Five in court after Swaziland police-provoked protests turn violent

Five students appeared in court in Swaziland (eSwatini) following anti-police protests that turned violent.

Three were remanded to a maximum security prison and two were granted bail prior to a trail at the Swazi High Court.

They were arrested on Friday (21 May 2021) before a memorial service for Thabani Nkomonye, a 25-year-old law student.

Nkomonye died in suspicious circumstances and there is widespread feeling in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati III as an absolute monarch that he was killed by police.

The five arrested were Bongumenzi Gamedze, Hlengiwe Magagula, Khumbulani Nxumalo, Siphosethu Mavimbela and the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) Secretary General, Bafanabakhe Sacolo.

They were charged with various offences, including malicious damage and vandalism. The police post at Fairview was badly damaged.

According to local media reports police fired teargas and rubber bullets at the memorial service on Friday.

The Swazi Government had banned large gatherings, saying they broke restrictions imposed to combat the coronavirus crisis.

Nombulelo Motsa, President of the Economic Freedom Fighters of Swaziland told Swati Newsweek, ‘We protested in Manzini City demanding justice for Thabani Nkomonye. However police dispersed us at Manzini. We left for the memorial at St Paul’s High School. The police followed us and dispersed us. They fired rubber bullets and teargas at the mourners.’

The Swaziland News reported, ‘Information gathered suggests that the protesters arrived at the police post armed with stones and vandalized the post, two officers allegedly tried in vain to stop them after firing shots in the air.’

The eSwatini Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati, reported ‘dozens had to be rushed to hospital’ after police ‘fired teargas canisters and gunshots at mourners’.

Reporting from the memorial service, the Observer said, ‘What at first started off as a peaceful service, with every other speaker commending how well behaved the youth was during the service, but until the police arrived, all hell broke loose. Seeing the police armoured vehicles making their way through the gate to the sports ground, there was shouting from a section amongst the attendees, demanding that the men in blue make a return as they were not welcome.

‘It seemed the police had one thing in mind – to hurt and make everyone cry. And that was achieved. Teargas canisters were directly shot where the masses were seated, as they bulldozed their way through the gate in their armoured paramilitary police vehicles. What followed was a stampede as mourners ran in all directions with teary eyes from the teargas.

‘The police were not fazed even by the wailing of elderly women and children, who had come to attend the memorial service. The elderly and the weak were trodden upon as a result of the stampede, while others collapsed as they suffocated from the teargas smoke. It was like a replay of the South African movie depicting the treatment suffered by black people during the apartheid regime.

‘The angry youth retaliated with stones. Cars that were parked by the entrance to the sports ground, from where the police were firing shots at first, were left damaged with windows shattered as the angry students fought back.

‘In a sheer act of force display, the police bulldozed their way into the stadium as they continued firing teargas canisters. At this point, some young women were already injured and crying hysterically and couldn’t breathe. The police gave chase as everyone escaped for dear life. The stadium was filled with white smoke, chairs and tables were left upside down. Seeing that their mission had been achieved, the police from the paramilitary wing, OSSU, withdrew and everyone was left worried sick about the injured and collapsed mourners.

‘The sounds of crying women echoed throughout the Fairview community, as others thought the collapsed had died. While people were being rushed in different cars to hospital, others came from corners and bushes, where they had sought refuge in search of water or any tap in sight from the nearby houses.’

See also

Swaziland P. M. tells police to halt public demonstrations as anger spreads following suspicious death

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/05/swaziland-p-m-tells-police-to-halt.html

Swaziland P. M. tells police to halt public demonstrations as anger spreads following suspicious death

The Swaziland (eSwatini) Acting Prime Minister has told police to halt mass demonstrations expected to protest the police’s action surrounding a suspicious death.

They were due to take place on Friday (21 May 2021) and follow protests on 17 May that ended in violence. Police shot an innocent bystander in the eye with a rubber bullet at point blank range.

Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku cited government rules around the present coronavirus pandemic that bans large gatherings.

