May-June 2009

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!

LOOKS LIKE THE MOMENTUM IS BUILDING….CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN DENMARK.

Press release
Around 500 people attended the launch of the newly founded Swaziland Democracy Watch at the May Beats festival the 30th May in the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen.

The new Swaziland Democratic Watch presented a professional photo exhibition about the strong and fighting Swazi people and the freedom fighter Mario Masuku at a big festival in Demark last weekend.

The attending guests were through the exhibition informed about Mario Masuku and his imprisonment. A big majority of the guests became full supporters of Mario Masuku and PUDEMO’s fight for a multiparty system in Swaziland. Furthermore, many of the guests wrote greeting to support Mario Masuku.

“It was a very successful presentation”, explained Marie Hvelplund, a member of Swaziland Democracy Watch. ’ Many people were enthusiastic to show their support for Masuku”.

Swaziland Democracy watch will in the near future send greetings to Mario Masuku in the jail. It is our opinion that the freedom fighter, Mario Masuku, should not be in prison and denounced as a terrorist. We think that the future of Swaziland should be decided by the people and not by one man, the king.

The focus on the photo exhibition was to inform about the fight for democracy in Swaziland and the king’s, Mswati III, misuse of power. The pictures and the text to match illustrated the big inequality between poor population and the very rich royal family.

This photo exhibition was shown at a big festival in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.

“ A lot of people said to me, that before they came to this festival, they didn't know anything about Swaziland,” said Anne Bech, a member of Swaziland Democracy Watch. “ Many were shocked by the conditions in Swaziland, and they couldn't imagine living in a country with a dictator like the king, Mswati III.”

Swaziland Democracy Watch is a newly founded solidarity group that fights for democracy in Swaziland. We aim to bring Swaziland on the political agenda in Denmark and get the politicians to take responsibility for the actions of the EU and subsequently put pressure on the government of Swaziland. This is necessary for our case, in order to make the king realize that his actions will not take place unnoticed. Furthermore we collaborate with progressive democratic movements in Swaziland, to help them in their struggle against the present despotic monarchy.

On the behalf of Swaziland Democracy Watch.

Nana B. Olesen.


ARE WE REALLY DEVELOPING OUR COUNTRY OR “DEVELOPING POVERTY” WITHIN OUR COUNTRY?
Sikhupe Airport, Swazi City, Industrial Park and all the other investment promises lives us wondering!!
By Comrade Marcus Garvey

I wonder if the leadership of countries like Swaziland ever give themselves time to consider the thinking of the ordinary citizens of their country. It has become a norm from those high up in the corridors of power to undermine our intelligence, putting our thinking capabilities hundred or more years back in history when only the privileged class understood what was really taking place on political, economical and social issues globally.

Positive Development or just the opposite?

Sikhuphe International Airport!

Building of the Sikhuphe International Airport programme commenced in 2000. To my understanding, the major financers of such a project was the Taiwanese government as usual of course ( only about three countries in Africa has diplomatic ties with Taiwan). The primary intention of building such an airport was to be used by travelers to change planes and fly on to their destinations.

It is true that as a developing nation we need an internationally recognized airport in our country. However, after a feasibility study by experts for such a big project, ordinary Swazis needs to be informed and be given a chance of making some recommendations. The question is why did we decide to built a new one when the already existing one is failing to meet international standards


Swazi City and 15 000 Jobs!!

In his 41st birthday at the Mavuso Trade Center, the King stated that, “ I have been assured by the experts who are working the projects that they will deliver them within three years”. This projects includes the multi billion emalangeni Swazi City to cover about 1 800 000 square meters.

According to Bheki Dlamini the CEO in the King’s office and Sheriff the director of the SAAD Group architecture a company anchored in Saudi Arabia, doing the design for the project, the Swazi City will have two five star hotels, a shopping mall with more than 250 shops which offer a variety of fashions from around the world, four floors of luxurious shopping experience, Royal Villas which will offer up to six star accommodation facilities, among others.

Now the question is, do Swazis really need a shopping mall? With the unemployment rate at such an alarming rate and the GDP at such an alarming rate, are we going to afford buying at the mall / already Swazis are finding it difficult feeding themselves relying on donors to survive. Frankly, such a project is not for the benefit of ordinary Swazis, but it is just meant to bring the shopping of the royal family closer home, maybe travel sanctions is looming against them.

Again on development projects, we have been informed that a Science and Technology Park will be built at a site already identified, expansion of the Matsapa Industrial estate and building of an Umbane Township at Malkerns all this projects are viewed by our leadership as a benefit to all Swazis.

Someone living in a glass house is throwing stones at the poor masses of Swaziland. These issues of building castles on ice seems to be a way of diverting the concentration of the ordinary citizens of our country from the very important issues touching our everyday lives; the political, economical and social set up of our country. Someone is undermining our intelligence, as the working class, we cannot ’bury our heads on the sand and expect a great God to come from the skies and rescue us”. We have to challenge these fairy tales. Only time will tell.



WORKERS UNITED SHALL NEVER BE DEFEATED!!
By Comrade Victim

We the progressive movement of this country once again salute the workers of Swaziland for the strong solidarity they have shown during the May 1 celebration. In unity the workers assembled at the Salesian Sports Ground not only to celebrate the workers day but also their unity. In PUDEMO we salute the SFTU, SFL, SNAT and many other workers who contributed to the economy of the country. It is this unity that PUDEMO has struggled for so many years to have. We are aware that the enemy is not happy when workers come together.

Undemocratic regimes of this world do not celebrate as the workers power gets galvanized because it poses a threat to their existence. Their response is to cry- terrorism!

Workers of Swaziland continue to be a strong motive force for change for you have nothing to loose, for you have already lost almost everything. You have constructed the roads but you continue to be without a car. You have built schools and universities yet your children never see the inside of a classroom. You have built garment factories yet you have continued to walk naked.

Workers of Swaziland rise up and demand what you produce from the sweat of your labour. Make your muscle be known by the captains of the industries. Let your voice not only be heard but also be listened to. Make the slogan– An Injury to One is an Injury to All be a reality. Nothing for us without us must rule. You are old enough to participate in the governance of your economy because it is produced by you. One industry One Union, One Union One Federation!!#


VIVA SWAZILAND SOLIDARITY NETWORK (SSN)

VIVA International Solidarity.

We the oppressed people of Swaziland wish to extend our sincere gratitude to all the comrades involved in the network to liberate the country from perpetual slavery and servitude. Comrades you contribution towards exposing the double standards of our rulers who preach and speak democracy yet they perpetrate oppression of one man by another.

Comrades, we salute your successful campaign to shame the regime during the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma. We applaud the shaming and exposing of the hypocrisy by the Pan African Parliament. Such bodies continue to dirty themselves with people who have not been democratically elected like Marwick Khumalo and his cohorts.


THE ARREST OF COMRADE THULANI!!
By Comrade Victim

The arrest of comrade Thulani has not come as a surprise to us because it is a commonly known fact and principle that is employed by all regimes facing extinction from the face of the earth. We knew after the arrest of comrade Mario Masuku, the Peoples President that this regime was now ’kicking indiscriminately without tactics’. To our every arrest is victory as the enemy is pushed deeper into defeat. The continuance harassment of our comrades who are awaken at night and terrorized is a clear indication that the people are advancing. The hunger and thirst for democracy has been raised by the terrorism laws. As the oppressed people continue to push for their emancipation, all unjust laws cannot stand by.

