Swaziland
Newsletter No. 775 – 5 May 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.
SFDF
member beat vetting to be police recruit
By
Sithembile Hlatshwayo, Times of eSwatini, 3 May 2023
MBABANE: The death of a police recruit, who
was also a member of newly-formed political party, Swazis First Democratic
Front (SFDF), has raised eyebrows regarding the vetting process of the police
service.
It is a known fact that people
who are affiliated to political parties do not get recruited into the country’s
security forces and this was said in various quarters. At the time when
the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) started the recruitment exercise for
aspiring officers, the aspirants were told that there would be a vetting
exercise to ensure that only those who qualified and met the criterion of the
police service would be recruited. However, it would seem one person, at
least for now, managed to slip through the vetting process. This was in the
late aspiring cop, Simhle Fakudze, who was also a member of the SFDF.
It would seem at the time when
Fakudze joined the police service, she was already a member of the SFDF. It
could not be ascertained as to when Fakudze joined the service as a recruit
following that the aspirants were called in different stages. Fakudze beat
the vetting process as she requested to be removed from all the groups of the
political party before attending the REPS interview. The police recruit
died on Saturday following a nasty accident which happened at Nyanyali, along
the Yith’ Abantu Highway, between Tri-Cash and Nkwene. A relative, who
preferred anonymity, confirmed Fakudze’s passing. According to the family
member, Fakudze, who was training as a police officer, was returning to the Police
Academy on Saturday when she met her death. The relative stated that she had
arrived at her parental home at Hluthi on Friday to check on her children and
mother. He said Fakudze hitched-hiked from KaMjuda in Nhlangano. “This was
after we had lunch together in Nhlangano as she had offered to buy me a meal,”
the distraught relative said.
He said after eating, he
accompanied her to the hiking spot and a car stopped and she jumped in. The
family member said when they were around Mkhondvo, a van approached and there
was a head-on collision and three people died, including Fakudze. According to
the relative, all three people who died had hitched-hiked a
lift. Furthermore, he said they were struggling to come to terms with
Fakudze’s death as they were banking all hopes on the deceased to take care of
the family. The relative said Fakudze’s mother was not employed and relied
on odd jobs for a living. He said the mother was hoping things would be better
following her daughter’s employment by the police service. The relative
stated that they were not sure on whether Fakudze continued to participate in
her party’s activities or not after being recruited. “What I know is that she
left SFDF following pressure that she wanted a job, hence she had to choose (the
police service),” the relative said.
However, the family member
confirmed that Fakudze was a ‘comrade’ at heart. When questioned on whether
REPS was aware of Fakudze’s affiliation to SFDF, the relative said they were
aware that she was once a member but had left the party. The SFDF
announced her tragic passing. Deputy President Dr Siphetfo Dlamini made the
announcement. Dlamini stated that the family and relatives of the late Fakudze
were working on the funeral logistics, adding that more information would be shared
in due course. SFDF Youth President, Sihle Ndwandwe, said Fakudze was
among their first members and was present when it was launched on December 10,
2022. Ndwandwe said Fakudze was among the 100 members who were present during
the launch and there was nothing she said about her previous political
affiliations. Asked on whether they were aware that Fakudze was training as a
police officer, Ndwandwe said they knew as she did not hide it.
“Upon registration for
membership at SFDF, she mentioned that she was unemployed,” Ndwandwe said. She
said after a few days, Fakudze requested to be removed from the party’s
WhatsApp groups as she was going to attend an interview with the police service
and they might want go through her cellphone. “She did not formally report
thereafter on what her position was, although we were aware that she was
training at the Police Academy,” Ndwandwe said. The youth president stated
that whenever the organisation held activities in Nhlangano, Fakudze would show
up whenever she could. She said as a result, Fakudze attended the late
Muzi Mmema’s funeral and when a branch was launched at Ntondozi, she was also
present. These activities, Ndwandwe said, were conducted after Fakudze had
joined the Police Academy.
REPS: We can’t confirm Fakudze’s affiliation
MBABANE – “We cannot confirm
whether the late Simhle Fakudze was a member of Swazis First Democratic Front
(SFDF).”
The above sentiments were
shared by the Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer
Inspector Nosipho Mnguni. Mnguni confirmed though that Fakudze was a police
recruit, but distanced herself from her being politically affiliated.
