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”