As we sing and march along the streets we must do so with pride for our liberation is at hand. We must do so with pride as the Tinkhundla is brought down on its knees. Comrades, to all of you that have been raided by the agents looking for weapons yet carrying weapons themselves, do not break but remain strong and resolute. True cadres of our struggle always expect the unexpected. To those of you who have not experienced this barbaric act, stay strong and vigilant. This are but necessary bridges to be crossed. To comrades’ wives and husbands, punish us not for having shown less love, be patient a little as we finish the last mile to freedom.


LET US ALL BUILD, SUSTAIN AND SAFEGUARD THE UNITY AND INTERNAL COHESION OF THE MOVEMENT”
By Comrade Hendrick Springle
Manzini Regional Secretary at the Regional Political School
14th June 2009

As we struggle in our quest to dismantle Tinkhundla, we and our partners in the Swaziland United Democratic Front represent unity of purpose to end Tinkhundla and replace it with multiparty democratic state. It is our duty and responsibility to unite this broad range of forces behind a common vision and a programme of action to finally defeat the Tinkhundla regime.

· It is the role of PUDEMO to unite all progressive forces on the African continent and across the world against Tinkhundla’s unique thuggery of democracy and in the process engage these international allies to impose smart and strategic sanctions on the regime.
As we approach our branches’ general meetings, the subs and regional congresses this month and the national general congress in 2010, the unity and internal cohesion of PUDEMO will face serious test due to the critical question of leadership succession. Frank discussion within structures should assist in perfecting and improving our management of leadership succession and deployment of cadres into strategic civil society organizations, trade unions and building and strengthening organs of people’s power. PUDEMO also has the responsibility to build the unity of the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) as it goes into its 2nd national conference in a few weeks time. The current crop of SUDF leadership coming from the six affiliates has to be lauded even though some quarters feel it has not done enough in terms of achievements and challenges. Leadership succession in the SUDF is of paramount importance. Objectivity rather than subjectivity should prevail when evaluating the performance of the SUDF which is a mere 12 months old. If you recall that the Front was conceived at the 2006 Matsulu Congress it is our responsibility to safeguard its unity, our duty to provide the ultimate glue to hold it together under this trying times. We should tolerate the diversity and levels of struggle of our partners in the front, more so capacitate by discussion, share ideas and tackle any factors that threaten the unity of the Front. We should be disciplined, for we rightly say we won’t beg for our freedom but our principle reminds us that the liberation of the people should be an act of the people themselves. For any fault on our part, history will judge us harshly.

Leadership succession in the SUDF is of paramount importance. Objectivity rather than subjectivity should prevail when evaluating the performance of the SUDF which is a mere 12 months old. If you recall that the Front was conceived at the 2006 Matsulu Congress it is our responsibility to safeguard its unity, our duty to provide the ultimate glue to hold it together under this trying times. We should tolerate the diversity and levels of struggle of our partners in the front, more so capacitate by discussion, share ideas and tackle any factors that threaten the unity of the Front. We should be disciplined, for we rightly say we won’t beg for our freedom but our principle reminds us that the liberation of the people should be an act of the people themselves. For any fault on our part, history will judge us harshly.

· Comrades and compatriots, any discussion of the unity of the movement has to take into account both the historical and contemporary contest within which PUDEMO continues to evolve. PUDEMO was formed 26 years ago and the words of our founding documents, “ to fully represent the interests of the people of Swaziland and to unite them against undemocratic governance, oppression, exploitation, unfair discrimination, corruption, nepotism and favoritism”. A declaration to the world was pronounced of which we still dearly uphold: ’ that Swaziland belongs to all its citizens not subjects, regardless of race, color, sex, religion or social status. United we will stand and struggle to liberate ourselves from the chains and shackles of tinkhundla”. The democracy the country had achieved at independence in 1968 and nurturing was assassinated by the 1973 Decree banning freedom assembly and expression. It became a criminal offence for three or more people to assemble, discuss and debate. Before and after its conception, PUDEMO operated underground. At the 1990 Ipelegeng Conference, PUDEMO unbanned itself and became the spearhead of the transformation of our society behind a common vision of a better life for all people. Our primary role is the mobilization of all classes and strata in our society that objectively stand to gain from the success of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR). Yesteryear, today and tomorrow our ambition is to unite with other genuine people’s organization in the fight against national oppression and exploitation through tactical and strategic alliances and co-operation arrangements.

As we speak today, the despotic regime is drafting and unleashing one draconian law after another in its desperate fight against a democratic dispensation. The regime has taken advantage of the hue and cry on global terrorism and enacted the Suppression of Terrorism Act or is it the Suppression of Democracy Act which in all essence was meant to be a last ditch effort to destroy PUDEMO and its revolutionary appendages. In the pipeline is a legislation to purge comrades in the government civil service. We at PUDEMO say, do not panic this is a psychological knee jerk reflex action of a dying regime on its way to the dustbin of extinction. Let us all stand as a unit and reject this notion as ultra nonsense, a violation of our fundamental human rights of the highest order. All along the regime is shooting itself in the foot, scoring own goals, choking itself to death.

· PUDEMO is the movement that bears that singular historic responsibility to unite all our people and PUDEMO’s first responsibility is itself to be united so that it can lead transformation of our society as a powerful and effective organization. Many liberation movements and revolutionary parties that failed to manage their internal contradictions fell by wayside, leaving their noble ideals unaccomplished. As explained above, never in our existence have we faced such torrid and hostile environment. Each and every cadre should be calling for unity and internal cohesion. PUDEMO is a product and custodian of unity. We have to safeguard the unity and internal cohesion of the movement.

Unity is built on basic principles of what the movement stands for and how it should operate in carrying out its mission. Unity cannot and should not be equaled with the absence of differences within structures of the organization. Contradictions and differences will always exist in any vibrant organizations. The challenge is to manage and turn contradictions into a source of strength, rather than a source of splits and splinters. Over the 26 years of its existence PUDEMO has established traditions and cultures that are an integral part of the heart and soul of the movement.

1. Encouraging and inculcating a culture of open discussion and debates

This helps to the organization to develop theoretical clarity and identify the appropriate strategy and tactics for each phase of the struggle and cope with difficult moments of ideological flare ups. This lays the basis for unity of purpose, one of the major ingredients of internal cohesion. Encouraging a culture of criticism and self-criticisms helps the cadre ship of the movement to approach questions and practical problems of social transformation with critical minds rather than with dogma. This culture lays the basis for cadres and leaders to constantly reflect on and learn from their daily experiences and methods of work, thus creating a possibility to become even better agents of change.

Lack of debate and robust exchange of ideas contribute and causes divisions in the structures of the movement. This can lead to a situation in which people find ways outside formal structures to express different views, undermining organizational processes, procedures and decisions. sometimes the claim about lack of debate is made falsely by those whose views have been defeated in internal debates. However, the leadership of the movement at all levels has to constantly take a lead in encouraging and participating in climate of open debate, ill-disciplined individuals or factionalists who seek to undermine the organizational decision –making processes get exposed and dealt with decisively.

2. Encouraging and perpetuating a culture of respecting democratic centralism, organizational decisions and resolutions

All views are to be expressed and heard in proper structures and every effort made to emerge with the widest possible approach, based on fairness of principle but agility on tactics. As part of the democratic culture of PUDEMO decisions and resolutions of the majority are binding to everyone, including those who hold a contrary view. The lower structures have the right to influence decisions of the higher structures, but once decisions are taken by the higher structures they are binding on all structures and they have to be respected and implemented by all membership.

