Swaziland@Newsletter Extra
Published by Africa Contact (Denmark)


It is with great sorrow and anger that we learn of the death of our
friend and comrade, Gabriel Thandokuhle Mkumane. We have known him,
talked and laughed and worked with him since the earliest days of our
support for the People´s United Democratic Movement of Swaziland. We
will miss him and can only say: the struggle must continue. He will
lead us and follow us and be by our side as long as that struggle
lasts. And then and only then will he lie to rest.

With sorrow and solidarity,

Patrick Mac Manus
Editor
Swaziland@Newsletter
Denmark


Articles of the day:

Murder will not go unpunished

Dr. Gabriel Thandokuhle Mkhumane
6 December 1960-1 April 2008
Swazi Revolutionary; Deputy President of PUDEMO


The Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] and the entire progressive
community has learnt with shock and is saddened by the news of the
murder of the exiled comrade Dr. Gabriel Thandokuhle Mkhumane, the
Deputy President of the People's United Democratic Movement [PUDEMO],
the liberation movement of Swaziland.

We are saddened and angry that such a cowardly act ended a great life
of a People's Doctor and a hero of the Swazi revolution.

Comrade Gabriel Mkhumane was a sterling Swazi revolutionary who has
been living in exile for 24 years since 1984 in Mozambique, left for
Cuba and came to South Africa to be nearer his home country Swaziland
in 2000.

Comrade Gabriel was trained as a medical Doctor in Cuba where he
stayed for more than fifteen years. At the time of his death he was
living with his wife Soraida and two sons Lizwi and newly born Lizo [3
weeks old]. The movement is still gathering the circumstances leading
to his untimely death and will make announcement soon.

Obviously, like many progressive exiled Swazis they live under
constant threat of their lives from the autocratic Swazi regime and
their cronies living and roaming freely in South Africa.

Comrade Gabriel would be most remembered for his humility and
kindness, his concern for the plight of the many poor Swazis, his
fiery opposition and denouncement to the autocratic regime and a
revolutionary commitment to the cause of his people. He was a real
people's Doctor who provided many poor people free medical services.
He was a committed cadre and great combatant for his people. He also
left a living legacy as a family Doctor in Cuba.

Those responsible for this callous act should be brought to book and
face justice and people's wrath of anger, they should know that they
terminated only his life but not his revolutionary spirit which will
born many Gabriellas to pick up his courageous spear and advance to
people's victory over tyranny and barbarism. The SSN calls on the
South African government to probe his death and leave no stone
unturned to bring to book his murderers.

May his revolutionary spirit live on and let the Swazi regime crumble
for his blood. His death will not be in vain and will not go
un-punished.

We dip our banners in his memory and pass our deepest sympathies and
condolences to his family both in South Africa and Swaziland, PUDEMO
and all progressive Swazis and the rest of the Solidarity movement all
over the world.

Long live the undying spirit and may his soul rest in forever peace.

Issued by the Swaziland Solidarity Network
2 April 2008

National Chairperson, Solly Mapaila
For more information contact Lucky Lukhele, SSN Spokesperson, Cell:
072 502 4141 Tel: 011 339 3621, Fax: 011 339 4244, Email: ssnnetwork@...
_________________________________

PUDEMO CHIEF SHOT DEAD. Donny Nxumalo. The Swazi Observer April 3, 2008.

The deputy president of PUDEMO, Dr. Gabriel Mkhumane, has been shot dead.

He died yesterday morning at about 10a.m, when gunmen ambushed him at
Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Dr. Mkhumane, who went into a
self-imposed exile in the 80s, was a doctor based at Themba Hospital
in Nelspruit.

He was from attending a meeting at White River when he was gunned
down. The White River meeting had been called to discuss logistics of
a border blockade PUDEMO wants to stage on Saturday next week (April
12) in protest against what it calls an undemocratic situation in
Swaziland created by the April 12, 1973 Decree. The killers fled after
shooting him in his car.

