UK UNIONS BACK SWAZI RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

Over the past 18 months, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) has received support from UNISON to build international support for human rights and democracy in Swaziland, the UK Trades Union Congress (TUC) reported.

ACTSA organised and hosted a visit to the UK by Vincent Ncongwane, the then Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), in March 2015. 

The TUC reported, ‘Vincent met with the then Minister for Africa and senior officials at the Commonwealth Secretariat, as well as with a wide range of civil society organisations, including trade unions. Vincent was able to use these meetings to stress the need for the UK and Commonwealth to step up their engagement with the Government of Swaziland so that it fulfils its international obligations. He also called on bilateral and multilateral agencies to more actively support the work of Swazi civil society.’

ACTSA has produced a range of campaign materials. Most recently, ACTSA has published a new briefing paper Swaziland’s Downward Spiral: The International Community Must Act Now. The paper warns that Swaziland may plunge into a protracted crisis unless the international community, including the UK, applies serious pressure on the Government of Swaziland so that it respects human rights and develops a genuinely democratic constitution. UNISON and other UK trade unionists have also been supportive of the development of a Swazi Rural Women’s Charter, which is discussed in another new ACTSA publication Women’s Rights in Swaziland. 

The paper reported that King Mswati III, the absolute monarch in Swaziland, was one of the main reasons why women in the kingdom remain oppressed. ACTSA reported that despite claims that Swaziland was a modern country, ‘the reality is, despite pledges and commitments, women continue to suffer discrimination, are treated as inferior to men, and are denied rights.’

ACTSA added, ‘The King has demonstrated he is unwilling to change the status quo and promotes multiple aspects of the patriarchal society.’

In a separate report, ACTSA called on the international community to apply serious pressure on the Government of Swaziland so that it respects human rights and develops a genuinely democratic constitution. 

The absolute monarch King Mswati III is due to become the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in August 2016 while his government continues to violate human rights with impunity. In its report published in June 2016), ACTSA warned that Swaziland might plunge into a protracted crisis unless African governments, as well as bilateral and multilateral donors, vigorously and consistently engage with the Government of Swaziland so that it genuinely protects and serves all of its citizens.

See also

KING ‘TO BLAME’ FOR WOMEN’S INEQUALITY

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2016/07/king-to-blame-for-womens-inequality.html

 

CALL FOR GLOBAL PRESSURE ON SWAZI GOVT

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2016/06/call-for-global-pressure-on-govt.html

REPORT TELLS UN OF RIGHTS ABUSES

Lawyers in Swaziland and an international human rights group have jointly called for judicial persecution, harassment and intimidation of members of civil society organisations in the kingdom to end.

In a submission to the United Nations they also call for restrictions on freedom of assembly to be lifted.

The calls come jointly from CIVICUS, a global network of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world, and Lawyers for Human Rights (Swaziland) (LHRS), a non-partisan group of lawyers that advocates for the respect of human rights and promotes good governance, the rule of law and democracy.

The report is to the United Nation’s Human Rights Council’s Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of Swaziland that is to investigate Swaziland’s record on human rights next April and May 2016.

The report listed a number of violations in Swaziland over recent years. The report said it was ‘a matter of deep concern that human rights activists have been arrested and persecuted for the work and others have been threatened by senior government officials including the Prime Minister.’

In a detailed account, the report said, ‘On 26 August 2014, Vincent Ncongwane, Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), was apprehended shortly before he was due to address a prayer meeting on the effects of the withdrawal of financial assistance through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) from Swaziland by the United States Government. 

‘He had also planned to discuss the position of civil society regarding the withdrawal. The Matsapha area has many textile factories that will be affected by the cancellation of assistance through AGOA. Following his apprehension by the police, Vincent was forced to leave the venue of the meeting before delivering his address.

‘On 5 September 2013, Vincent was followed by police officers in civilian clothing and arrested while attempting to enter his office. He was whisked to the police station without any explanation or warrant and detained for several hours. He was later placed under house arrest and the authorities argued he had attempted to instigate an unlawful protest.

‘On 6 August 2014, Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini threatened human rights defenders Sipho Gumedze and Vincent Ncongwane while they participated in the civil society meeting on the promotion of democracy in Africa on the sidelines of the African leader’s summit hosted by US President Barack Obama in August 2014.

‘The activists had also participated in peaceful demonstrations aimed at highlighting threats to freedom of expression in Swaziland. While addressing the Parliament in Swaziland, the Prime Minister called for both activists to be interrogated and “strangled” when they return to Swaziland.