3. Perpetuating a culture of collective leadership

We should understand that no single individual no matter how committed or experienced has the ability or wisdom to bring about social change on their own. Leaders have to function as collectives that constantly exchange views and share organizational tasks and get guidance from the membership and involve them in the work of the organization.

Through collective decision making and implementation, individual leaders influence one another's views and perspectives, share experience on dealing with organizational and political matters and therefore gain confidence that improves the performance and effectiveness of the organization. On the other hand dysfunctional leadership collectives contribute to divisions in the structure of the movement. When leadership collectives fails to meet as required, collectively review the work of the organization and take appropriate decisions and actions, a climate is created in which there are parallel processes that take over the functions of an elected collective, thus giving rise to divisions because individuals do not operate within the discipline of a collective. Unelected individuals end up taking key decisions of the organization, while those elected to do so remain out of the scene or fail to take responsibility.

Unity in action has to be encouraged , nurtured and perpetuated.

Recognizing that ideological unity is necessary but insufficient, it must be matched by unity through disciplined implementation of an agreed programme of action. Unity only becomes a material force or a powerful and effective instrument for revolutionary change when it is translated into action.

By developing an organizational tradition and culture that combines all these pillars the leadership of the movement can be able to manage ideological, class gender, generational and sect oral contradictions.

Some other factors and practices that contribute and exacerbate division

Factionalism and sectarianism:
This is the tendency and method of work in which a group of like minded comrades give to itself the power and function of ensuring that all key decisions in an organization are first discussed and decided by it outside formal organizational structures then taken to structures for rubber stamping. Even if there are open debates, collective leadership and effective management of organizational process, there are people who will pursue factionalism is an ideological disposition because they do not believe that the revolution can be entrusted to the leadership collective and membership of an organization. Factionalism can also be driven by sheer self interest. A lot of factional activity in structures of broad democratic movement in our country is driven by pursuit of positions that are associated with influence and resources.

Poor political management of organizational process:
Divisions often arise from failure to have clear, transparent and predictable systems and procedures that help people in the organization to understand how decisions are made and who is responsible. Sloppy and inefficient administration could be misunderstood as deliberate intent to exclude certain people from having access to information. Dysfunctional secretariats and other coordinating and administrative structures could cause serious tension and conflicts in collectives. When the center cannot hold, many center's will emerge outside the agreed ways of working and these will cause confusion, information gaps, distortions, misquotations and misinterpretation that lead to tension.


The role of leadership and membership in building unity and internal cohesion.

We have always pointed out that those in positions in leadership should unite and guide the movement to be at the head of the process of change. They should lead the movement in its historic mission to organize and inspire the masses to be their own liberators. They should lead the task with diligence. And together they should reflect continuity of a revolutionary tradition and renewal which sustains the movement in the long term. National, regional and branch leadership bear a particularly heavy responsibility in building the unity of the movement so that it can effectively discharge its historic mission of uniting all Swazis…. So that we can effectively and collectively undertake the key task of social transformatiom.

As individual members of PUDEMO and the different organizations of the democratic movements, we all have a right to express views on matters of strategy and tactics, policy positions and leadership within our structures. However, what has set our revolutionary movement apart from te others and ahead of the others is the fact that the selection and election of leadership has not been done in a manner that creates permanent blocks or causes splits and splinter groups. This is because the rank and file membership has a very important role in safeguarding the unity of the movement. The leadership of PUDEMO has a central role to play in uniting the membership and successive generations of the leadership of our movement in keeping it together in these difficult and trying times.



CAUGHT BETWEEN THE WEB: hands off PUDEMO & SWAYOCO
...Forward with the fighting spirit.
By Comrade DU


When we worked around the concept towards the formation of a Front, we did have in mind that some other opportunistic elements will creep in to deviate from the main strategic objective of the Front, the restoration of Multi-party Governance. These organ is supposed to embrace all organs within the society who subscribe to the ideals of a democratic Swaziland. What these organ have turned to be an organizations of professionals, academicians and disciplinarians who think that there are ethics and morals in a cause of the struggle to overthrow a system of governance, unless we are a noise making organ with no objective.

It is surprising though to hear some of the labor unions citing violence as the main cause that makes some workers not to attend mass actions but they forget to cite that workers in as much as they witness violence from the state machinery. Another issue is the abuse and mismanagement of workers’ funds for personal gains which have seen a lot of workers not attending mass action, it is not all about violence but how best do union leaders take grievances of workers from grassroots level to national level but if leaders take subscription and do not service workers but make deals with employers. How hypocritical are our leaders? Freedom for the poor is usually deviated by such forces who try to stipulate the modus operanda for the struggling people so that they can please their donors.

From time immemorial revolutionary struggles have been ostracized by these forces who bring donor funds with conditions so that we can come out with another suppressive and exploitative regime under the guise of progressive government. Our freedom will not come out of the mercy of donors their stooges. Revolutionaries are always struggling to defeat puppet governments, reactionary forces which are counter-revolutionary funded by imperialist forces. Revolutionaries are always caught in this web but always fight on till victory is attained.

Viva Pudemo\Swayoco the vanguard of the Swazi Struggle


THE NEW PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT (PAP)

Elected Dr Idriss Ndele Moussa, from Chad, a dentist by profession and four new vice presidents:
· Bethel Amadi, first vice president from Niger
· Mary Mugyenyi, second vice president from Uganda
· Laroussi Hammi, third vice president from Algeria
· Joram Gumbo, fourth vice president from Zimbabwe

The legislative powers shall include:
· Respect of human rights
· Consolidation of democratic institutions and developing a culture of democracy
· Promotion of good governance and the rule of law
· Adoption of AU budget
· The harmonization of the laws, policies and programmes of member states and regional communities
· Undertaking of fact-finding missions

In his speech the new president stated the specific responsibilities expected from his vice presidents to fast track the organization’s new duties as Africa’s legislative authority.

Objectives include:
· Accelerating political and socio-economic integration
· Promoting and defending common African positions of issues of interest to the continent’s people
· Promoting pace, security and stability
· Promoting democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance
· Establishing the conditions for the continent to play its role in the global economy.#


THIS MP SHOULD BE BRANDED FOR MENTAL DEFICIENCY SYNDROME!!
By Comrade Marcus Garvey

Once again the poor working class are being insulted, this time by an MP who claims to be a man of God leading his band, Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors by openly stating that HIV testing should be mandatory and all those testing positive should be branded on the buttocks. What a disgusting statement from an MP who gets his salary from the toil of our sweat and a person who claims to be a man of God.

It is not surprising for an MP selected under the Tinkhundla system to insult the very same people who elevated him to such a high position. In fact such insults are a daily occurrence under Tinkhundla. We have seen MP introducing the IGSCE education without the consent of all stakeholders, but universities in South Africa that assists us in the fields such as engineering totally rejecting students from our country to enroll citing inferiority of this kind of education.

PUDEMO, in their Manifesto has stated its goal, to create a constitutional multi party democracy state where the government shall be based on the will of the people, and through the people’s representative organs influence and enjoy effective participation in the running of the country. This will ensure that leadership is always from the bottom, no one in parliament shall say what he/she wants without the mandate of the people.

To all HIV positive people, comrades and all those who belong to the human family, we urge you to follow the decision taken by the Treat Action Campaign (TAC) and the Swaziland Aids Support Organization, boycott everything from Myeni’s group. We cannot afford to support people like Myeni, wearing a Christian coat, but deep inside an arrogant monster.

