witness how the King and his children abuse taxpayers
money.
On another note, in the exclusive video sent to this Swaziland News,
resigned Correctional Services officer Sergeant Bhekani Magagula stated that
the weapons would be handed over to the rightful people until democracy was
achieved.
REVEALED:
Mzwakhe Myeni suspended after insulting and threatening SWALIMO leader
By
Eugene Dube, Swati Newsweek, 29 August, 2022
MANZINI: Electronic evidence in our possession reveals
that Mzwakhe Myeni has been suspended by the Swaziland Liberation Movement
(SWALIMO) after showing signs of ill discipline.
In a one minute 44 seconds audio Myeni allegedly
insulted and threatened the organisation president Mduduzi “Gawuzela” Simelane.
Myeni faces six counts of alleged misconduct. In one
of the leaked audios Myeni is overheard insulting the Swalimo president by
saying, “Let me tell you Magawugawu. All the 59 branches in Swaziland are under
my control.
“Don't even call the leaders. You have been doing that
stupid thing. You called the chairpersons and threatened to dispute a letter we
collectively wrote.
“You stopped being my president a long time ago when
you spoke about me when you discussed issues with my brother Timothy. I would
have crushed you a long time ago, you threatened them because you wanted to
target me,” said Myeni.
In another 35 minutes audio Myeni allegedly insulted
one of the regional leaders of Swalimo who wrote a letter in a bid to correct
the controversial Brian Sihlongonyane who was also Swalimo Manzini Branch
leader.
“There are fools. The person who wrote this is a fool.
This person is a stupid person,” said Myeni in the audio.
Myeni's leaked two audios are available in this Swati
Newsweek Facebook page. The audios are under a headline “Mzwakhe
insults, threatens Gawuzela”.
Government
embarks on brutal wave of retaliatory tactics against pro-democracy activists
amid political impasse
Monitor, Civicus, 30 August 2022
During the discussion of the
outcome of the Universal
Periodic Review of Eswatini on 23rd March 2022, the International Commission of Jurists
(ICJ) brought attention to the fact that Eswatini did not accept the
recommendations by Ireland to develop legislation that would protect the rights
to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, including by
allowing political parties to register and contest elections.
In separate developments,
the Southern
African Development Community’s (SADC) security organ Troika was scheduled to convene and meet 4th April 2022 with President Cyril Ramaphosa as
chair to address the growing crisis in Eswatini and discuss a proposed national
dialogue on the ongoing political crisis in the country. This meeting had been
scheduled after King Mswati III’s agreement with President Cyril Ramaphosa in November 2021 to accept the
involvement of the regional SADC in setting the terms of the political
dialogue. A day before the meeting, however, on 3rd April 2022, King Mswati
III removed his country from the meeting’s agenda, and indicated that Eswatini would
prefer to deal with its domestic issues outside of the regional spotlight.
Discrimination
against LGBTIQ+ community raises concern with CSOs
Further to the ICJ’s
observations (above in the introduction section), during Eswatini’s Universal
Periodic Review, the organisation further noted that it is unfortunate that Eswatini refused to accept the
recommendations to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and
gender identity and to decriminalise same-sex sexual conduct between consenting
adults. It noted that LGBTQI+ persons in Eswatini are subjected to widespread
discrimination without state protection.
According to the Swaziland National Association of
Teachers (SNAT), more teachers in Eswatini are resigning or
seeking for transfers due to the stigma attached with their sexual orientation.
In an article published in late June 2022, SNAT Deputy Secretary General
Simanga Khumalo confirmed that at least nine teachers from the LGBTQI+
community in the country have resigned as a result, and some of them had their
employment transfers blocked because of their sexuality.
In a separate incident
affecting the LGBTIQ+ community, on 29th April 2022, a decision by the Eswatini High Court held that LGBTIQ+ people have a
constitutional right to equality but this right is subject to the laws of
Eswatini. The decision was in relation to a case filed against the registrar of
companies after it declined to register the Eswatini
Sexual and Gender Minorities as
a legal entity,on the basis that ‘its objectives are unlawful as same-sex
intimacy is proscribed in the Kingdom’. The court ruled that the refusal to register the legal entity was lawful and
constitutional asserting that:
“So that it is safe to say
that LGBTs have the rights conferred by section 14 of the Constitution. They
have a right to life, liberty, privacy, or dignity. They have a right not to be
discriminated against or be subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment. They
have a right to associate. They have a right to form a company. They have a
right to freedom of expression. These rights are inherent in them not by reason
of their sexual preferences as LGBTs but as human beings… these rights are
however subject to the laws as prevailing in the Kingdom, and which have not
been challenged anywhere”.
It must be noted that the judgment
only refers to the refusal to recognise, not the law itself.
In a statement, the Eswatini Human Rights Commission noted that the decision of the High Court is in
“stark contrast with recent regional developments where courts in Botswana,
Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya have recognised the rights of LGBTQI+ organisations
to organise and express themselves”. The Commission further went on to say
that: “We are encouraged by the court’s recognition that there are restrictive
laws such as the Sodomy Act which need to be challenged to enable the full
realisation of the rights of LGBTI persons in the country”.
