SWAZIS SUPPORT FOOTBALL BOYCOTT CALL

Two of Swaziland’s major prodemocracy groups have backed a call for the South African Football Association (SAFA) to boycott a match against the kingdom.

In separate statements the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) and the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) supported the move to put pressure on King Mswati III’s, who runs the kingdom as an absolute monarch.

Swaziland is due to play South Africa in a friendly match on 15 November 2013. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) called for the match to be stopped as part of its on-going support of a cultural boycott against King Mswati.

In a statement the SSN said the COSATU ban was, ‘part of a programme of smart sanctions designed to put pressure on King Mswati to respect human rights and allow democracy in that country’.

SSN added, ‘It is our understanding that football, especially in Africa, is a very powerful sport, which has historically been used positively and negatively to affect the socio-economic realities of ordinary people. This plea gives SAFA an opportunity to raise its profile within the region and in the country as a champion of human rights and democracy.’

PUDEMO, in a statement said if the match went ahead its members would disrupt it.

It added, ‘Our experience is that King Mswati uses such events to feign some legitimacy and present his undemocratic kingdom as credible to the unsuspecting world.

‘In 2006 we called for targeted sanctions against the undemocratic Swazi regime with specific appeal for a cultural, military, economic and sports boycott. COSATU’s call therefore is in response to our appeal to boycott this regime and expose it for the fiefdom that it is.’

PUDEMO added, ‘King Mswati is averse to international scrutiny and humiliation and a cancellation of the match on the basis that Swaziland is an undemocratic and illegitimate state will surely rattle him. He will know that his government will no longer enjoy legitimacy and be an island of dictatorship in a sea of democracy.’

Calling for the boycott, COSATU called King Mswati’s regime a ‘brutal monarchist dictatorship’.

It said, ‘This absolute monarch denies the people the most basic of democratic rights. He has banned political parties. He refuses to recognise the legitimate trade union organisation TUCOSWA. He uses force and fear to intimidate and subjugate the people of Swaziland.

‘Meanwhile he continues to loot the state resources to feed himself and his rapacious criminal family, at a time when the Swaziland economy and its health system are collapsing and poverty levels have escalated.’

See also

‘CANCEL MATCH IN PROTEST AGAINST KING’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/11/cancel-match-in-protest-against-king.html

‘CANCEL MATCH IN PROTEST AGAINST KING’

South African trade unionists have called for a football match with Swaziland to be cancelled as a protest against King Mswati III’s ‘brutal monarchist dictatorship’.

Bafana Bafana, the South African national football team, is due to play Swaziland in a friendly match in the Swazi capital Mbabane on 15 November 2013.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has called on the South African Football Association to cancel the match in protest against the king who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

In a statement COSATU called King Mswati’s regime a ‘brutal monarchist dictatorship’.

It said, ‘This absolute monarch denies the people the most basic of democratic rights. He has banned political parties. He refuses to recognise the legitimate trade union organisation TUCOSWA. He uses force and fear to intimidate and subjugate the people of Swaziland.

‘Meanwhile he continues to loot the state resources to feed himself and his rapacious criminal family, at a time when the Swaziland economy and its health system are collapsing and poverty levels have escalated.’

The call is in line with the federation’s support for an ongoing cultural boycott of King Mswati’s Swaziland.

Prodemocracy groups are campaigning for a ban on political parties to be lifted and for the King’s political powers to be curtailed.

COSATU said, ‘But the ruling Swazi elite cannot stop the democratic will of the people from expressing itself. It is unable, despite beatings, bannings and jailings, to suppress the democratic spirit of the brave freedom-loving people of Swaziland.

‘That is why the democratic forces in Swaziland have asked for a cultural boycott, similar to the sport and cultural boycott against apartheid South Africa, which was such a key weapon in the struggle to isolate the racist regime.’

‘The aim of the boycott is to expose the true nature of the royal dictatorship and show the people that the rest of the world is on their side. It is a campaign that has been supported by hundreds of artists, musicians and actors from South Africa and around the world, and one in which COSATU has been a key player.’