March-April 2009

TRIBUTE TO SSN!
Comrades in exile and comrades everywhere around the political globe we, the suffering people of Swaziland, wish to extend our sincere gratitude in your solidarity with us. We appreciate your stance and position towards the so called banishment in Swaziland. Continue to be a thorn in the flesh of our undemocratic government. Continue to wage this fight against the Tinkhundla system. Continue to remain a voice of the voiceless.


The Hypocrisy of NGO’s ... By Victim
In a recent breakfast meeting held at the Mountain Inn the director of CANGO, Mr. Ndlangamandla, declared that the civil society is weak in Swaziland. He and others claimed that this is the view and conclusion by the donors. When taken to task by the participates to this conclusion he later claimed that he was provoking a debate. It is this debate that has delayed change in the world. People don’t have to provoke action and we do not forget that this officer, late last year, was intimidated to abandon a rally.

To some of us this incident is still fresh in our minds. How can someone who has the power, and muscle to be strong, claim that the peoples' struggle is weak?

Reason!
If you look closely to the reasons made to this declaration you find that what is deep in the hearts of some of the NGOs is not the desire to see the people emancipated from their daily sufferings. Some NGOs have double agendas. While they are seen to be fighting for the corrections of the wrongs, they at the same make a living out of the peoples sufferings. They would rather have the problem prolonged.

The mushrooming of financial assistance!
During the constitutional exercise that took ten years to complete some people made a killing in terms of money. While we traveled the countryside by foot telling the people not to vote, they were comfortable in the wheels of hired or bought cars. While we went to rallies they went to conferences. When the fake elections finally came out, some of the very same faces were given large sum of money which they used to influence and coerce people into committing a political suicide– the vote for a women campaign- and the damage done by Musa Hlophe and his SCCCO chameleon. It is an organization that always changes color depending on “where my mouth is”. As they cash in on our suffering, we are watching; God and history will remember their decisions to sell us that cheap– unfortunately our struggle is not for sale.

To Foreign Donations!
We acknowledge that we have been delayed not by poor organization but by material resources. While we would like too accept assistance from any person, we do not intend to wear any brand of that donor nor do we want any strings attached. It must be clear to anyone that those who intend to cash through us must not give us too many coats to wear for their benefits. The people of Swaziland have chosen to fight under the banner of the Swaziland United Democratic Front, SUDF, and we shall resist anyone who wants to give us a new brand. All assistance must come through the Front and not "name change." We would like to invite people to join us and those who are in the Front who wants to leave can do so. People who are outside must not wait there, but must come in. We declare once again that our struggle is not for sale. Comrades, let us be vigilant against political salesmen.



FREE EDUCATION FOR ALL!! ...by Marcus Garvey

“Lomoya lo uyabandza….shosholoza guerilla”
As I sing this freedom song I feel proud, not for myself but for the gallant soldiers of the Ex-Miners association who boldly stood up and took the government to court demanding free education for all the children of Swaziland as stated in the constitution.

It was a day to remember when Justice Monageng delivered judgment on free education this year, but have we really won the war? Already the government spokesperson, Macanjana Motsa has stated that free education is only for grade 1, and grade 2 the following year.

Now there are two possibilities states on the “Comment of the Times of Swaziland” dated 16 April 2009, the introduction of an education levy and the other one putting a stop to scholarships and tertiary education. In all, the poor working class are on the receiving end.

As the working class, we are prepared to face any eventualities that might arise, "we know we shall win and we are confident”, even the Mesopotamia Empire did fall.



REMEMBER THE PALESTINE QUESTION!!......By Victim

As an organization that is opposed to an invasion of one country by another, we continue to join the civilized international society in condemning the perpetual man-made suffering of the people of Palestine. The recent brutal murder of innocent people including women and children was a further proof that Israel does not want the Palestine people to live as a people committed to self destiny.

We do not debate whether Israel should exist or not; from our history books they are at a very recent history. 1948 is not far when the state of Israel was formed. What we do acknowledge and respect is that the lands that Israel was built upon had occupiers and those inhabitants cannot be suppressed by cluster bombs or a blitz of a fire power that was witnessed in the last attempt to suppress the Palestine people.

Solution to the question !
As an organization almost held in a similar situation, we may not have a correct and appropriate solution other than through a negotiated settlement. Israel must admit that they have no land beside the old biblical indoctrination of a God who gave someone land. All men and women were created by God.. He could not have given the Israelites and denied the Palestinians land.

Israel must also not try to punish the Palestine people because they were not responsible for the Holocaust. They know who tortured and gassed them. I have never heard of a war criminal from the occupied lands and why would one group assembled to appease the Americans after the man be given a soft glove. Is it because this is Big Brother's first born child or is it because this is a test ground for America weapons?

The answer come as to how sincere ‘Uncle Sam’ is to the self rule of the Palestine people.


On the COSATU Secretary for International Affairs Issues!

We believe the position the comrade made is what we stand for and support. We shall continue to support the liberation of the Palestine people from the Zionist terror which has been perpetuated by the Israel army. We promise to maintain this issue in any form that we are given. We salute all those brave soldiers and ordinary citizens who have died since the war between Israel and Palestine states. We praise the gallant soldiers of Hamas who put up a very brave resistance against a big and well equipped army. History has continued to be the best teacher by proving that the size and equipment of an army does not shape the war; it is the will to fight a just war. Batista fell to a small rag-tag army led by two geniuses, Castro and Che. The armed apartheid South Africa looked invincible but it could not bring an end to the conflict when continued to destabilize the country to the benefit of the progressive movements.



SADC:…...The Making of Autocratic States?..............By Marcus Garvey

Who really benefits in the existence of SADC? As the working class of the region constituting 95% of the population , do we really need SADC? Looking at the events which has unfolded for the past couple of years in the three countries namely Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Swaziland, the question which comes into my mind is, why was SADC formed?

Brief History of SADC
SADC was established in April 1980 by governments of nine Southern Africa countries of Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe after SADCC which acted as a forerunner . The transformation occurred in August 1992, when the heads of state met in Windhoek, Namibia to sign a Declaration and Treaty establishing the new SADC– Southern Africa Development Community.

SADC and its member states were expected to act according to the following principles:
· Sovereign equality of all member States;
· Solidarity, peace and security;
· Human rights, democracy, and the rule of law;
· Equity, balance and mutual benefit;
· Peaceful settlement of disputes.

The protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation provides that SADC shall promote the development of democratic institutions and practices within the territories of State Parties and encourage the observance of universal human rights as provided for in the Charter and Conventions of the Organization of African Unity [AU] and the United Nations.


Zimbabwe
In August 1998 Mugabe’s regime decided to send troops to DRC to prop up the tottering regime of Laurent Kabila, which was under attack by the rebels advancing from the eastern DRC. As the chairman of SADC, he portrayed this intervention as a SADC initiative. The organ on Politics, Defence and Security of SADC turned a blind eye on this decision allowing Mugabe to invest his army for the natural wealth in the DRC.

The elections which took place in March 2002, saw Mugabe defeating Tsvangirai's MDC in the presidential elections by 56.2% to 41.9% amid violence and prevention of large numbers of citizens in urban areas from voting. The conduct of elections was widely viewed internationally as having been manipulated. The SADC declared such elections as free and fair.

