Swazi Media Commentary: Ngwane National Liberation Congress

Showing posts with label Ngwane National Liberation Congress. Show all posts

Friday, 13 December 2019

Democracy leaders detained by Swaziland police as illegal march halted

Three democracy leaders in Swaziland (eSwatini) were detained by police when protesters tried to march through the industrial town of Matsapha.

The march was halted after it had been banned by the courts hours earlier.

It was the latest activity from the recently-organised Political Party Assembly (PPA). Political parties are banned in Swaziland where King Mswati III rules as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

It happened on Thursday (12 December 2019) when the PPA wanted to march from factory to factory in the town to drum up support.

Those detained were Swaziland Democratic Party (SWADEPA) President Jan Sithole; Ngwane National Liberation Congress (NNLC) President Sibongile Mazibuko; and Zodwa Mkhonta, Deputy President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO).

The leaders were arrested on the streets of Matsapha, taken to the local police station and later released.

The Times of eSwatini said there were also unconfirmed reports that police from the Serious Crime Unit (Lukhozi) rounded up ordinary members of the PPA at the assembly point for the march.

Protest marches are routinely banned in Swaziland where freedom of assembly is severely curtailed.

In July 2019 Human Rights Watch reported restrictions on freedom of association and assembly continued in Swaziland although the kingdom had signed the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance in January 2018, the government has not taken steps to ratify and implement the charter.

Amnesty International in a review of Swaziland for 2017 / 2018 stated, ‘The Public Order Act and the Suppression of Terrorism Act severely limited the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.’

It added, The Public Order Act, ‘curtailed the rights to freedom of assembly and association, imposing far-reaching restrictions on organizers of public gatherings. The Act also failed to provide mechanisms to hold law enforcement officials accountable for using excessive force against protesters or public gatherings.’

Freedom House scored Swaziland 16 out of a possible 100 points in its Freedom in the World 2019 report. It concluded that Swaziland was ‘not free’.

Tuesday, 12 November 2019

Swaziland political parties unite in bid to end absolute king’s power

Political parties in Swaziland – some of them outlawed – have joined together to try to force an end to the rule of absolute monarch, King Mswati III.

Their leaders intend to march on Wednesday (13 November 2019) to deliver a petition to Swazi Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini. They will also petition the South African High Commission to Swaziland, saying it is the accomplice and beneficiary of the ‘royal dictatorship’.

This will be followed on Saturday by a public gathering in Manzini.

The political parties include the Ngwane National Liberation Congress (NNLC), the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS), the Swazi Democratic Party (SDP) and the People’s United Democratic Party (PUDEMO). They have formed a grouping called the Political Parties Assembly (PPA).

In Swaziland, political groups advocating for democracy are banned under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

All political parties are banned from taking part in elections and the King appoints the government.

In a statement the PPA said it wanted to end the kingdom’s form of government, known as Tinkhundla, or monarchical democracy. They want power returned to the people.

PPA stated, ‘We unanimously observed that the royal project Tinkhundla has reached a point of no return in dragging down our dignity and stretching beyond limits our patience as a people.’

The announcement came days after it was revealed the King had taken delivery of at least 15 Rolls-Royce cars for his wives and family and 79 luxury BMW cars worth US$6 million for ‘escort duties’.

PPA said, ‘Brazen looting and plunder of national resources by the monarchy have reached levels unmatched in history, plunging our people into unbearable conditions as witnessed through escalating cost of living, crisis in education and health, high unemployment as well as poor general service delivery.’

In a statement, Mduduzi Gina, Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), said, ‘A petition should be delivered to the office of the Prime Minister and other Ministries by the PPA lead coalition on Wednesday November 13 in Mbabane. A Mass Meeting of every concerned organizations and persons shall be convened on Saturday 16th, November at the SNAT Center starting at 0900hrs. A long-term program of action will be taken for implementation in the mass meeting envisaged. Any changes if any, will be communicated in due as we receive direction from the PPA.’

Thursday, 12 April 2018

POLICE ‘SPY’ AT MANDELA MEMORIAL

Police officers, some of them plain clothed, infiltrated a memorial service in Swaziland for Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. They were there to watch political activists who had gathered in her memory.

During the service at the Manzini Cathedral on Wednesday (11 April 2018) speakers condemned police violence.

Swaziland is ruled by King Mswati III as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. Political parties are not allowed to contest elections and groups that advocate for multiparty democracy have been banned under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

The Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by the King, reported on Thursday (12 April 2018), ‘During the memorial service, plain clothed police officers were spotted inside the Cathedral and while the speakers continued delivering their speeches, more officers entered the arena but this time around it was officers in full uniform. Political activist Mphandlana Shongwe, who was the Programme Director, welcomed the officers to the arena, calling them tormentors.’

The newspaper also reported that Ntombi Nkosi, one of the organises of the memorial service, spoke of how she was throttled by members of the Royal Swaziland Police (RSP) who banged her head against a wall and broke both her legs.

The newspaper reported, ‘Nkosi said this was during a strike action dubbed “Waya Waya” by members of the Swaziland National Teachers Association (SNAT) in 2012. She said three armed officers attacked her along the street while she was near Green Valley.

‘She said her crime was wearing a Ngwane National Liberation Congress (NNLC) T-shirt and headscarf.

‘She said the assault left her disabled for life as she cannot even get into a bathtub without assistance.’

The Observer added, ‘Another speaker, who took a swipe at police officers, was NNLC’s Moses Ndlela who said police had a tendency of killing people even if they acknowledged that the government they were serving was not working for the interest of the people.’

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