Swaziland
Newsletter No. 764 – 10 February 2023
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.
‘Dialogue
will happen when violence ends’: eSwatini’s authorities
By
James Butty, Voice of America, 7 February 2023
Government representatives in Eswatini
Tuesday said they echo sentiments passed last week by leaders of the Southern
African Development Community Troika Organ on Politics, Defense and Security,
who called on the southern African kingdom to hold nationwide talks with
pro-democracy groups as a way of addressing violence that has wreaked havoc for
almost a year.
Alpheous Nxumalo, Eswatini’s national
spokesperson said it is pivotal that nationwide talks be held but added that
this cannot happen amid the ongoing violence.
“There is a need to hold a national
dialogue, but this has been withheld by violence which started in 2021 and
there is absolutely no possibility of holding a national dialogue under a
violent situation or circumstance where members of the public are shot for
wearing traditional attire and members of the security forces are shot at
random,” said Nxumalo.
Nxumalo also addressed allegations by
opposition members and activists who have accused Prime Minister Cleopas
Dlamini’s administration of instigating turmoil and taking the lives of human
rights activists such as Thulani Maseko.
“The government has never initiated
violence in any shape or form and neither did the government assassinate
Thulani Maseko,” said the national spokesperson.
“Government is ready and was ready a long
time ago to hold a national dialogue, but the intimidation that was unleashed
by these terrorists who are sponsored by foreign forces has created an
atmosphere that was and still remains not conducive to hold a national
dialogue,” he added.
Busi Mayisela, the leader of the Swazis
First Democratic Front party said the spate of killings in Eswatini is of
regional concern.
“The peace in the country is deteriorating
and SADC will now be forced to either do something or force the government to
have the dialogue with pro-democracy organizations,” said Mayisela.
“Even government is aware that if they
fail to have the dialogue, this will end up turning into a war and I do not
think anyone is wishing for a war because Swaziland is a small country which is
already suffering,” she added.
Calls for justice for slain eSwatini human rights
defender
IndustriALL,
3 February 2023
On 3 February, South African
unions from the Congress of South African Trade Unions and civil society
organizations campaigning for democratic reforms picketed at the Eswatini
Embassy in Johannesburg to call for justice and for an independent
investigation following the assassination of Thulani Maseko, a human rights and
social justice lawyer.
The speakers reiterated calls
made earlier by various continental and global organizations including the UN
Human Rights, the Commission on Human and People’s Rights - African Union,
ITUC-Africa, and other pan African and global organizations.
Maseko, who was the
chairperson of the multistakeholder forum for the democratization of Eswatini –
a coalition working on democratic reforms through dialogue – and a member of
the Lawyers for Human Rights Swaziland, was assassinated by unknown gunmen at
his home in Manzini on 21 January in front of his wife and two young sons.
“Comrade Thulani was a person
that we would go to for legal advice on labour rights on a regular basis
especially as employers are notorious for dragging unions to court. We had a
good working relationship with him that was characterised by mutual respect for
our roles as leaders,” says
Wander Mkhonza, Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) secretary
general.
Maseko also successfully
represented the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), to which ATUSWA
and Swaziland Electricity Supply Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (SESMAWU)
belong, when it was deregistered and managed to get the federation
reregistered.
The demands made in the unions petition to the Eswatini Embassy resonate with
the IndustriALL Global Union resolution on the demands for democratic reforms
in Eswatini which stresses that human and workers’ rights must be protected in
Africa’s last absolute monarchy.
“We commit ourselves to support
the people of Eswatini as they continue to fight for democratic reforms, and
demand respect and protection of human rights including the right to life,
rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, and the rule of
law,”
reads part of the resolution adopted at the
IndustriALL Congress in 2021. In that respect IndustriALL calls for an
investigation into the assassination as it is the responsibility of the
government of Eswatini to guarantee the safety and security of its citizens.
Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary says: “The killing of comrade Thulani Maseko is a dastardly
act that comes at a time when it is urgent for the government of Eswatini and
all stakeholders to commit to dialogue. IndustriALL reiterates our call for
dialogue and demand an official investigation into the murder and prosecution
of the perpetrators,”
ATUSWA and SESMAWU are
affiliated to IndustriALL.
Pro-democracy eSwatini transport union leader trapped
in exile
Carolyn Butler,
Solidarity Center, 2 February 2023
Fearing for his life and
liberty, pro-democracy activist and Swaziland Transport, Communication and
Allied Workers Union (SWATCAWU) General Secretary Sticks Nkambule remains trapped in exile while his union campaigns to bring him home safely.
The murder last month of human
and worker rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist Thulani Maseko—whom
Nkambule describes as “friend, colleague, personal attorney and man of
peace”—demonstrates that Eswatini is unsafe for rights defenders, says
Nkambule.
“We are being visited by
killing squads,” he says.
While he was out of the
country, on December 28, 2022, Nkambule’s home was raided and his family harassed by heavily armed members
of the police and military. In January—after police published Nkambule’s name as a wanted person for alleged
criminal conduct associated with a SWATCAWU December 13 –14 job “stay away”
announcement—Nkambule began receiving reports of dozens of armed state and
military members searching for him and other SWATCAWU leaders in multiple
locations.
Under such circumstances,
Nkambule says his return is impossible and, even in his new location, he cannot
live freely for fear of mercenaries.
“The regime is clear to say
that certain figures and faces need to go,” says Nkambule, referring to a “list
of terrorists” publicly cited by the leader of a South African company that
has a contract to train Eswatini security personnel, per news reports.
Eswatini state harassment
of unions and other rights
defenders is a decades-long pattern which, reports Nkambule, last year included stepped-up
police and military harassment of SWATCAWU leadership, and surveillance
by unknown persons in unmarked cars. Growing state repression and
fear have led many rights defenders to flee, he says—including Swaziland
National Association of Teachers (SNAT)
President Mbongwa Dlamini, who left the country after state security
forces fired live ammunition at his home last year.
Harassment of union leaders
ramped up after SWATCAWU began announcing job actions, reports the International Trade Union Confederation
(ITUC). The union began a series of “stay aways” last year, says Nkambule, to
sidestep the state’s brutal repression of peaceful protests, which in 2021 included
police and military members beating rally goers and firing live ammunition into
crowds during popular uprisings against the king’s government.
“[The October stay away]
worked,” says Nkambule. “When protestors stay in their homes, they don’t get
shot.”
However, the threat of a
series of transport worker “stay aways”—which brings the economy to a
standstill because workers cannot travel to their jobs—presents an unwelcome,
and escalating, challenge to the state and employers.
“And that is why I have been singled
out,” says Nkambule.
SWATCAWU has been embroiled for almost three years in a lawful and peaceful effort to encourage the
state to improve transport workers’ wages and conditions—including a $233
monthly minimum wage, better access to social security and health care, repair
of dilapidated roads and an end to police harassment—and to release from
prison pro-democracy
Eswatini Parliament Members Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube.
Meanwhile, Africa’s last
absolute monarch, King Mswati III, controls all three branches of government, chooses
the prime minister, can dissolve Parliament and appoints judges. Under his
control, Eswatini has conducted a two-decades-long anti-union and
anti-democracy campaign with impunity, reports the ITUC.
Human Rights Watch last month called on the South African government to investigate
allegations that South African mercenaries and private military personnel who
are allegedly operating in Eswatini are targeting pro-democracy activists. UN
and African Union experts condemned Maseko’s murder and demanded an impartial
investigation into his death, reiterating UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Volker Türk’s call for the authorities to ensure the safety of all human rights
defenders, civil society actors and lawyers in Eswatini.
In the context of shrinking
civic space and a global crackdown on human and worker rights, the Solidarity
Center continues to support and partner with pro-democracy union activists across the
globe, and has long supported beleaguered unions in Eswatini.