On 29 March 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections were held where Zanu took 94 seats and MDC 96 seats. When the official results for the presidential elections were published on 2 May 2008, they showed 43% for Mugabe against 47% for Tsvangirai. Therefore, no candidate secured victory and the presidential run-off was needed even though the MDC claimed 50.3%. All international observers, except SADC, claimed fraud in the elections. The run-off was held 27 June 2008 without the participation of Tsvangirai who withdrew from the elections claiming intimidation.

SADC-Facilitated Government of Power –Sharing Agreement

On 11 September South African then president Thabo Mbeki announced a power sharing agreement between Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara. It was witnessed by SADC leaders, save for Botswana.


Political Asylum for a Dictator

After committing crime against the people of Ethiopia, killing over 2000 people, Mengistu Haile Marriam, the dictator fled to Zimbabwe to seek asylum. He was sentenced in absentia in 2006 to life imprisonment for genocide and illegal confiscation of property.

Swaziland

Under the Tinkhundla system of government elections were held in 2008 and it is under this so called "unique system" that no political parties are allowed to contest for power. Again the SADC observers declared the elections free and fair, but other international observers did not attend, avoiding humiliation in front of the international community.

Political Asylum?

Marc Ravalomanana of Madagascar decided to come to Swaziland after being unseated by Andry Rajoelina. If you look at the way he got into power, it is similar to the way his predecessor took over power.

In 2001, after the presidential elections Ravalomanana had 46% against Ratsiraka's 40%. A run-off was needed; however, Ravalomanan declared himself a winner and refuse to participate. In 22 February 2002 he officially declared himself president of Madagascar.

After losing support from the military, Ravalomanana resigned on 17 March 2009 handing over power to the military council. Rajoelina declared himself president. Why did Ravalomanan prefer to run to Swaziland for assistance?

Conclusion

Looking at all the political events mentioned above, it is evidently clear that the existence of SADC is not to develop ordinary citizens of the region politically, economically and socially, but to protect SADC dictators who are against democracy.

Why did SADC promoted the reinstatement of Mugabe after losing elections? The system of power sharing, after a leader loses elections to an opposition, cannot be deemed as free and fair.

It is known that Zimbabwe has one of the most trained and equipped army in the SADC region. In protecting Mugabe, the SADC leaders are buying themselves an army of protection in the event they are unseated themselves, as the working class are democratizing our region. Dictators are bound to fall peacefully or otherwise.

According to the SADC Principles and Guidelines for a Free and Democratic Elections, there is a very important section about multi-parties. SADC declared the elections in Swaziland free and fair without considering that there were no political parties when the constitution was drafted and during the Elections.

Ravalomanana is here in Swaziland and our leaders are trying everything to see him reinstated not because he deserves that, but because he is one of the richest in Madagascar. In fact, through power he took over control of the Madagascan economy. Right now someone wants to him reinstated to share that loot with him!

All over the world organizations like WTO, EU, G20, etc, are encountering attack from the working class. People are rallying against their operations. This shows that they no longer serve the interests of the people, but only exist to maintain the interests of certain individuals at the expense of our lives. Obviously the system has failed to bring peace and prosperity globally.


A new World is Needed, “ONE WORLD ONE PEOPLE”

Jan-Feb-2009

Editorial Note
Living in a state of terror!

The year 2008 presented us with numerous challenges. It was a year that will be very hard to forget with all the scars it has left us with.

Comrades, the Tinkhundla royal regime under the leadership of King Mswati III unashamedly continues to unleash and visit continuous terror on the people of Swaziland. This is in a desperate effort to hold onto power and delay any progress towards democratizing Swaziland.

We noted:

* The King at his family traditional headquarters (Ludzidzini sibaya) clearly and literally declared war on his people and, in particular, the democratic forces operating in the country.

* He proudly appointed one Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini as his new and trusted Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was given a clear mandate at the gathering to quickly work towards "strangling" ( kukhama) all those calling for the introduction of a constitutional multi-party democracy in the country to replace the archaic and dictatorial Tinkhundla status quo.

The Prime Minister has duly responded to the mandate of his master by:

* Putting into law the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 0n the 14th November. In the launching, the Prime Minister sternly pronounced that he was banning PUDEMO, SWAYOCO, SSN and Umbane from operating in the country. He mentioned that his government will ensure the organizations completely cease to exist and its members do not set their foot in the country.

* Less than 24 hours later, the states’ security agents were unleashed on the President of PUDEMO, Mario Masuku.

Masulu's house, at Eveni in Mbabane, was raided. He was subsequently detained. The state tried to justify its act and seek public favour by announcing that the President was charged for having been found with electronic devices and literature giving details and instructions on how to make bombs. Subsequently in court on 17 November, the state discarded the charges and preferred a new one, that Musuku had been charged for allegedly uttering statements in support of bomb-blast victims, namely Musa ‘MJ” Dlamini and Jack Govender, during the funeral of MJ. Presently, Masuku is kept at the Matsapa Maximum Prison where visitors are not allowed except for his family.

Comrades must remain calm in the midst of this terror challenge visited by the state on its people. This is a critical stage for the democratic revolution, where the state realizes it is surely going down and in the process becomes more desperate and dangerous in an effort to resist and preserve itself. History tells us that all dictatorships shall come to an end, and the Tinkhundla dictatorship is no exception to this scientific rule!


PEOPLES’ UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT
(PUDEMO)...
End of Year Statement
Cde Sphasha Dlamini –Secretary General


PUDEMO wishes to extend revolutionary and the warmest greetings to the fellow people of Swaziland and the peace and democracy loving citizens of the world. As we enter the year 2009, we are saying let us endure the pains and sufferings together and travel the last mile to a new and democratic Swaziland. We call upon all our structures within and outside the country to stand up to the task ahead and fulfill the revolutionary strategic objective of PUDEMO.

As we make a cross-over to the New Year, we are aware that tinkhundla has continued to force its misrule, characterised by oppression and exploitation, to the people of our country. We are aware of the fact that tens of thousands of half-naked and desperate children are on the streets and have deliberately been rejected by tinkhundla regime. The people’s movement is also aware of the reality that there are no drugs in hospitals owing to the dilapidating health care system that has been produced by this regime – our people are dying! We are as well cognizant of the incontrovertible fact that there are hundreds of thousands of poverty-stricken citizens who are without such basics as food and clean water, particularly in the remote area. We are further aware of the continuous exploitation of workers and the treating of Swazis as subjects and not citizens in their own land. Also, we do not forget that a majority of Swazis do not own land and that many are still victims of the regime’s senseless land evictions. The only message we can pass to our suffering people is that the Tinkhundla Empire is crumbling and that before you know it, the system will have been destroyed and replaced with a people driven system.

The year 2008 has not been smooth for our mass-based democratic movement. What with the brutal and barbaric assassination of our deputy president DR. Gabriel Thandokuhle Mkhumane who was shot dead at KaNyamazane in the republic of South Africa where he was living as an exile.

As PUDEMO, we still maintain that the senseless killing of this gallant servant of the Swazi people was political and that the truth shall be revealed in future.

There are many cadres who have died in our movement and whose blood shall water the tree of liberation. We pledge ourselves to lift up the spear and continue the noble fight. A majority of our comrades have continuously been threatened and terrorised by state police while some have been forced into exile. Be that as it may, all these have strengthened our glorious movement and have given it more power to soldier on. In fact, today we are stronger than yesterday.