It added the cancellation of the match, ‘will send a powerful message to the regime that the South African sporting community and the people as a whole reject the dictatorship and denial of human rights and democracy to the people’.

SIMUNYE FESTIVAL BOYCOTT ‘STILL ON’

Swaziland Solidarity Network

4 October, 2011

SOURCE

South African artists boycott Simunye fun fair as cultural boycott intensifies

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) would like to assure all pro - democracy activists in Swaziland and Solidarity Movements everywhere that the cultural boycott against Swaziland continues.

Members of the public have been intentionally misled by the sycophantic tabloid, the Times of Swaziland newspaper, by reporting that all South African artists that have been booked to perform at the Simunye fun fair at the end of October will honour the invitation. This is not true. The newspaper has deliberately misinformed people before and they never even take the initiative to publish an apology when the artists honour the boycott.

We would therefore like to make it categorically clear that as the SSN we have talked to most of the artists that have been booked for the Simumye fun fair festival, and 99% of the artists we have talked to have endorsed the cultural boycott and will not be performing to the Simunye fun fair festival at the end of October, and have vowed not to go to Swaziland until the brutal tinkhundla system has been overthrown.

The Times of Swaziland which parades itself as an independent newspaper is hereby condemned for its support of the undemocratic Tinkhundla regime at the expense of the people of Swaziland. Should revelers be naive enough to believe this tabloid, they will be doing so at their own risk. No sane human being can look the other way at this blatant disregard for human rights.

Issued by The Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN]

See also

BOYCOTT SIMUNYE FESTIVAL: SSN

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/09/boycott-simunye-festival-ssn.html

BOYCOTT SIMUNYE FESTIVAL: SSN

Swaziland Solidarity Network

19 September 2011

SOURCE

SSN plea to all democracy-loving people of the world on Cultural Boycott against Swaziland

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure the success of the Cultural Boycott against Swaziland. It is not only the SSN’s duty ensure its success but every organization’s or individual’s.

We therefore call upon all democracy-loving people of the world to, every day, be in touch with all persons involved in music, acting, sports, and all general arts with a view to advising them to boycott Swaziland until the prevailing king Mswati dictatorship is overthrown and replaced with a democratic Swaziland.

SIMUNYE FUN FAIR FESTIVAL

It has come to our attention that Swaziland will again host an annual musical festival known as “Simunye fun fair festival”, planned to be held on the 28th of October [2011]. It is common knowledge that international artists, actors and sportspersons are usually invited to perform in this annual event. We therefore call upon all the artists, actors, and sportspersons to put people before profits and boycott this event.

All organizations, radio and TV stations, and individuals who may know or be working with any artist, actor, or sportsperson, or are able to come across any artist or actor or Sportsperson, are hereby called upon to strongly advise such artist, actor, or sportsperson to totally boycott this event and all other events that will follow.

The SSN again calls upon all people and organizations around the world to fully implement the 2006 PUDEMO resolution on targeted sanctions against the undemocratic Swaziland regime in whatever way possible. Unity in action will ensure the dismantling of the undemocratic tinkhundla regime and free the People of Swaziland from king Mswati’s
dictatorship and cruelty.

Issued by the Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN]

ARTISTS’ BOYCOTT INTENSIFIES

Times of Swaziland

30 May 2011

SOURCE

SA artists’ boycott on SD intensifies

MBABANE- The two South African artists who pulled out of the Bush Fire Festival have since disclosed the reasons why they snubbed the event.

Caiphus Semenya was reported in the Sunday Sun to have said, "Every country has its own dynamics, but Swazi people should be able to enjoy what we have here in Mzansi. We support the call to boycott the cultural festival. We also support the Swaziland Solidarity Network in their quest to bring democracy."

DJ Black Coffee was quoted to have said, "We can’t be happy when Swazi people are suffering. We support the call to boycott the festival and I am not going."

Following such claims, it seems like the cultural boycott by South African musicians and deejays is intensifying as more of them are now refusing to come and perform in the country. Meanwhile, the latest star to turn down an invite to perform in the country is SAMA award winner and kwaito star Professor.