Unions call for eSwatini embassy and consulate to
leave South Africa
By
Rorisang Kgosana,
Sowetan Live (South Africa), 3
February 2023
Organisations representing
Eswatini nationals picketed outside the offices of Consulate of Eswatini in
Johannesburg on Friday, demanding the Eswatini government leave SA unless there
is democracy in the neighbouring country.
The National Education, Health
and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), SA Communist Party (SACP) and organisations
representing Eswatini nationals picketed outside the offices of the consulate
in Johannesburg on Friday.
They are demanding the
Eswatini government leave South Africa until democracy comes to their country.
The demonstration was sparked
by the killing of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko who was gunned down at his
home last month. Maseko was known to be vocal about ending the Eswatini
monarchy.
Nehawu’s international
relations officer and SACP deputy regional chair Dineo Majavu said they were in
solidarity with Eswatini citizens against the monarchy's aggression.
“We are calling for the
immediate removal of the Eswatini embassy and consulate from SA if they refuse
to support democracy and protect human rights. There must also be an
independent investigation into the death of Thulani Maseko and other political
activists who have been killed by the regime,” Majavu said.
This year marks 50 years since
the 1973 royal decree which dissolved the country’s constitution and banned
political parties as well as trade unions, giving the monarchy complete rule.
Majavu said the country was
regressive and used “the barrel of a gun” to impoverish the people through
their policies.
“They have imprisoned and
assaulted innocent people while destroying the livelihood of young people, in
particular, who are imprisoned without trial. We demand the release of
political prisoners,” she said.
Convener of the United
Eswatini Diaspora Bonginkosi Dhlamini said they wanted to ensure the safety of
Eswatini nationals who are living in exile.
“They must release or
unconditionally return those who are in political exile. The purpose of the
picket is to amplify the cause for democracy in Eswatini through solidarity
with [the unions],” Dhlamini said.
The demonstrators handed a
memorandum of demands which was received by the Eswatini Consul ST Dlamini.
Majavu said they would be
taking their grievance to the Union Buildings and the department of
international relations and co-operation.
Thulani
Maseko’s murder exposes the political wrangling hobbling Eswatini’s march
to democracy
By Musa Ndlangamandla, Daily Maverick (South Africa),
3 February 2023
The cold-blooded murder of
world-renowned human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko of Eswatini (formerly
Swaziland) has raised the stakes on the country’s tortuous path to democracy in
Africa’s last absolute monarchy.
In death, Maseko has aroused
the nation’s conscience in agitating for a culture of respect for human rights,
while shining a spotlight on the Southern African Development Community’s
(SADC) ability to put out the flames of political conflict and mudslinging
between the state and the opposition.
The assassination of the human
rights defender also exposed how the state and the Mass Democratic Movement
(MDM) use the issue of the right to free expression as a shield to justify
their diametrically opposed positions on the way forward to bring democracy to
the country.
Maseko, who chaired the
Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), was assassinated in front of his family at his home on 21 January 2023.
The MSF is a coalition of pro-democracy
proponents across Eswatini’s political landscape.
Two “make-or-break” events are
slated for Eswatini in 2023.
First, this is an election
year. The kingdom is ruled by King Mswati III. Political parties are not
allowed to participate or compete in elections. The state recognises
only individual candidates for parliament.
Second, the country is set to
hold a contentious national dialogue for political reforms, which has been on
the cards since the unprecedented June 2021 civil unrest, during which about
100 people were killed, many more were injured and businesses were looted,
burnt and destroyed.
The government and the
opposition are at loggerheads over how these two events should be conducted and
under what conditions. They both invoke the right to free expression and the
right to freedom of association to support their positions.
When the SADC called a special meeting of its Organ Troika in Namibia this week to discuss, among
other issues, the deteriorating political and security situation in Eswatini,
Mswati sent his prime minister, Cleopas Dlamini, with a message that due to the
prevailing violence in the country, it was impossible to hold a national
dialogue.
“On the ground, there remains
a volatile and intimidating atmosphere. People do not feel free to even express
themselves by association, such as by attending cultural events. Given the
prevailing climate, it is doubtful that the outcome of a dialogue would be an
accurate reflection of the aspirations of the majority,” he said.
