Protest against Mugabe, Mswati

2008-08-16 14:40

Johannesburg - The Congress of South African Trade Unions led a march against the participation of the governments of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and Swaziland King Mswati to the Southern African Development Community summit held in Sandton, Johannesburg on Saturday.

Spokesperson for the union body, Patrick Craven, said marchers had arrived at the Sandton convention centre where the summit was being held, and were holding a meeting outside.

"It's going very well," he said.

A declaration made by Zimbabwean and Swaziland civil society delegates at a Solidarity Conference organised by Cosatu and held on Aug 10-11 read: "We hold dear the firm view that Robert Mugabe and Mswati III are not legitimate leaders of their various countries.

"They cannot claim any amount of legitimacy to rule their countries, for they have not been democratically elected by the peoples of their countries.

"Therefore, as representatives of civil society, we condemn the behaviour of these two leaders and take it upon ourselves to expose them and their unacceptable behaviour before the eyes of the world," the declaration read.

Zimbabwean organisations

Zimbabwean organisations who took part in the march included the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Revolutionary Youth of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum, Zimbabwe Exiles and the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.

Swaziland organisations who took part in the march were the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, the Swaziland United Democratic Front, the Swaziland Federation of Labour, the Swaziland Youth Congress and the People's United Democratic Movement.

South African organisations who took part in the march included the Treatment Action Campaign and the Anti-Privatisation Forum.

Sandton police spokesperson Constable Neria Malefetse said there had been no reports of incidents during the march.

Officers were monitoring the march to ensure that it was peaceful and that everyone was safe, she said.

- SAPA