However, she said even though
they could not confirm the deceased’s political affiliation, vetting at the
Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) for aspiring officers was a continous
exercise. “Even though the aspiring officers have been accepted and are
training, the exercise has not stopped,” she said when asked if they knew that
Fakudze had affiliations to a political party. Mnguni said vetting was
carried out until they were satisfied, adding that it was most likely that with
Fakudze, they were eventually going to find out the truth.
According to Mnguni, the Police Act was flexible that the Office of the
national commissioner (NATCOM) of Police could dismiss any individual found to
be affiliated to political parties, once found.
Thousands
attended TUCOSWA’s May Day Celebration at Mayaluka Stadium despite Mswati’s
police staging roadblocks.
By
Colani Khulekani Maseko, Swaziland News, 1 May, 2023
BIG-BEND: Thousands of workers from both
the public and private sector graced the May Workers Day organized by the Trade
Union Congress of Swaziland(TUCOSWA)here at Mayaluka Stadium on Monday despite
King Mswati’s police staging roadblocks.
Eswatini,a tiny Kingdom ruled by Mswati as
an absolute Monarch has reporting several times to the International Labour
Organization(ILO) for violating workers rights.
Addressing the thousands of workers at the
Mayaluka Stadium,Mduduzi Gina, the TUCOSWA Secretary General urged all workers
in the country to take action against the closure of the University of Eswatini
(UNESWA).
The institution of higher learning was
temporarily closed amid protests by Lecturers in demand for a salary increment.
“Workers should take action against the
closure of UNESWA because this means the country is no-longer producing the
required human resources. It means the future of this country is bleak and we
must be worried as a Nation. This illustrate the magnitude of how much Mswati’s
government has failed the people, “said TUCOSWA Secretary General.
Political organizations who attended the
May Day celebrations include the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), the
Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO),the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS),
the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC) and the Swaziland Democratic
Party (SWADEPA).
Other political organizations include the
Swazis First Democratic Front (SFDF),and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)
Swaziland.
Exiled PUDEMO leader says “May Day
2023, the struggle for the working poor”
By Dr Jabulane Matsebula, Swati
Newsweek, 1 May, 2023
As the high
cost of living continues to bite, the theme for this year’s May Day should be
“the struggle for the working poor”. Workers in Swaziland have endured poor
working conditions for decades with very little improvement. Consequently, the
country has seen a rapid increase in the size of the working poor population.
Current labour market factors such as high inflation, rising cost of living and
low wage growth have pushed many workers to the bottom of the poverty pit. Real
wage growth in Swaziland has been going backward for many years. These factors
have significantly reduced the value of take home wages and their buying power.
Frankly, the majority of workers are not earning enough to keep up with rising
cost of living. Significant wage increase is required now to match inflation
and offset the high cost of living.
With
excessively high unemployment rate, the current labour market situation is
working in favour of employers, not workers and the broader economy. Labour
cost in Swaziland is cheap, and has delivered huge profits for big business. It
is one of the lowest in the world because of high unemployment rates, weak
industrial relations laws and a large unregulated informal sector economy.
Workers in the informal sector are paid the lowest wages, and have very limited
or no protection from government. They are the poorest working people in this
country.
Organised
labour movements have fought pitch battles with government and big business to
improve conditions for Swaziland workers. Today we honour these heroic
fighters. Today we honour our workers, the engine and wheels of the Swazi
economy. Unity and solidarity between organised labour and the revolutionary
movement is paramount to the success of our struggle.
After decades
of betrayal and oppression, workers cannot bet their hope for better working
conditions on Tinkhundla elections. Doing so, would be tantamount to self-harm
or flogging a dead horse. Moreover, it is the Tinkhundla parliament that has
enacted anti-workers laws. It is the Tinkhundla cabinet and judiciary that
continue to implement and enforce these laws.
For us, the
anti-Tinkhundla struggle continues because our workers need protection from
exploitation and wage theft. They deserve better, the people of Swaziland
deserve better, that’s what matters.
Phambili
Basebenti!
