Cosatu to lead Swazi march
2010-09-01 21:24
Mbombela - Cosatu has announced that it will lead the "biggest march ever seen in Swaziland" next week in support of the unbanning of political parties in that country.
The union's secretary in Mpumalanga, Fidel Mlombo, said various events in both Swaziland and South Africa would form part of its Democracy Week campaign taking place from Monday to Friday next week.
Political parties were banned in Swaziland in 1973 by King Sobhuza, after which trade unions started playing an important political role in the country.
"Senior leaders of Cosatu will be in Swaziland next Tuesday to meet with a coalition of trade unions in that country, including all the political parties that have been banned. We've planned the biggest march seen in that country in the last 30 years.
"We will be submitting a memorandum to the government of Swaziland demanding the unbanning of political parties, removal of all laws that inhibit political activities, and an end to the harassment and torture of political activists," said Mlombo on Wednesday.
He said the coalition in Swaziland was acting in accordance with the country's Labour Relations Act, which permits them to give notice of a planned march or strike.
"But our members who are going are aware that they might be arrested and that we might not come back. If King Mswati III orders that we must be arrested, we'll get arrested," he said.
Engage government
In South Africa, Cosatu plans to hold demonstrations outside various police stations to encourage the government to engage in talks with its Swaziland counterparts to unban political parties.
Meanwhile, the youth leagues of the ANC and SACP have also announced that they are planning to campaign for democracy in the kingdom.
At its national general council held in Johannesburg last weekend, the ANCYL took a resolution to support the campaign for social and political justice in the kingdom.
Spokesperson Floyd Shivambu told African Eye News Service that the league was busy drafting a "programme of action" to support the Swaziland nation.
Shivambu would not elaborate but said: "We want to assure the people of Swaziland that our immediate focus would be on the unbanning of political parties and halting the continued suppression of activism in that country."
On Tuesday, the Mpumalanga branch of the Young Communist League also released a statement reaffirming its commitment to the struggle for democracy in the kingdom.
Africa not free
"Africa is not going to be free until everyone in Swaziland is free from the monarchy. We are also saying that the Swazi reed dance should be banned because it is equal to pornography that is used to satisfy the sexual needs of the ruling class," said provincial spokesperson Jabulani Mathabe.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) said it would welcome any support in its campaign to bring democracy to Swaziland.
Spokesperson Lucky Lukhele said the monarchy was ill-equipped to combat the poverty, unemployment and high prevalence of HIV/Aids that troubled the kingdom's one million people.
"International investors are reluctant to invest in Swaziland because there is no democracy. According to statistics, Swaziland is facing high levels of inequality between the rich and the poor because more than 70% of the population live on less than US$1 a day, and more than 300 000 people depend on food aid.
"We will support any intervention from outside organisations that are willing to help us achieve democracy."