‘Sipho is a member of Lawyers for Human Rights (Swaziland) and Vincent is the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA).

‘On 1 May 2014, Mario Masuku, President of the pro-democracy People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and Maxwell Dlamini of the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), were arrested after addressing a crowd of about 7,000 people during a Labour Day event in the capital, Manzini. 

‘They were charged with singing a seditious song and uttering seditious statements under the Suppression of Terrorism Act. The state argued in court that their utterances were serious and threatened the leadership of Swaziland. They were denied bail on two occasions before they were released on bail on 14 July 2015 by the Supreme Court.’

The report said that the Swazi Constitution guaranteed ‘the rights of citizens to assemble freely,’ but these rights were being ignored.

The report said, ‘However we remain concerned that the authorities regularly suppress peaceful demonstrations, Persons considered leaders of such protests have been arrested and subjected to judicial persecution and some have been charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

‘In March 2015, security forces prevented members of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) from holding their national executive committee meeting at the premises of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT). In dispersing the participants, security forces harassed the Secretary of SNAT, Muzi Mhlanga after he took pictures of the police actions against protesters. 

‘Again on 28 February 2015 security forces forcefully dispersed a meeting of TUCOSWA because the participants discussed multi-party democracy.

‘On 24 April 2014, Mlungisi Makhanya, Secretary General of PUDEMO and six others were arrested at the High Court in Mbabane as they demonstrated against the manner in which the trial of Thulani Maseko and Bheki Makhubu was conducted.

‘They were charged for contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act for wearing and being in possession of tee-shirts on which the word PUDEMO was inscribed.

‘The authorities noted that the tee-shirts reflected terrorist demands. They were also charged with chanting ‘terrorist slogans’ and for conspiring with others to commit seditious acts. In May 2014 they were all released on bail of E15,000 (approximatelyUS$1,106) and asked to pay E5,000 (approximately US$368) upfront and provide surety of E10,000 (approximately US$737).

‘On 5 September 2013, security forces in Swaziland arrested and detained Jay Naidoo, a South African trade union activist, Bishop Paul Verryn from the Methodist Church in Johannesburg, South Africa and Zimbabwean human rights lawyer and activist Alec Muchadehama ahead of a planned global inquiry scheduled for 6 September 2013.

‘Those arrested were part of an international panel of experts who had been requested by TUCOSWA and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) to engage in a dialogue with workers about the effect of violations on labour rights on all Swazis. The panellists were followed from the airport and arrested at a roadblock on their way to Manzini. They were then transported to a police station where they were interrogated about the rationale for the planned meeting. They were later released after questioning and had to return to Johannesburg as the authorities closed the George Hotel in Manzini where the inquiry was scheduled to take place.’

‘On 12 April 2012, the police intercepted pro-democracy protests planned to be held at Coronation Park in Mbabane and arrested 15 organisers. The protests had been planned to coincide with King Sobhuza II’s 1973 Proclamation which outlawed political parties. The venue was filled with police and security offices who prevented protesters from entering. Protesters who were driving from other parts of the country were stopped at road blocks, prevented from entering Mbabane and sent back to their home towns.

‘The organisers of the protests had planned to use the day to call for democratic reforms, the organisation of multiparty election, for freedom of association to be respected and express concerns over the imposition of tax on basic goods.’

See also

‘KING BLOCKS JUDGES’ INDEPENDENCE’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/09/king-blocks-judges-independence.html

CALL TO END SWAZI MEDIA CENSORSHIP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/09/call-to-end-swazi-media-censorship.html

UNIONS CALL TO END SWAZI REPRESSION

An international delegation of union leaders traveling in Swaziland is calling on the government to guarantee the rights of workers to freely form unions and exercise freedom of speech and assembly, and says repressive legislation used by police against union activities still has not been addressed by Parliament, even as the government continues to imprison human rights activists for exercising their right to freedom of speech, writes Tula Connell at Solidarity Center.

Led by Wellington Chibebe, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) deputy general secretary, the fact-finding group is looking into the ongoing government repression directed at Swazi union leaders and human rights proponents, and plans to issue a report to the ITUC and to several members of the European Parliament by the end of May.

Just days before the delegation arrived on May 14 2015, the Swaziland government announced it had registered the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), an action it has refused to take for the past three years.

But delegation members say they are not celebrating the action because the government “did not do more than it was supposed to do,” says Jos Williams, president of the AFL-CIO Metropolitan Washington Labor Council, speaking from Swaziland. “We do not see that as a victory of any kind.” Williams is among a six-member delegation that includes a representative from the Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (COSATU).