In other worrying
developments, over the past few months, authorities have embarked on brutal,
state-supported retaliatory attacks and arrests targeting activists who have
mobilised and participated in the now year-long wave of protests and campaigns
by citizens calling for democratic reforms in the country. The sections below
detail these incidents.
Youth Congress
Leaders Arrested
On 22nd June 2022, seven
leaders of the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) were arrested in the Lubombo
region, and charged with contravening the Public Order Act and disturbing
traffic. Three of the seven leaders, Tshepo Gamedze, de Sive Sifundza, and
Ayanda Matimba, were released, and those who remain behind bars are Tanele
Mashwama, Siyabonga Msibi, Thandolwethu Nyoni and Mancoba Nyoni.
According to a statement released by SWAYOCO, the three were tortured and assaulted, before being
released with no charge. Another member of SWAYOCO, Mbuso Mkhontfo, went into
hiding after law enforcement officers broke into his home.
In the past several
months, youth activists who are at the forefront of mobilising and
demanding democracy reforms in Eswatini have been increasingly targeted by
state security agents through different tactics, including abductions, torture,
arrests and intimidation.
Pro-democracy
activists targeted with arson
In April 2022, members of the
People’s United Democratic Movement Members (PUDEMO), Wandile Dludlu and
Ngomyayona Gamedze, who have also been at the forefront in calling for
democratic reforms in the country, were targeted with arson attacks. Both
of their cars
were petrol bombed in the
incidents, which occurred late at night and on separate occasions. Swaziland News reported that the police expressed no intention
to investigate the matter, according to state crime intelligence documents
allegedly in their possession.
Since June 2021, when mass
protests by citizens actively calling for democratic reforms began, and
as previously documented, there has been a wave of arson attacks on public and private property, especially on
properties owned by King Mswati. Although it is still not clear who the
suspects are, pro-democracy activists in the country argue that the increase in these
arson attacks, which now also target progressive citizens, is a clear sign that
no one is exempt from the worsening conditions in the country.
Students activists
abducted and tortured
In the past several months,
there has been a pattern of abductions and torture of student activists in Eswatini. In February 2022, Sakhile Nxumalo,
the recently elected president of the Swaziland Youth Congress, was
abducted by the police and tortured by electrocution at the Riverstone Police
Post, where he sustained injuries. According to various reports, Sakhile was allegedly abducted by more than ten
police officers who were under instructions from King Mswati and his regime to
undertake retaliatory attacks against student leaders.
Colani Maseko, the president
of the Swaziland National Union of Students, was also abducted on different
occasions. In late January 2022, Colani was abducted and assaulted by the police,
then subsequently arrested and charged with sedition for allegedly burning King
Mswati’s pictures. In late
May 2022, he was
again abducted
and tortured by Eswatini
Umbutfo Defence Force. In this latest case, Colani went missing for several
hours, where he was later found lying on the ground, with a wound to his head.
In a video that was circulating on social media, uniformed members of the Umbutfo
Eswatini Defence Force are seen torturing Colani, rolling and kicking him on a
gravel road while his hands are cuffed. A few days prior to the abduction,
Colani had led a student protest to mark the first anniversary of the killing
of Thabani Nkomonye.
Pro-democracy
activists’ homes raided
On 24th June 2022, members
of the Royal Swaziland Police raided the home of Wandile Dludlu, secretary
general of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), in search of
firearms but no weapons were found.
According to Swaziland News, the police then proceeded, with a search warrant, to
invade the home of Swaziland Massacre Victims Association (SWAVISA)
chairperson, Madzabudzabu Kunene.
Pro-democracy
activists denied bail after almost a year in prison
On 12th May
2022, pro-democracy activists Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube were denied bail by the Supreme Court, after almost a year behind
bars. As previously documented,
the two who are also Members of Parliament were arrested in July 2021 during
one of the pro-democracy protests that have swept the country since June 2021.
They are charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act as well as other trumped-up charges, including
murder.
South Africa’s EFF
holds protest at border in solidarity with Eswatini activists
On 19th April 2022, the Economic
Freedom Fighters (EFF),
South Africa’s third-largest political party, organised peaceful
protests along the country’s border in the KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga
provinces (Golela and Old Oshoek border posts) with neighbouring
Eswatini. According to the EFF, the protests were in solidarity with the people of eSwatini
in their calls for democratisation in the country. The protests were also
joined by the People’s United Democratic Movement, which is the largest opposition party in Eswatini.
The EFF announced that they
will continue to demand political reforms in Eswatini. “This was only the
beginning, we will be going forward with other actions that have a major impact
on the pockets of the king”, said Sinawo Tambo, EFF spokesperson. “We also
continue to draw support from the international community on behalf of our
people and encourage sanctions to end this dictatorship”.
Police attack
peaceful protestors at Thabani Nkomonye anniversary march
On 13th May 2022, about 2000
young people of Eswatini peacefully marched through the commercial hub of Manzini to mark
the first anniversary, and demand accountability for, the brutal murder of
Thabani Nkomonye, a student activist who was killed a year ago, allegedly at
the hands of police officers. The march was met with force by the police who
fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse them.
The protest was organised by
the Swaziland National Union of Students, and was also endorsed by other
political parties and entities, including the Swaziland Youth Congress and the
People’s United Democratic Movement. According to the inquest report, the
police deny that Thabani was brutally murdered by a police officer and
concluded that he died in a car
accident.
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