In a statement he said, ‘We have asked the police to be vigilant and ensure there are no gatherings that will breach these regulations and expose emaSwati to the dangers of this uncompromising virus.’

Describing the 17 May protests, he said, ‘It is most concerning when a group of unruly people intentionally resort to violent confrontation towards the police and private citizens.’

He added, ‘In upholding the rule of law we implore the police to ensure that all perpetrators of this violence are brought to book to prevent any future incidences that will violate the rule of law and the rights of others.’

The protests are about the circumstances surrounding the death of Thabani Nkomonye, a 25-year-old law student. Police say he was the victim of a car accident on 8 May, but his body was not discovered until 13 May.

There is widespread suspicion in Swaziland that Nkomonye was killed by police.

In a statement the Swaziland Solidarity Network, a group campaigning for democracy in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati III as an absolute monarch, said. ‘Police brutality in the country is endemic. Throughout the years it has claimed many innocent lives. If taking to the streets will lead to a change in attitudes from those in power then Swazis should neither be intimidated nor blackmailed.’

Colani Maseko, President of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS), one of the groups organising the protests, said, ‘The youth must not listen to anything that will come from the Acting Prime Minister or anyone representing the King’s Government because they just want to disturb the protest and we can’t allow that.’

See also

Swaziland police shoot student in eye during protest unrest

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/05/swaziland-police-shoot-student-in-eye.html

Swaziland students march on government as new protest over scholarships takes off

Students in Swaziland (eSwatini) marched to petition government after more than 1,500 of them were refused scholarships.

The students were from the University of eSwatini (formerly University of Swaziland, UNISWA). Only about 1,000 students in this year’s new intake have been awarded the scholarships which cover tuition, books and living expenses.

This is not the first time students have been in dispute with the Swazi Government over funding. In May 2017 the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) launched a campaign for scholarships for all. Students want all those admitted to higher learning institutions to have scholarships, regardless of the programme they are doing or the institution they are in.

The protest was organised at short notice but about 150 students delivered a petition at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security office in Mbabane on Tuesday (10 November 2020).

 

See also

Swaziland’s absolute monarch grants scholarship to student who begged him on hands and knees

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/01/swazilands-absolute-monarch-grants.html

 

Swaziland students sell themselves for sex because scholarships have not been paid https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/11/swaziland-students-sell-themselves-for.html

 

Swaziland police hold and ‘torture’ students after protest march on Govt ministry https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/08/swaziland-police-hold-and-torture.html

Swaziland students sell themselves for sex because scholarships have not been paid

Students in Swaziland / Eswatini are selling themselves for sex to raise cash for food because the government has not paid their allowances.

 

A trade in young women has developed with businessmen ‘pimping’ students to affluent tourists from neighbouring South Africa, the Sunday edition of the Swazi Observer reported (5 November 2018).

According to the newspaper the students are taken from the Kwaluseni campus of the University of Eswatini (formerly UNISWA), ‘for purposes of pimping them to affluent tourists flooding a popular hangout spot in Matsapha’.

The Observer reported, ‘These businessmen take advantage of  the girls’ financial situation on campus and select “top of the grade” individuals for purposes of promoting their business into hosting upmarket guests. They also take advantage of the girl’s academic statuses to market them to guests who arrive solely for purposes of whetting their sexual appetites.’

The newspaper reported, ‘delayed payments of allowances which themselves are meagre force girl students into availing themselves for sexual favours in exchange for food, drinks and other goodies’.

It said the businessmen target the youngest first-year students.

It quoted one student saying, ‘They become virtual call girls.’ The student added the men spend fortunes on them and then demand sex.

There is an ongoing dispute between students and the government over the payment of scholarships and allowances that cover fees, living expenses and items such as books. In May 2017, the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) launched a campaign for scholarships for all. They want the Swazi Government to reverse a decision taken eight years ago to prioritise courses and cut scholarships by 60 percent. Students want all students admitted to higher learning institutions to have scholarships, regardless of the programme they are doing or the institution they are in.

Meanwhile, the outgoing President of SNUS Brian Sangweni told its 11th National General Congress that thousands of high school graduates with good grades remained idle at home because the government would not pay them scholarships to study.