In fact, two days after the government announced TUCOSWA’s official registration, police massed outside a meeting of TUCOSWA affiliates in a show of force, according to TUCOSWA Secretary-General Vincent Ncongwane.

“All that has been told (by the government) to the world is just playing to the public gallery,” Ncongwane says, while the reality of repression in a monarchical government that outlaws political parties continues. Twice this year, police have broken up TUCOSWA union meetings, injuring a union leader in the process. On May Day, brave union members held rallies despite a government ban on public gatherings.

The ITUC is demanding the government repeal anti-terrorism laws that enable it to imprison union leaders and others who call for democracy; provide full recognition of union activities in accordance with international laws; and support freedom of speech, assembly and association.

“The government must meet the demands the ITUC delegation has made if the ITUC is to give a favorable report by the end of the month,” Williams says. “From my standpoint, the actions of the government have not been very encouraging. Yes, they have recognized the union, but regarding the other demands we made, there has been no response.”

Delegation members also sought to visit political prisoners, some of whom have been held for two years. So far, says Williams, they “have gotten the run-around” in efforts “to see our comrades in jail and look at the conditions.” (You can sign a LaborStart petition demanding their release. If you Tweet, use the hashtag #SwaziJustice.)

In June 2014, the U.S. government took the rare step of suspending African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade benefits for Swaziland, citing the Swazi government’s systematic violations of fundamental worker rights, including refusal to legally recognize TUCOSWA. In addition, the 2014 U.S. State Department human rights report cited serious human rights violations in Swaziland, including arbitrary or unlawful killings by the government or its agents and severely restricted freedom of assembly, including violence against protestors.

Given the level of harassment and repression, Williams says he “came here seeking to encourage” union leaders, but instead found that “they are standing tall in the face of adversity.

“It is rewarding to me as a trade unionist to have drawn strength from these individuals.”

DEMOCRATS DEFY POLICE OVER MAY DAY

Trade unionists and democracy campaigners in Swaziland are on a collision course with the police and state security after they refused to seek formal permission to hold a May Day rally.

The Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) has confirmed that commemorations of the workers’ day will take place at the Salesian Sports Ground in Manzini, the commercial capital of Swaziland, on 1 May 2015.

Vincent Ncongwane, TUCOSWA Secretary General, said his federation had informed the police of its decision to host the event. 

The Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati III, the last absolute monarch in sub-Saharan Africa, reported him saying, ‘We will not be seeking permission from the police to host the event, it is unlawful to be forced to seek permission and there is no statute in the labour laws that allows the police to demand us to seek permission from them to host Workers Day.’

He added the fact that they had informed the police was sufficient and that they would not be seeking permission as police had instructed them to do in past years.

The decision not to seek permission will almost certainly put TUCOSWA on a collision course with the police and the state security apparatus. 

Public gatherings are routinely disrupted by police unless they are sanctioned by the state. On Thursday (23 April 2015), for example, a newly-formed group called Swaziland Anti-Xenophobia Movement had a gathering broken up by police because they did not have permission from the Municipal Council of Mbabane to meet. 

They were trying to show their support for victims of Xenophobic attacks in neighbouring South Africa and tried to march to the South African High Commission in the Swazi capital, Mbabane.

At May Day celebrations last year (2014), Mario Masuku, President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), and Maxwell Dlamini, Secretary-General of the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), were charged with ‘uttering seditious statements’. One year later they are still in prison awaiting trial.

The two were arrested following a pro-democracy rally at the Salesian Sports Ground, the proposed venue for this year’s rally. 

PUDEMO has been banned in Swaziland as a ‘terrorist’ organisation since 2008, under the controversial Suppression of Terrorism Act.

In May 2013, Muzi Mhlanga, the secretary general of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), was illegally placed under house arrest by police who wanted to prevent him attending a May Day rally. They had neither a court order nor warrant to place him under house arrest.

Arrests were reported across the kingdom as democracy leaders refused police instructions to say at home and not attend May Day events.

See also

POLICE ABDUCT DEMOCRACY LEADERS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2014/04/police-abduct-democracy-leaders.html

POLICE ATTACK ANOTHER UNION MEETING

Police in Swaziland have broken up two meetings of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) in as many weeks in a clampdown on groups advocating for democracy.

More than 300 plain-clothed police forced participants to end a union executive board meeting in the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Center on 14 March 2014 and blocked the gates to the building. Muzi Mhlanga, SNAT secretary general, was assaulted and had to seek medical care, according to TUCOSWA.