As reported by the Entertainment Desk last week, the young man of ‘Imotentjontimali’ fame was supposed to perform at the Mavuso Trade Centre during the MTN Mobile Money collaboration with Sprite show this coming Saturday.

Professor is said to have received a memo last week being told not to perform in the country. Information gathered by this newspaper is that the organisers of the event have tried to engage other South African musicians but they all refused.

The issue started in April during the Prince Lindani Foundation Concert which featured US rapper Jadakiss.

The show was not well attended as most of the popular South African stars pulled out bowing to pressure from the ANC Youth League and the Swaziland Solidarity Network. Those who pulled out include Metro FM spinner T-Bo Touch and Afrotain-ment’s popular deejay Tira

Kwaito artist L’Vovo did the same when he turned down an invite to perform at the grand closing of the Premier League of Swaziland.

The Solidarity Network also asked artists who were in the Bush Fire Festival line-up to-do the same and two of them (DJ Black Coffee and legendary guitarist Caiphus Semenya) did just that.

According to the South African Sunday Sun newspaper, the Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA) will continue to urge artists to pull out of shows in Swaziland.

When drawn for comment, Stanley Dlamini, the CEO of the Swaziland National Council of Arts and Culture said the board will meet very soon to discuss the issue and find a way forward.

"At first we couldn’t do anything about it because there was nothing official communicated to us but we have seen that it is becoming a trend so we have to work on it. The board will meet with the Foreign Affairs department to find a way forward," Dlamini said.

Suspended Chairman of the Swaziland National Council of Arts and Culture Board Bongani Mamba said, "The boycott by SA artist is a reality that must be addressed and not shunned. Unfortunately it is political and can best be handled by both governments. The effects of the boycott are not only an imagination but are felt. SA is our neighbour and we rely entirely on them for our development. While our local artists will enjoy the stage so far, the truth is, they have not reached the level where we can easily say we are independent. Another thing is that we have a few groups that have reached the professional level," he said.

SWAZI BUSHFIRE BOYCOTT UNDER WAY

Swaziland Solidarity Network Statement

26 May 2011

SOURCE

BUSHFIRE FESTIVAL TAKES A KNOCK AS POPULAR ARTISTS PULL OUT

As the Cultural Boycott against Swaziland intensifies, the Swaziland Solidarity Network is humbled by the response by well-known South African artists.

More South African artists are putting the democratisation of Swaziland before profits and this attitude must be lauded. In fact we hope that all pro-democracy activists will respond to this by supporting these artists’ music and attending their concerts in South Africa en masse.

The well-known music veteran, Baba Caiphus Semenya, has announced that he will not only boycott the forthcoming “Bushfire Festival” but will not be playing in Swaziland ever again until that country becomes democratic.

This is the best ever message of solidarity from a South African artist and hopefully others will emulate it.

On another note, Professor, the popular House music artists has also indicated that he will no longer be performing at the MTN/Matata show in Big Bend as previously reported in Swazi newspapers.

Another act of solidarity was announced by Deep House DJ, Black Coffee who, like Semenya, was scheduled to perform at the Bush Fire festival this weekend. He has pulled out of the event.

Further, the SSN together with the Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA) continue to engage other artists to pull out of the event and declare their solidarity with the Swazi people. Currently, we are engaging renowned Zimbabwean artist Baba Oliver Mtukudzi to take the same stand and hope that he will agree.

Issued by the Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN]

YES, BUSHFIRE BOYCOTT IS STILL ON

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) has once again come out to say the boycott of the Bushfire Festival is definitely on.

There was confusion yesterday (13 May 2011) after the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) issued a statement that seemed to suggest there was a possibility of the boycott being lifted.

In a statement today, SSN says, ‘South African artists are hereby advised that Swazi youth in their numbers are fully behind this boycott.’

The SUDF has yet to issue a further statement clarifying its position.

See also

IS BOYCOTT ON OR NOT? JUST TELL US

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/05/is-boycott-on-or-not-just-tell-us.html