Sadly, we had entered the year 2008 with many police brutality instances and we say one day the people of Swaziland shall be defended. The police declared war as they assaulted UNISWA students who were demanding their right to quality education. Textile workers were also assaulted by state police as they were engaged in a legal strike action. In both the students and the textile workers’ struggles, the police used live bullets to shoot peaceful citizens of the land! We repeat that one day the people shall be defended and we do not intent to threaten anyone when we say that.

The police also attacked members of the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF), including its leaders, during a border blockade activity that was meant at raising the international awareness on the Swazi struggle for democracy. A group of peaceful

PUDEMO members, including its leaders, were severely beaten and detained by tinkhundla police during a PUDEMO day rally in Manzini in July. Swayoco and PUDEMO members, including the people’s president, were subjected to the same treatment during a march that was organised by our youth league recently. The march had been allowed by the city council of Mbabane and the police but was stopped by the police on the actual day. It was intended to demand from the prime minister the resumption of the treason trial with which many of our members were charged and are out on bail. The continuous assault on political activists by police confirms what PUDEMO has been saying over the years; that the security forces are for the ruling elite and not the ordinary people of Swaziland and that they are used to harass the advocates of democracy in our country. However, more than the hatred of the pain to which we are subjected to on daily basis is our hatred of the conditions to which our people are subjected to throughout this country. We want to liberate all our people and we shall achieve this by all means necessary.

PUDEMO is not taken by surprise on the sudden banning of the people’s vanguard for the second time. Also, we are equally not surprised by the new suppression of terrorism Act and the incarceration of the people’s president Cde Mario Masuku. Such things are bound to happen in a country that is a dictatorship. We take comfort from history since such have happened to almost all liberation movements the world over. On the incarceration of our leader, we want to warn the regime by overemphasizing what we have just said; that we shall do all that is in our power to defend our leaders, organization and the people of our country against everything that threatens the Swaziland Democratic Revolution (SDR). Only time will tell.

The regime also defied warning from progressives and the international community and went on to host the luxurious 40/40 double celebrations and thereby squandering millions of the tax payers’ money. Again here, this confirmed what PUDEMO has been saying over the years; that we are waging a struggle against an autocratic regime that has got a high appetite for leisure. The ordinary Swazi never benefited anything from those so called celebrations.
Of fundamental note is that the regime continues to ignore international conventions on democratic, free and fair elections as it held its circus called national elections even in the year 2008. Swaziland is a signatory to a plethora of international conventions on democratic elections. These are, inter alia, International Convention on Political and Civil Rights, the Mauritius Declaration, the Cotonou Agreement and the Harare Declaration of 1991, where Common Wealth countries agreed that totalitarianism was giving way to democracy and freedom. We call upon respectful signatories to the above stated conventions to put pressure on tinkhundla to democratize as we enter 2009.The Common Wealth expert team encapsulated all when they openly stated their disregard of the credibility of the 2008 Swaziland National Elections. This was their position even in the year 2003 as they reported, “We do not regard the credibility of these national elections as an issue. No elections can be credible when they are for a parliament that does not have power and when political parties remain banned.”

PUDEMO maintains its long standing position that the zillions of problems engulfing Swaziland shall only be solved when a genuine dialogue has been called and a legitimate government is in place. We therefore demand a Constitutional Multiparty Democracy Now.

Essentially, the political and civic organizations of our beloved nation are united and this was evidenced by their coming together into the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF). The people’s vanguard party hails the labour movement for celebrating 2008’s May Day together for the first time after so many years. As we do that, we reiterate our old principle of ‘One industry one Union , one country one federation’. This barbaric and backward system of Tinkhundla shall only be dismantled by a more united progressive force. The 2008 September 3-4 Mass Stay away was a clear indication that our unity can overcome the brutal power of this cruel dictatorship. We need to redouble our effort in 2009 as we march forward to a democratic Swaziland . PUDEMO urges all the forces under the banner of the united front to seize this opportunity since to relax our effort now will be a great mistake which generations to come will fail to forgive. Let us consolidate and advance.

On the international front, our struggle has intensified and our international allies have practically offered solidarity with the Swazi struggle as led by our glorious movement. We are particularly indebted to our South African allies in the tripartite alliance. They are to us what sunlight is to plants and we say only history shall reward them. We urge the international community to intensify its campaign against the Tinkhundla inhuman regime in the year 2009. We have got no hesitation in saying that the people of Swaziland have got no future under the current political set up.

The People’s United Democratic Movement has one demand as we enter then year 2009;
· Talks about talks that will culminate into a genuine dialogue exercise involving all national stakeholders to discuss a way forward on the politics of our country.

It is our genuine view as PUDEMO that only such an exercise can lead to a people’s constitution and democratic government. The only historic route that can be taken by the ruling class this year is dialogue and not war. We have seen how the latter has failed in other African countries as it only results in bloodshed and unnecessary loss of lives. Our most treasured nation can not afford to take this dangerous route hence the need for dialogue as soon as possible. This is the very position that we took as early as 1992 in our document entitled, “THE PEOPLE’S WAY FORWARD DOCUMENT; TOWARDS A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY THROUGH A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT.” We want to emphasize that we see genuine dialogue as the only possible remedy for our ailing nation.

OUTSIDE SWAZILAND
We are in solidarity with the suffering people of Zimbabwe and we call upon the SADC and AU to take a decisive action and protect the people of that land from the quagmire they are currently in. Our movement further appeals to the international bodies, in particular the UN to intervene and save the people of Palestine . Nothing can justify the raping of young innocent children and women as well as the mass killing of peaceful civilians.




APOLOGY
We apologise for the delay in issuing the January Issue of Ulibambe Lingashoni. The problem we encountered was the draconian Suppression of Terrorism Act which forced us to move our documents to a comfortable place thus getting them mixed up. We hope comrades will bear with us in future.

AMANDLA!!!!!


DEFINING THE CHALLENGES FACING THE ORGANIZATION AND THE WAY FORWARD
Cde. Victim


Introduction
Never has the organization in its life history been faced with such challenges than now. As the dark clouds continue to gather around the dying tinkhundla system, more and more challenges appear on the horizon and some of these, if left unattended to, may delay the change. As we walk the last mile, a lot of things have developed which have cast some doubts and uncertainty on whether we are still moving in the right direction on not. As we look very closely at these challenges, we do not forget any past history which has influenced the present and given shape to the future. As we travel this last mile, we take recognizance of those whose fighting will power is hesitant. They are not sure whether we are moving towards the right or not. As we move the last mile , we are fully aware of the voices of our people who are impatient with their emancipation from the tinkhundla system. Their concern over the slow pace we are moving at is recognized. As all those challenges come, we do not forget adopted programmes and resolutions of the movement. We are proud to have survived the conundrum where we were being sold to the enemy. We survived the infiltration of the vusela conspiracy window dressing as a constitutional review committee. We refused to be made signatories of a fraudulent exercise aimed at prolonging the enslavement of the entire population.

Having withstood the test of time, we once again aim to survive the hard moments lying ahead. Consistence has been a major tool that has kept us focused in our journey to a new and democratic Swaziland; we have maintained taking decisions collectively. We have debated and engaged each other on any decisions we have made. It is this spirit that has kept the movement and it is this spirit that must be maintained if we are to arrive into the promised land; a land of vibrant debates. Let us collectively allocate an entry point.