TUCOSWA Secretary General Vincent Ncongwane said, ‘The police came in as if they were coming to fight an army. They actually manhandled us, stopping anyone coming in or going out of the venue.’

Ncongwane added, ‘We were squashed between various policemen who were trying to read the emails we were sending [to international labour allies]. Police also demanded their phones because union leaders were taking photos of the police “without their permission. They said their orders are to crush any TUCOSWA meeting.’

Swaziland police also broke up a national union meeting on 28 February, on the grounds that workers were discussing ‘democracy’.

The Solidarity Center reported, ‘Over the past three years, Swaziland authorities have refused to grant legal registration to TUCOSWA, most recently denying the federation’s December 2014 application under the country’s recently amended Industrial Relations Act. In August 2014, some in the Swazi government falsely accused Ncongwane and human rights lawyer Sipho Gumedze of taking a stand against trade benefits for Swaziland when they were in Washington to attend the US Africa Leaders’ Summit Civil Society Forum.

The Solidarity Center said, ‘TUCOSWA is receiving key support from the country’s religious leaders. A coalition of Christian churches called for the registration and recognition of TUCOSWA as part of its broader call for multiparty democracy to address the Swaziland’s political, social and economic crises.

‘In June 2014 the US government took the rare step of suspending African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade benefits for Swaziland, citing the Swazi government’s systematic violations of fundamental worker rights, including refusal to legally recognize TUCOSWA. Swaziland’s trade unions support AGOA, but maintain that the country must meet benchmarks of the agreement, which include respecting human rights and labour rights.

‘The 2014 US State Department human rights report cited serious human rights violations in Swaziland, including arbitrary or unlawful killings by the government or its agents; severely restricted freedom of assembly, including violence against protestors; jailing of trade union leaders; the deregistration of TUCOSWA and the banning of strikes.’

See also

SWAZI POLICE HALT DEMOCRACY MEETING

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/03/swazi-police-halt-democracy-meeting.html

PM WITHDRAWS ‘STRANGLE’ THREAT

Swaziland’s Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini has apologised ‘unconditionally’ for saying workers’ leaders should be ‘strangled’ for opposing his government. This followed an international campaign of condemnation. 

Dlamini told the Observer on Saturday, a newspaper in Swaziland in effect owned by King Mswati III, that he did not mean to be taken literally. 

‘Basically, I withdraw the comments I made on the union leaders. I withdraw them unconditionally,’ the newspaper reported him saying.

This came after the United States Department of State called Dlamini’s comment ‘threatening’.

In a statement it said, ‘Such remarks have a chilling effect on labor and civil rights in the Kingdom of Swaziland.’

It added, ‘The United States continues to support and defend fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association, and the human rights defenders who fight for these values each day. We call upon the Government to renounce the Prime Minister’s remarks and to ensure respect for the constitutionally enshrined rights of all citizens.’

According to a report in the Times of Swaziland newspaper, the Prime Minister had said that Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) General Secretary, Vincent Ncongwane and human rights lawyer Sipho Gumedze, should be strangled because they spoke against his government in Washington.

Dlamini made the comment in a parliamentary debate about the African Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA). Swaziland has lost its preferential trade status with the United States under the Act because of its poor human rights record.  Dlamini blamed workers’ leaders for not supporting his government and the King. King Mswati rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, political parties cannot stand in elections and the King appoints the Prime Minister and the government.

Swaziland has a history of state violence against prodemocracy campaigners and in 2010 Sipho Jele died in custody after being arrested for wearing a T-shirt with the name of PUDEMO (a banned political party) written on it.

A campaign against Dlamini was launched on the Internet and the United States powerful union bloc the AFL-CIO also condemned him.

In a statement it called on the ‘Swazi government to immediately end threats and attacks against unionists and human rights activists, release imprisoned leaders and take the needed steps to comply with international commitments’.

Explaining the U-turn, the Observer reported, ‘He briefly explained, however, that he had realised that his comments were taken in the literal sense and therefore had caused unnecessary attention.’ 

See also

PM SAYS ‘STRANGLE’ WORKERS’ LEADERS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2014/08/pm-says-strangle-workers-leaders.html

PM SAYS ‘STRANGLE’ WORKERS’ LEADERS

A reported threat by Swaziland’s Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini that workers’ leaders should be strangled when they return to the kingdom from the US Africa Summit has been condemned by prodemocracy campaigners.

According to a report in the Times of Swaziland newspaper, the Prime Minister said that Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) General Secretary, Vincent Ncongwane and human rights lawyer Sipho Gumedze, should be strangled because they spoke against his government in Washington.