“All participants need to feel
free to exercise their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of association,
regardless of their ideology, in accordance with the provisions of our
constitution.”
Mswati’s position contrasts
with what the opposition parties are saying.
The leaders of the MDM argue
that it is these hostile conditions that make it imperative to urgently hold
the national dialogue, in order to uphold and protect the fundamental right to
freedom of expression and the freedom of association.
A paradox lies in the question
of holding elections later this year. While the state insists that the polls
shall go ahead as planned, with Mswati urging people to prepare to vote, a
section of the MDM says there can never be a free and fair election before a
national dialogue is held to iron out issues of freedom of expression and
freedom of association.
To read more of this
report, click here
Thulani’s death: cops reveal sequence of events
By Mhlonishwa Motsa, eSwatini News, 4 February 2023
MBABANE: The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) have
come out to clarify the sequence of events that happened immediately after
Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko was assassinated.
Maseko was murdered in a coldblooded assassination in
front of his wife and two sons, at his parental home, KaLuhleko at Bhunya on
Saturday January 21, 2023. He was shot two times in the head and once across
the chest, with all three bullets piercing through his left side and landing
next to the television set he was watching with his family, in the
lounge. The REPS quashed the theory attributing Maseko’s assassination to
State security agents. They further explained the reason behind their early
arrival to the scene and unpacked how they handled the scene of crime.
Maseko’s murder attracted international upheaval and
different theories were presented by social media commentators and members of
the mass democratic movement in the country. The police have not yet
apprehended anyone for the gruesome murder and the international community has
called for independent investigations.
REPS’s Chief Police Information and Communications
Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati narrated the chronology order of
events and said the police arrived within a 30-minute bracket after receiving
the information. Vilakati was speaking during a live transmission of
People and Places, a programme hosted by television presenter Qhawe Mamba on
Yemaswati Channel, on Thursday evening. She said they received a call from the
late Maseko’s wife, Tanele, from a cell-phone of one of the officers at
Bhunya Police Station.
The officer is attached under the Crime
Investigation’s Department (CID) and Vilakati stated that Tanele took the
number of the police officer during a previous investigation of a break-in, by
thugs in one of Maseko’s shops in the area. She said since the officer was
on duty during the day, he was able to relay the message to his superiors and
the station commander immediately assigned two cars to the scene. One of the
cars was under the CID department, while the other was under the general
response.
“We were fortunate that the cars had not gone out for
other assignments and this was one of the reasons we were able to respond
swiftly to the scene of crime. The fact that the call went straight to someone
at Bhunya Police Station made it easy for us to respond to it at a reasonable
time. It would have probably taken longer if we received the call through the
hotline because they would then have to first check with the nearest police
station,” she stated.
Vilakati was responding to a direct question on why
were police officers were quick to respond as if they were there the
whole time. She said it was unfortunate that some people seemed to opine that
the officers that responded to the scene of crime were actually a part of the
crime. She said police officers were servants of the people and they were aware
that they should not harm anyone.
She added that in a case where the officers were on
duty trying to apprehend a person and that person dies, they take accountability
for that. She emphasised that there was no attempt to arrest Maseko or any
presence of the police prior to his killing on the day. Vilakati added
that the police officers arrived early at the scene because they knew where
Maseko’s home was located from prior engagements with the family.
“According to us, we arrived at a reasonable time and
you can note that we already knew where the homestead is located and it is not
very far from the police station. Actually the distance is about five kilometres
and you can make your own calculation that it would probably take a short
amount of time to get there. However, since we had to take our working tools
and change even our clothing since the brief said there was a shooting, we took
less than 30 minutes to get there after receiving the call,” she added.
Vilakati further dispelled the connotation that a man
in a bike gave an eyewitness account that the police were a part of the
assassination plan since they were at the vicinity of the homestead when the
murder happened. She said the man in a bike met the police officers along
the way and he asked the second car which was driven by the CID officer whether
they were going to Maseko’s home.