The Balance of Forces
In order to be able to craft a proper way forward, one has to be able to read the balance of forces on the ground; for most of the past struggles, there has never been an easy task to do. Failure to properly read the balance has resulted in many struggles being lost. It is during this exercise that people fail to realize their potential to liberate themselves. It is also during this time when people will confuse quality and quantity. Incorrect reading of the balance of forces results in a failure to take….. To some we lost the plot when we refused to be part of the vusela yet that was when we made a right decision. Again, to some we lost the plot when we refused to be part of a fraudulent election exercise yet that was when we added more ground. This is not an easy exercise as maintained earlier on, but one that needs debates as it is sometimes influenced by the zone one in struggling as a geographical one where one must not be on the battle ground.

Coming closer to the organization, the issue of the balance of forces is very essential. First on the issue is where we can say the movement is winning or not. The correct answer which is uncontested is that yes we are fighting a correct war.

The second issue is whether we have the guts and capacity to hold on or not. Again here, the response would be yes we have that capacity. The third issue would be the numerical strength. This is one area where the actual battles takes place. The organization may have people who represent the majority aspirations but countries are not liberated by the majority but rather by the minority.

The balance of forces becomes an important issue because without correctly reading it, you will develop a strong will power for victory. This does not mean to undermine the enemy force. We are aware of the power of the enemy in as much as we are aware of our power. We are also aware of the potential danger that the enemy force pose. We are aware of the enemy’s spirit as well as our own.

To our credit, because we are fighting a correct war, we have the world on our side. PUDEMO started the song of the total liberation of the people of Swaziland; the international community picked it up. With the world on our side we have no reason to panic. If we panic, we will believe the propaganda that the progressive forces are defeated. The introduction of the Suppression of Terrorism Act and the recycling of people in political positions is a clear indication that the liberation movements are winning. Whether they use 1973 Decree or 2008 Terrorism act, none can stop the people from marching to final victory.

The issue of leadership is not only a challenge but a threat to the very existence of the movement. While it is correct to say specific moments and periods need specific leadership, it is logically correct to say the organization will always supply such leadership. Leaders are not born but recruited and trained by the struggle itself. The organization has experienced a different kind of leadership in the past. We have elected full executives but they had finished their terms shortly before their times.

We agree that the present situation allows for different approaches, but the approaches cannot be left on a few selected leaders who can not be easily accessible. In this regard, we do not believe in a leadership that will operate underground. We need a leadership that will stand up to the expectations of the whole world. While we demand this visibility, we acknowledge the dangers of the whole leadership being arrested, but as mentioned before, the struggle will produce others as history has never allowed a vacuum.

While still interrogating the issue of leadership, we take recognizance of the fact and history of the organization. We appreciated comrades who were full time employed elsewhere to lead us. They have risked their jobs and withstood that test of time. We are aware of the risk they face even now; not of going to fail but loosing their source of income. We are not blind of these things but because we entered into this struggle knowing its consequences, it is expected that we pass this test with flying colours. Remember, some of us have never even had that opportunity to venture into fullest happiness of life– having a decent job and a family. We have already lost but we do not say we must all loose. If there are comrades in the leadership who feel they cannot take it any longer, they can give leadership to those who feel they can carry the task.

In conclusion, I will remind comrades that we are children who want democracy. We are a generation that wants to be governed through consensus. We have practiced this even in the harshest of moments in the struggle. We cannot be seen to be breeding a culture where few people are entrusted with the running of the whole institution. We want to practice to elect our own leaders and recall them when we feel like. We do not want a leadership that elects to dissolve or disband itself without the people who elected them.


Visibility
In our last congress where the current leadership was elected, the issue of visibility was discussed at length. It was felt that for the movement to be identified, it must be visible and this is a weapon to beat the enemy. It is this visibility that has attracted more membership to the organization. Visibility comes in different ways; the wearing of T-shirts for the organization, attending of meetings and, most importantly, taking part in the protest marches organized by the movement or other underground structures of the struggle.

Imagine if the movement were to go underground! Who would identify himself/herself with the organization? People would think the movement is dead. The Sibusiso led government would have scored a victory if we were to go underground. The other organizations would embarrass us and call us names yet for 25 years we have remained a symbol of the Swazi resistance. We cannot go underground and bow to the suppression of terrorism act but we must remain above surface and absorb the heat. We must do this openly and in the eyes of the world.

We make this bold stance to remain visible. Some of us cannot be returned to the underground. Our mere presence above surface has been our greatest weapon.

Entry Point
This is the biggest challenge of them all. We must be able to locate where to put the needles. We must be able to locate the right and correct door to get through. If we are not able to do the above, we risk fighting for many years to come. Most struggles of the world have taken too many years because of this challenge. From the Iraq war to the Zimbabwe crisis, the issue is the same; it is the entry point. Good leaders are lost during this period of trying to locate the entry point. Most opportunists join and hijack the struggle during this period.

We take recognizance of the fact that some of our leaders may not be well equipped to identify the entry point; but we get worried when they go out asking it from people who have not been with the movement for sometime. We are not think-tanks and technocrats but the best are those who have been consistent and loyal to the movement. We have had cadres who were there, seen it all and done it all and those are the cadres who have absorbed the enemy to this far.

In determining the entry point, one has to revisit the pillars of the struggle. We have to choose how we implement them so that they become the compass to direct us to which door to open. Rough waters make good captains.

Way Forward
Having defined the challenges facing the movement, there is thereafter a great need to embark on a proper way forward. First of all, comrades must be able to remind themselves about past resolutions and programmes which have put us where we are. We have not arrived at this point accidentally but we know that as we intensify the struggle the enemy would unleash such draconian laws like the Terrorism Act. We are not bothered by this as there is nothing new. To us 1973 emergency laws and 2008 terrorism act are but identical twins of oppression.

As a way forward, we must never allow the enemy to dictate terms to us by putting fear in our minds. We must never allow the enemy to have an upper hand on us. We must do this with all the determination we have, knowing that we have defeated the enemy. As a way forward, we must be able to pull our resources together and unleash a wave that the tinkhundla system can fail to contain. Let us not dissolve the leadership, instead let us make it strong by putting new blood where necessary.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the organization cannot afford to go underground. We are from there, we operated from there and it cannot assist the movement anywhere to go there again. Having defined the challenges, we need to face and live up to expectation. We have people who are looking on us and we cannot let them down. We have ourselves who have toiled for many years who cannot afford to go underground. We have the capacity to walk the last mile. We have men and women among us that can lead. It must be remembered that the theatre of the struggle is here inside the country not outside. We have to absorb the enemy here at home. No one outside the country is better positioned to determine the pace of the struggle. No analyst from the outside can claim to know better than us although outside assistance is permissible.


IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE!!
Cde. Marcus Garvey

The world is watching. The working class of the world can no longer afford to fold their arms waiting for a great God to come from the skies and save the poor souls of innocent children and women from being massacred by one of the most powerful nations of the world, militarily and economically.

For 22 days the Zionists army has mercilessly invaded the Gaza strip using the most sophisticated weapons in their disposal, and the world is expected to ignore such inhuman and barbaric acts of state terrorism. About 1300 people have already lost their lives since the invasion of the Gaza Strip on the 27th December 2008, with over forty percent being women and children.

Palestine has become a site for testing the effectiveness of Israel's powerful arsenal, destroying innocent lives in the process. It has become a norm for the the International bodies such as the UN to ignore such confrontation until a point of no return is reached. But Why? Where is the International Criminal Court?