Swaziland is not a democracy and Dlamini was not elected PM. He and all his government ministers were directly appointed PM by King Mswati III, who is sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

In June 2014, Swaziland lost its preferential trading status under the US Africa Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) because of its appalling human rights record.

The Times reported that Dlamini told the Swazi Parliament in a debate about AGOA that the workers’ leaders had gone to Washington to discuss workers’ rights without first telling the government they were going. He was reported saying, ‘They leave your constituencies and do not even inform you where they are going and once they come back and you find out that they are from your constituency you must strangle them.’

Prodemocracy activists reacted with anger to the statement. In Swaziland campaigners are routinely beaten and arrested by police. In May 2010 Sipho Jele was killed in custody by state forces. He had been arrested for wearing a T-shirt with the name of the banned political party PUDEMO written on it.

Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), said, ‘We call on governments to immediately urge the Swazi government to publicly withdraw its threat and to ensure the safety of these courageous activists upon their return. Further, we urge other countries which grant trade preferences to Swaziland to join the US in initiating procedures to withdraw them until such time as fundamental worker rights are respected in law and practice in Swaziland.’ 

Burrow added, ‘Mr Dlamini has absolutely no one to blame for the potential loss of these [AGOA] benefits but his own government.’

Labour Start has started an online letter writing campaign to PM Dlamini calling on him to ‘publicly and immediately rescind the threat and ensure the safety of those leaders upon their return’. 

Dlamini has made violent threats against political enemies before. In 2010 Dlamini faced condemnation from within Swaziland and the international community after he said that he wanted to use ‘sipakatane’ (otherwise known as ‘bastinado’, a form of torture that involves flogging the bare soles of a person’s feet with a spiked wooden or metal implement to temporarily or permanently cripple them) on people who campaigned against his government.

Dlamini had been annoyed that trade unionists from South Africa had visited Swaziland to show solidarity with Swazis fighting for their human rights as part of a Global Day of Action for democracy in Swaziland.

See also

SWAZI TORTURE PM DECLARES WAR

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2010/09/swazi-torture-pm-declares-war.html

POLICE RAID TO STOP UNION MEETING

Swaziland police and paramilitaries broke into a hotel room where an inquiry into trade union rights was taking place and ordered it to stop.

The police then ordered all participants who were not Swazi subjects to leave the kingdom.

The South African labour federation COSATU reported the raid happened this morning (6 September 2013) at the George Hotel in Manzini.

COSATU reported the Swazi Police stopped the Chair of the inquiry, Jay Naidoo and his fellow paneliststs from proceeding with the Inquiry.

It said in a statement, ‘A contingent of Swazi police and paramilitary led by Manzini Regional Police Commander entered the hotel room where the inquiry is being held and demanded that the chair of the Inquiry, Jay Naidoo and the whole panel stop and pack all their belongings and leave Swaziland.

‘It is expected that they shall be deported anytime soon.’

It added, ‘The inquiry is an initiative of the ITUC [International Trade Union Confederation], TUCOSWA [Trade Union Congress  of Swaziland] and COSATU to hear workers’ accounts of their experiences and sufferings in order compile a report to be taken to the ILO [International Labour organisation] for the Committee on the Application of International Standards.’

The panel was part of a Global Week of Action for Democracy in Swaziland.

COSATU said the panellists were Jay Naidoo, former General Secretary of COSATU and former Minister under the Mandela Presidency; Bishop Paul Verryn of the Methodist Chruch and South African Council of Churches and anti-apartheid activist; Alec Muchadehama, Human Rights lawyer and activist from Zimbabwe; Ms Nomthetho Simelane, former lecturer of Political Science at the University of Swaziland; together with COSATU delegate Monk Molapeni.

It added the raid followed the arrest at his office of the Secretary General of TUCOSWA, Vincent Ncongwane, yesterday morning by 10 police officers from the Lukhozi Serious Crime Police in Manzini.

He was later placed under house arrest to prevent him taking part in a prodemocracy march in the Swaziland capital, Mbabane.

COSATU said, ‘They [police] emphasised that the reason is that TUCOSWA is banned in Swaziland and therefore an illegal entity.’

Various trade unions all over the world are staging activities in support of TUCOSWA and the global week of action led by the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) and its campaign wing, the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC).

In the UK, the TUC yesterday met the Swazi High Commission in London and raised these issues decisively, demanding the unconditional release of all those arrested and the unbanning of TUCOSWA.

See also

MASS POLICE ARRESTS TO HALT MEETING

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/09/mass-police-arrests-to-halt-meeting.html