Vilakati said the officers confirmed and told the man
that Maseko’s wife called them and he followed them back home. She challenged
anyone who claimed to have evidence of an eyewitness account to report it. She
indicated that they were not aware of anyone who was an eyewitness to the case
and according to the police; the man in bike gave them an account of what he
saw.
To read more of this report click here
http://www.times.co.sz/news/138745-thulani%E2%80%99s-death-cops-reveal-sequence-of-events.html
European Union donates ambulance for life-saving emergencies in eSwatini
Press
and information team of the Delegation to eSwatini, 6 February 2023
On 03 February 2023, the European Union
(EU), through its humanitarian assistance arm, ECHO (European Civil Protection
and Humanitarian Aid Operations) and the Finnish Red Cross, provided an
ambulance to Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society to assist in life-saving
emergencies in Eswatini.
The ambulance, worth SZL 1 million (approx.
60 000 Euro) will increase and strengthen the capacity of the First Aid Unit
within the Baphalali Red Cross Society and will also benefit both public and
private healthcare in the Kingdom.
Presenting the ambulance, EU Ambassador to
Eswatini, Dessislava Choumelova, said: “The European Union with our
27 Member States is the biggest provider of humanitarian assistance in the
world. In the last two years, we have supported most vulnerable households in
Eswatini to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 and most recently – of the
hailstorms. Our strong partnership with the Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross
Society and the Finnish Red Cross is a guarantee that our assistance reaches
those who need it most. Today, we are proud and pleased to be able to provide
further assistance to Eswatini in the form of this much-needed ambulance which
is meant to strengthen first aid services in the country.”
Receiving the equipment, Baphalali
Eswatini Red Cross Society President, Dr Bongani Masuku, thanked the EU for
this generous support provided through ECHO.
“This vehicle has come at the right when there is need to increase the
capacity of the national society to respond to health and first aid
emergencies. With the rise of emergencies in the country, as an organisation,
there was a great need to have our first aid support increased and thus we are
grateful to the European Union for this support,” said
Dr Masuku.
Apart from this support, the EU, through
ECHO and the Finnish Red Cross currently collaborate with Baphalali Eswatini
Red Cross to provide life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable Emaswati in
all four regions of the country. Through this three-year programme, which
started in September 2022, the EU will provide up to SZL 90 million focusing on
disaster risk management and crisis preparedness, addressing the food security,
health and protection needs of the most vulnerable populations and providing livelihood
opportunities in the most fragile communities.
In December 2022, the EU further provided
EUR 80 000 (approx. 1.4 million SZL) in humanitarian funding to benefit over
213 households or 1 058 people in the communities of Nsingizini and Nsubane
areas in the Shiselweni region who were affected by recent hailstorms.
Government
spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo: Editor Zweli Martin Dlamini Lijabhane.
By
Wendy Magagula, Swaziland News, 7 February, 2023
MBABANE: Government Spokesperson Alpheous
Nxumalo has described editor Zweli Martin Dlamini as Lijabhane who threatens to
kill State police officers.
In a press statement released on Tuesday,
the Government Spokesperson accused Dlamini of sending an audio message to
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Masuku threatening to kill police officers
who invaded his home and "tortured” his kids.
“He has also planned and carried out the
burning of public and private property, including business infrastructure,
activities that have threatened the country’s economy and led to massive job
losses.” Some families are without fathers and mothers today because of these
evil activities. The man is bragging and making fun of the international legal
and law enforcement frameworks. This shows absolute ignorance of how the
international legal framework works. He continues to threaten security and
brags about this. He justifies his killing by saying the police came to his
home to conduct a search. We all know that the police are always armed when
they conduct operations. In this case, they never threatened or shot any child,
nor did they kill anyone in his homestead. EmaSwati should ask themselves what
kind of human being this is. "Lijabhane lomuntfu,” said the Government
Spokesperson.