America’s desire for oil combined with dominating the globe militarily and economically, are at the centre of their aims. The Middle East conflict has no end in sight so long as America’s desires for oil combined with dominating the globe militarily and economically, are at the centre of their aims. The U.S.A. has always feared that popular anger in the Arab countries could erupt and force Arab rulers to challenge its interests, or that revolution could topple pro-Western rulers.

So the U.S. has developed another weapon in its armoury - this is backing Israel, a reliable ally which would act as a ‘watchdog’ in the region. This is why Israel is by far the biggest recipient of US aid, economically and militarily, in the world.” In 1996 Israel received $12 billion, 25% of US’s total foreign aid budget. (A Socialist Worker Pamphlet). It is the U.S.A.’s foremost favoured nation. The largest block of aid arrives in the form of direct arms grant.

Can the UN bring peace?
We have hoped that the UN will bring peace to the Middle East. They have condemned the occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank by the Jewish army; however, the UN can not stop the massacre. The UN is dominated by five countries- the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China; they are all vying for world dominance. The US is by far the dominant power in the UN, and is ready either to use or ignore that power in order to pursue its interests. The U.S. can act in any which way they deem fit to secure their interests, even if the UN is against their action. They barter and bargain in the Security Council, smaller states are bribed or bullied to go along with them.

“In case bribery is not enough, a reminder of US military power is not far away. The US now has a military presence in 120 of 198 UN member states." (A Socialist worker pamphlet).

Who can stop this massacre?
The working class are the people who suffer most in this unjustified wars. Unity amongst the people of Israel and Palestine is our only hope for peace in the Middle East. It remains to be seen if Barack Obama, the new president of the U.S. will change their foreign policy or it is just the “same drink from a new bottle’.


PUDEMO, SWAYOCO AND THE SSN DEMAND THE RELEASE OF THE PEOPLES
PRESIDENT,UNBANNING OF ALL POLITICAL PARTIES, REPEAL OF THE 1973 DECREE AND THE ANTI TERRORISM BILL OF 2008.

EVERY FRIDAY, HAVE A MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR ALL THE FALLEN HEROES AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FOR THE STRUGGLE.


SOCIALISM………………...AS A PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE
Cde. Marcus Garvey

The present age of capitalism is one of deep illusion. As we enter the year 2009, the human race is in danger of self-destruction. Unnecessary wars are waged by the capitalist states on the poor countries. Deaths from starvation and diseases are numbered in millions. Across the globe, communities are divided by conflicts and lives of individuals subjected to the most inhuman sufferings by the capitalist class, trying to secure their undemocratic, selfish grip to power. Any hope for a world of unity, democracy and material security has dwindled into a universal feeling of powerlessness in the face of massive problems which appear to be beyond control.

Surely, the important question is why, given the best that humanity can achieve, and why, given the common desire for a better world, do we continue to suffer these failures? Why do we seem unable to bring our relationships and everyday action into accord with our common need for co-operation and material well being?

Production for profit
Capitalism is a system in which means of production are owned or monopolized by a privileged minority. The great mass of people live by selling their labour power for wages and salaries. One thing should be noted about capitalism above all else– it can never be made to run in the interests of the working class. It is based on exploitation of the working class and can only work in the interests of the privileged owning class.

A Decaying Society
The decaying of capitalism’s social basis is apparent in a number of ways, all of which are symptomatic of a sick society:
· The ongoing break-up of community relationships, particularly the development of an ‘everyone-for-themselves' culture’
· The massive explosions of crime and anti-social behavior born of the miseries of the cut-throat market system.
·The massive corruption of capitalism’s politics, evident in the succession of sleaze scandals across the globe
· The revival of religious fundamentalism and the spread of mystical and millenarian sects, based on a loss of confidence in science and human progress.
· Last but not least, the economic crisis engulfing the whole world where rich nations are now forced to bail-out certain privileged companies in the name of saving jobs.

A Truly Human Society
The next stage of society, Socialism, will come as a welcome relief. It will bring harmony to human relations. Far from needing a special sort of behavior from people, socialism will run on patterns of action, thought and feeling that have been the norms throughout most human existence. Human beings will not become any more “good” or “kind” or “helpful” or “gentle”; but the pressures which now prevent them being all of these things at different times will have gone. Shortage of money, fear of unemployment, fear of nuclear war, fear of lawbreakers, fear of law itself, fear of the boss, even fear of the trade union, and so on. All of these pressures arise directly out of the capitalist organization of society. When we finish with capitalism, we shall have removed all these influences upon thoughts and actions of every member of the working class. The pressures which remain- those of social living, of coping with the environment, of wresting with all the problems of production and distribution- these pressures will still be considerable. The difference is that these are practical problems, not economic ones forced upon us by a useless ruling class and their repressive state machine. Real pressures and problems can be seen for what they are. They do not provoke neurotic responses and frustrated violence.

Practical problems are what call human co-operation into action. The land will be ours, the roads and factories and railways and offices will be everybody’s, and so we shall have personal interest in keeping them working, keeping them up to standard and improving them. The whole society will benefit from every constructive act or useful piece of work we do-not just some company’s profit and loss account, some millionaire’s annual dividend.

As the world has been gripped by an economic crisis, giant companies are at the brink of collapse and the capitalist states are being forced to offer financial bail-out to the companies, it is evidently clear that such a situation is approaching a very critical and dangerous waters. Today the capitalist states can bail-out such companies, but the question is for how long?

Looking at the history of mankind, one realizes that human life is evolving. According to A. Nnoli, a political scientist at the university of Nigeria, “society passes from one socio-economic formation to another. According to the level of development of productive forces and the production relation which corresponds to it. The socio-economic formations may be identified as follows, 1)Band; 2) Primitive Communalism; 3) Slave Societies; 4)Feudalism; 5) Capitalism; and 6) Socialism.”

As the capitalist system shows some elements of collapse; an alarming rate of unemployment, retrenchments, wars, deaths, etc, obviously the human nature detects another form of human survival, that is production for human needs not profit.

Is Progress Possible ?
It is we, the working class who make up around 95% of the world’s population, who have the most direct experience of the market economy’s inadequacies. It is therefore hardly surprising that over 60% of the population now believe that the kind of society today’s children will inherent will be worse than their own generation inherited. In the less developed countries progress for the majority has long been a sick joke.

Socialism...as a practical alternative

“ That as the machinery of government, including the armed forces of the nation, exists only to conserve the monopoly by the capitalist class of the wealth taken from the workers, the working class must organize consciously and political for the conquest of the powers of government, national and local, in order that this machinery, including these forces, may be converted from an instrument of oppression into an agent of emancipation and the overthrow of privilege, aristocratic and plutocratic”. (WSM)

“ Socialism is a good idea but it won’t work. You cannot change human nature”. This is the most common and influential of all objections made to socialism. It is argued that most people are inherently greedy and ambitious, so they want more than their fair share of material goods and to dominate.

Socialism can only be established when a great majority of workers understand it. It would be absurd for a minority of conscious socialists to try to take over power and impose the new system on an unwilling majority. Such a tragedy would certainly fail, with armed forces, controlled by the majority backed government, being used to defeat the “rebels”. And even if such a method of ‘revolution’ were successful-if a determined minority should seize political power in an attempt to introduce socialism on behalf of the working class– there would be no prospect of it resulting in a socialist society.

A look at various theories of “minority led socialism”, i.e. Stalinism, etc confirms that in practice these are ideologies that brings a policy of State Capitalism. ( To be continued on next issue)



Is greediness, selfishness and jealousness are natural to mankind?

Read the next issue of Ulibambe Lingashoni to find out.