He said, ‘Those who are lucky to make it and enrol into the institutions are also not off the hook of suffering due to lack of living allowances to enable them to live a healthy and dignified period of study and to realise their optimal potential.’

He added students were finding it hard to concentrate to their studies and some dropped out or committed suicide because of the pressure.

See also

In full public view, on hand and knees student begs Swaziland King for scholarship

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/09/in-full-public-view-on-hand-and-knees.html

SWAZI STUDENT LEADERS SUSPENDED

Student leaders at the University of Swaziland (UNISWA) have been suspended without specific charges being laid following a class boycott over unpaid allowances.

A total of 25 students have been suspended including Student Representative Council (SRC) President Sakhile Ndzimandze and three SRC Cabinet members.

UNISWA announced the suspensions after two of its campuses reopened following a two-week shutdown. All the suspended students have been banned from entering university premises.

The students received a letter from UNISWA Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof M.D. Dlamini stating they had been suspended from the university with immediate effect pending investigation. 

The Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) Secretary General Nqubeko Maziya in a statement said,  ‘In a very weird fashion, unheard of in disciplinary procedures and absolutely contrary to law of nature, the Acting Vice-Chancellor has suspended the students without any specific charges but with only an assertion that they are suspected to have violated some provisions of the regulation for student’s discipline.’

SNUS stated that universities and colleges in Swaziland often suspended student activists.  Maziya  said, ‘In the main, the management targets vocal leaders with clarity on students’ issues so that they are not embarrassed in negotiations.’

The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) in a statement said the suspensions and ban from university premises violated students’ rights to free assembly.

Students have been protesting about unpaid allowances which have now been paid. They are also asking for a review of allowances, scholarships to be available for all who qualify and they want to be allowed to take part in decision-making.

See also

STUDENT PROTEST LEADERS SUSPENDED

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/student-protest-leaders-suspended.html

 

STUDENTS MARCH ON GOVERNMENT

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/students-march-on-government.html

 

POLICE ‘FIRED LIVE BULLETS AT PROTEST’

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/police-fired-live-bullets-at-protest.html

STUDENTS TO PROTEST 50/50 CELEBRATION

Students in Swaziland are set to protest against the ‘extravagant spending’ of the 50/50 celebrations to mark the King’s birthday and the anniversary of Independence from Britain.

The protest is due to take place on 12 April 2018, the anniversary of the proclamation that turned Swaziland from a democracy into a kingdom ruled by an absolute monarch.

In a statement (14 February 2018), the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) said, ‘The National Executive Committee noted two upcoming national events in the terms of double celebration (50/50 celebration) and National Elections as projects that has been historically synonymous with corruption and extravagant spending and depriving the people fundamental social services in the process. In accordance with the 2018 theme, the NEC resolved to stage a protest on the 12th of April against extravagant spending and corruption.’

Details of the protest have still to be finalised.

The 50/50 celebrations are to mark the 50^th birthday this year of King Mwsati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, and the 50^th anniversary of Independence from Britain. It has already been announced that celebrations will take place on 19 April at Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre.

A budget of the equivalent of US$1.7 million has been given by the government. The Taiwan Government has donated US$1.3 million.

When similar celebrations took place in 2008 the cost of the so-called 40/40 celebrations overran by E32.6 million (about US$5 million at the then exchange rate). E17 million was budgeted but it ended up costing ‘at least’ E50.2 million. The exact figure is uncertain.

The celebrations took place at a time when Swaziland was under the pressure of savage financial cuts, imposed by the International Monetary Fund, after years of mismanagement of the economy by successive Swazi governments – all handpicked by King Mswati.

The intended SNUS protest is set for 12 April. This is an important date in Swaziland as it was on this day in 1973 that King Mswati’s father King Sobuza II issued a Royal Decree that banned all political parties and put all legislative, executive and judicial power in the hands of the King. Despite a Constitution that came into effect in 2006, the Decree has not been withdrawn.

Protests are held each year on the anniversary of 12 April.