Reached for comments, editor Zweli Martin
Dlamini said he stands by what is in the audio that he sends to the Deputy
Prime Minister.
"I stand by what is in the audio, and
I maintain that I have no diplomacy on issues touching on my family; any police
officer who tortures my family will face the consequences. As a man, I have an
obligation to protect my family from State criminals. This country is in the
midst of a civil war. The State killed human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko in
front of his children and wife; we will no longer be diplomatic while the State
kills us," said the editor.
Dlamini said he will not comment on the
allegations contained on the Government press statement but urged the State to
consider releasing incarcerated Members of Parliament(MPs) Bacede Mabuza and
Mthandeni Dube if there’s evidence suggesting that burning of structures were
orchestrated by him.
The editor said by sending the audio to
the Deputy Prime Minister(DPM), among others,he wanted the State to release a
press statement and officially document the matter regarding the torturing of
his children so that one day, it can be discussed within the local and
international justice system.
Govt
concealing police brutality report - TUCOSWA
Sibusiso
Zwane, Times of eSwatini, 7 February 2023
MANZINI: The Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) is
accusing government of concealing a commission of enquiry report on alleged
police brutality on protesters during demonstrations.
The commission of enquiry was
conducted by government in 2019 and this was after the workers’ federation had
reported the matter to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which then
asked the administration to probe the alleged police brutality on protesters
during demonstrations. The workers’ federation is making these allegations
at a time when the country (government and TUCOSWA) are preparing to welcome a
team from ILO, which will visit the kingdom for purposes of an internal
mediation process on various issues between the two parties. TUCOSWA
Secretary General Mduduzi Gina said they learnt that the Chairman of the
investigative committee, Manzini Principal Magistrate David Khumalo, who is now
an Acting Judge, compiled the report and submitted it to his principals,
government. However, he said when they knocked at ILO’s door with the aim of
getting the report; they were referred back to government.
“We have written to government,
in particular the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and asked for the
report, but our efforts have been in vain,” the unionist said. In one of the
letters, which were written by the workers’ federation to the office of the
principal secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, it said
in around October 2019, it was invited to appear before an investigative
committee, which was headed by Khumalo. It said the committee, was set up,
pursuant to observations and a recommendation by ILO to attend to various
issues of alleged non-compliance by government with set international labour
standards as reported by the federation and the International Trade Union
Confederation (ITUC). “We had always hoped that since the commission of
enquiry was held in public, its findings and/or report will be published or
shared with those organisations and individuals who participated,” read part of
the letter.
Thereafter, the federation
requested the PS to give them an update on the report; however, Gina said they
did not receive any correspondence from government. He said they wanted to
read the report so that they could use it to update issues which they reported
to ILO. He said ILO would be in the country to mediate on issues which they
reported in 2019 and 2021. He said the issues included the banning of
gatherings, union bashing – including victimisation and intimidation of trade
union leaders and refusal of companies to grant trade unions a recognition
agreement, among others.
Regarding union bashing, he
highlighted the issue of the President of the Swaziland National Association of
Teachers (SNAT), Mbongwa Dlamini. He said they reported about his possible
charges and when they meet the ILO team, they would update their case and
include the matter of his salary which was withheld by the employer. He
said the first set of the mediation process would be between February 24 and
26, 2023. He stated that the process would be chaired by the President of the
Industrial Court, Judge Sifiso Sibandze, who is also the President of the
Industrial Court of Appeal and would be assisted by a team from the
Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC).
Meanwhile, efforts to get
comment from the PS in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Makhosini Mndawe,
proved futile. A questionnaire was sent to the Acting Communications Officer in
the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Nosimilo Vilakati, but she had not
responded by the time of compiling this report yesterday. It is worth
noting that some of the incidents which were mentioned during the commission of
enquiry on the alleged police brutality included a demonstration which was
hosted by TUCOSWA in Manzini in 2018, where several protesters were shot, SNAT
meeting where a teacher was shot and a strike action by the Amalgamated Trade
Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) at the textile sector in Nhlangano, where the
workers clashed with the police.
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