Dr
Jabulane Matsebula is People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Representative,
Australia and the Asia-Pacific region
Risch, Coons, Booker, Scott introduce resolution
condemning eSwatini’s human rights record
US Foreign Relations Committee, 28 April 2023
WASHINGTON:
U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Tim Scott
(R-S.C.) introduced a resolution yesterday that condemns the
human rights record of the government of Eswatini and the killing of Eswatini
human rights activist Thulani Maseko in January. The resolution urges Secretary
of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen to consider
targeted sanctions against any individuals or entities committing gross human
rights violations in Eswatini. Additionally, it calls on the government of
Eswatini to conduct a transparent and thorough investigation into the assassination
of Thulani Maseko.
“The
introduction of this bipartisan resolution is an important signal from Congress
that we have not forgotten the Assisi nation of Thulani Maseko and are aware of
the dire human rights situation in Eswatini under King Mswati III,” said Risch. “The United States must continue to call for an
independent and credible investigation into Maseko’s murder and accountability
for those responsible.”
“Thulani
Maseko was a champion of social justice and human rights in Eswatini, one of the
world’s last absolute monarchies. I strongly condemn Thulani’s brutal killing
and the Eswatini government’s failure to undertake a full, transparent, and
impartial criminal investigation into his assassination,” said Coons. “I join my colleagues in introducing a
bipartisan resolution condemning the human rights record of the government of
the Kingdom of Eswatini and the murder of Maseko on January 21.”
"Human
rights defenders in Eswatini and countries around the world have faced
repression and persecution for many years, and we must speak out when those
human rights defenders are under threat," said Booker. “In
addition to bringing attention to the unresolved death of Eswatini human rights
lawyer Thulani Maseko, this resolution underscores the deterioration of human
rights in one of the world’s last absolute monarchies.”
“‘Speak up
for those who cannot speak for themselves’ is a constant reminder in Scripture
for the role of any public servant,” said Scott. “That is why
I join my colleagues in expressing deep concern over the worsening cycle of
political violence and suppression of free speech in Eswatini. Transparency and
accountability must be restored with respect to public officials complicit in
extrajudicial killings, torture, and other egregious human rights violations.”
Background:
Eswatini
is one of the world’s last absolute monarchies and is currently ruled by King
Mswati III. Eswatini’s government remains repressive, and human rights
defenders in Eswatini still face repression and persecution today. On January
21, 2023, Thulani Maseko, a prominent human rights lawyer in Eswatini, was shot
and killed by an unknown gunman. Eswatini authorities have failed to announce
progress on an independent investigation to identify those responsible for this
crime and bring them to justice. Advocates believe Maseko was killed by
pro-government forces because of his agitation for human rights.
Text
of the resolution can be found here.
US
resolution calling for targeted sanctions: Government Spokesperson Alpheous
Nxumalo will learn politics the hard-way.
Opinion,
by Zweli Martin Dlamini, Swaziland News, 3 May, 2023
The United States (US) Congress resolution
174 tabled by Foreign Relations Chairperson Senator Christopher Coons that
seeks to, among others, influence sanctions against those violating human
rights in eSwatini is one of the most critical decisions that brings hope to
the oppressed Swazis.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo,a
political novice, must know that the resolution if adopted, those violating
human rights in the country will face targeted sanctions.
Blasting the US Senators who are pushing
the resolution will not solve the political crisis in the country, King Mswati
knows what to do to resolve the political crisis but, the dictator killed
civilians and thought he will get away with it.
The killing of civilians during the
political unrest is yet to ‘hunt’ this regime for the next coming years.
As the situation stands, the US Congress
resolution might be complemented by another decision by the International
Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate King Mswati on alleged crimes against
humanity.
The eSwatini political issue is now
handled within the highest international structures and this should be a lesson
to King Mswati and his corrupt and oppressive regime that eSwatini cannot be an
island of dictatorship in a sea of democracy.
The sentiments of Government Spokesperson
when quoted by the Swazi Observer on Wednesday suggests that this political
novice thinks the resolution was tabled in the Parliament controlled by Mswati.
The mere fact that the eSwatini political
situation will be debated in an American Parliament is a huge step to the right
direction, King Mswati will eventually fall.
Mswati deprived the people their right to
elect a government and went as far as killing them merely for, demanding
democratic reforms.
The King refused to release incarcerated
Members of Parliament (MPs) Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube.
Mswati is doing this to demonstrate power
and arrogance.
Unfortunately, the King will fall while
trying to prove to us that he is the King by demonstrating arrogance, this
country will eventually be ushered into democracy.
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