See also

50/50: LEARN LESSON OF PAST DISASTER

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/5050-learn-lesson-of-past-disaster.html

APRIL 12 2012

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/april%2012%202012

TOP COP CALLS STUDENTS ANARCHISTS

Swaziland’s Police Chief Isaac Magagula  has labelled students in the kingdom as anarchists after they campaigned for education for all.

Magagula was commenting on a leaflet from the Swaziland National Union of Students issued to all potential students seeking government scholarships which said in part, ‘right to education campaign - free education or death’. Magagula who is National Commissioner of the Royal Swaziland Police interpreted this as a call to violence.

The Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati III who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, on Tuesday (1 August 2017) reported Magagula saying, ‘[A]s the state security agency we find the message they seek to propagate via the pamphlets very disturbing.’

The newspaper added, ‘He went on to add that it is discernible that SNUS is all out to hold the country hostage through sowing fear by stirring up anarchy and lawlessness.’

SNUS is not officially recognised by the Swazi Government but it has grown in stature in recent years. It has been at the forefront of a campaign against education cuts in Swaziland. 

In June 2017, media reported SNUS had asked ‘for police brutality to come to an end whenever students demonstrate’. Police routinely beat students and use tear gas when they protest.

In May 2017, SNUS launched a campaign for scholarships for all. They want the Swazi Government to reverse a decision taken seven years ago to prioritise courses and cut scholarships by 60 percent. Students want all students admitted to higher learning institutions to have scholarships, regardless of the programme they are doing or the institution they are in.

See also

GOVERNMENT CHASES STUDENTS BEYOND GRAVE

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/02/govt-chases-students-beyond-grave.html

 

ACTIVIST STUDENT DENIED SCHOLARSHIP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/09/activist-student-denied-scholarship.html

 

POLICE SHOOT TWO STUDENTS IN HEAD

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/police-shoot-two-students-in-head.html

 

ARMED POLICE STOP STUDENTS PROTEST

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/08/armed-police-block-students-protest.html

 

SWAZI STUDENTS BEATEN TO PULP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/08/swazi-students-beaten-to-pulp.html

SWAZILAND POLICE ‘SHOOT STUDENTS’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2010/01/swazi-land-police-shoot-students.html

STUDENTS WANT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ALL

Students in Swaziland have launched a campaign for scholarships for all. They want the Swazi Government to reverse a decision taken seven years ago to prioritise courses and cut scholarships by 60 percent. 

Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) President Brian Sangweni told a Workers’ Day celebration students needed support from workers who were the taxpayers in this campaign. 

Students want all students admitted to higher learning institutions to have scholarships, regardless of the programme they are doing or the institution they are in.

See also

GOVERNMENT CHASES STUDENTS BEYOND GRAVE

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/02/govt-chases-students-beyond-grave.html

 

ACTIVIST STUDENT DENIED SCHOLARSHIP

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/09/activist-student-denied-scholarship.html

STUDENTS MUST LEAD THE STRUGGLE

Students must lead the struggle in Swaziland

Kenworthy News Media, 4 November 2015 

SOURCE

In the small absolute monarchy of Swaziland the struggle to get a decent education is connected to the struggle for political freedom. Student activist Njabulo Mazibuko has written about what implications this understanding has for himself and his fellow students, writes Kenworthy News Media.

“We are not masters of our political fate, but slaves of circumstance. The paths of rationality are blocked, and as students we all have to take responsibility for addressing the political issues that are overlooked day after day”, Njabulo Mazibuko writes in his essay, which is called The Need for More Student Activism.

 

“The government is killing individuality and freedom of the mind compelling my people more and more to conform to a similar pattern”, he says. “Democracy stands as the only hope for my people today”.

More student activism
Mazibuko is the outgoing President of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS). He is also a member of the Group of 15 that are presently trying to initiate a process of dialogue with Swaziland’s absolute monarch King Mswati III and his government.

He finished his degree in BSc. Agriculture in early October and has been unemployed since, along with over half the population. A situation that he feels will not be likely to change under the present regime. Not least because he is an active member of banned political party PUDEMO, and the Public Service Bill of 2015 clearly states that civil servants cannot be affiliated with political parties.

He has written the political essay about what he sees as the need for more student activism and an understanding of the importance of engaging politically, in a country where political parties are illegal.

Fighting submission and servitude
In Swaziland, education is tied to submission towards the king and his chief.

“In order for a child to get education at tertiary level, he or she has to be submissive to the traditional leaders; otherwise that child may not get his or her scholarship form signed”, says Njabulo Mazibuko.

“The ruling regime in Swaziland has utterly failed to make politics attractive to the youth, but as students we all have to take responsibility for addressing political issue. For the price we pay for not understanding politics is servitude to others or to circumstances”.

And circumstances for the vast majority of Swazis are very grim indeed, says Mazibuko.

“The dictator has been constantly employing the same tactics from time to time in the country which are arrests, detentions and torture, threats and sanctions. The regime will use police, prisons and army to maintain silence which they call order or peace and in all respects it constitutes a dictatorship. This is the basis for the struggle facing the student activist in Swaziland today”.

Inspiration begins at home
Students and student organisations such as SNUS have often been catalysts for change. An obvious example is that of the South African Students’ Organisation, important as both an ideological and practical precursor for Steve Biko’s highly influential Black Consciousness movement.

Mazibuko’s inspirations are closer to home, however.

“The Secretary General of the Swaziland Youth Congress [and former President of SNUS] comrade Maxwell Dlamini is my first source of inspiration. I first visited him at Sdwashini Prison where he was incarcerated for sedition in 2012. His incredible commitment and will to sacrifice for the struggle was and is an inspiration indeed”.

Students must lead the struggle
But even though Swaziland has many young activists, such as Maxwell Dlamini, who have been ready to risk tear gas, rubber bullets, torture and even death to forward the struggle for democracy in Swaziland, Njabulo Mazibuko believes that the youth of Swaziland in general have some way to go, before they can be a catalyst of change.

“The most depoliticized group is the youth, hence the need to sharpen that through student activism. The youth hide under the influence of liquor and the use of gadgets for social or cyber politics. The situation is very discouraging because they are supposed to be the architects of the future of the country”, he says.

The dismal alternative to action and activism is the present system of inequality, poverty and a political system and society which instils fear with repression and at the same time “punishes originality or humanity and starves imagination from the moment of first going to school to the time of burial”, says Mazibuko.

The Swazi students must therefore resist and actively fight what he calls the brainwashing of the regime.

“Let every student activist lead the struggle”, as Njabulo Mazibuko concludes his essay.

SWAZI PROPAGANDA WILL NOT WORK

There has been a lot of talk in Swaziland recently about the need for the government to set up a public relations (i.e. propaganda) unit to counter the ‘bad press’ the kingdom is getting in the international media.

By ‘bad press’ supporters of King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, mean information about the lack of democracy and human rights in the kingdom.

In fact there is no ‘bad press’ worth talking about in the mainstream / commercial media.

As research I did previously showed, the news media outside of Swaziland are not much interested in what is going on in, what to them, is an irrelevant little country somewhere in Africa. (Click here and here to see the research).

That research was conducted in 2007 and nothing much has changed since. Swaziland does make the news when something the media sees as ‘exotic’ happens – the Reed Dance, where tens of thousands of ‘maidens’ dance bare-chested in front of the king, is an example.

What has changed in the past couple of years has been the growth of sites on the Internet exposing the lack of human rights in Swaziland (you’re reading one now). Among such sites are the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) forum; SSN on Facebook; SSN on wikispaces; the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) (where supporters have set up a party site, a wikispaces site, a news site; and a Free Mario Masuku site); the Swaziland National Union of Students; Mfomfo Nkhambule’s blog; S1ka; and the Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations.

Apologies to anyone I’ve accidentally missed out.

The people who supply information to the world on these sites are spreading the message and not the mainstream media.

The Swazi Government can set up as many ‘public relations’ units as it likes, but it will make no difference. We know the truth and we shall go on telling it.