He stayed at KaNyamazane, the biggest location in Nelspruit.
Last night, PUDEMO officials hurried to the Mkhumane family to offer
words of comfort.

Dr. Mkhumane was trained in Cuba, where he schooled after going into
exile. He returned to work in South Africa some five years ago and has
been active in PUDEMO activities, especially marketing the Kingdom as
an oppressive regime that hates democracy.

PUDEMO president Mario Masuku confirmed his deputy?s death, saying the
movement would release a statement once it has received permission to
do so by the Mkhumane family.

These are trying times for the Mkhumane family and indeed the
movement, Masuku said, yes we can confirm Comrade Mkhumane has
fallen and we are in discussion with his family at the moment.

As the news of Dr. Mkhumane?s death filtered into Swaziland, a mood of
depression enveloped both SWAYOCO and PUDEMO activists - especially
those planning the April 12 blockade.
__________________________________

Congres of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) mourns the passing away
of a gallant fighter, Dr Gabriel Mkhumane


The sound of a gun has put an end to the life of one of the most
outstanding sons of the Swazi revolution, Dr Gabriel Mkhumane, the
Deputy President of the Swaziland democratic liberation movement,
PUDEMO.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions conveys its sincerest
condolences to his family and all his close comrades in the Swazi
liberation movement led by PUDEMO.

Dr Gabriel Mkhumane was killed in Nelspruit on the night of 1 April
around 22h00 as he was dropping a colleague at Likazi township. He was
from a meeting that finished very late at night and had just parted
with his very close comrade, Boy Mkhatshwa, also a PUDEMO member.

His death is a mystery. It seems more than just a crime, and hence we
agree with the fears raised around the circumstances of his killing.
It seems the Swazi regime may have a case to answer, if the statement
by the Swazi police to his mother in 2006 is anything to go by, when
they openly threatened her that "since your son is causing trouble, he
will come back in a coffin".

Dr Gabriel's death comes at a time when he himself had begun to raise
concerns around his security, owing to strange movements,
surveillances and suspect indicators.

He addressed the COSATU march on Swaziland and Zimbabwe on 7 March in
Pretoria so eloquently that he put forward an unquestionably
compelling case for more solidarity with the people of Swaziland.

Dr Gabriel left Swaziland in 1984, as he was part of the ANC
underground machinery that operated from the eastern part of the
country, at the same time being a PUDEMO underground operative. The
intensification of the apartheid security onslaught against the ANC
and its cadres led to himself and his closest comrades being forced to
skip the country into exile in Mozambique, where he underwent some
difficulties due to the then situation there posed by the RENAMO
insurgent activities.

He was then assisted by the UN to go and study medicine in Cuba, which
he completed successfully before coming back to Mozambique and
practising as a doctor. In 2001, the PUDEMO leadership redeployed him
to South Africa to lead the movement, particularly to re-establish a
strong PUDEMO presence not only in South Africa, but throughout the
whole of Africa. He was then assigned by PUDEMO to the position of
Chief Representative for Africa and the Caribbean, owing to his vast
experience with that part of the world too.

Working together with other comrades, he established a very strong
PUDEMO presence and was instrumental in raising the profile of the
Swazi people's struggle in South Africa and beyond. Many people in our
country owe their understanding or general appreciation of the Swazi
struggle to this gallant son of the heroic Swazi people. He never
tired from persuading even the most difficult amongst us to appreciate
the urgency of the Swazi question.

He also participated in the last COSATU Congress as part of the PUDEMO
delegation, together with the President of PUDEMO, Mario Masuku, and
interacted with comrades about the developments in Swaziland.

In 2006 December, he was elected Deputy President of PUDEMO at their
historic Congress held in Mpumalanga, where the movement adopted its
historic revolutionary programme - the Road Map to a new and
democratic Swaziland. He was instrumental as part of the team that
developed it and was always passionate about it as an instrument for
moving towards liberation for the Swazi people.

Just last week, he was very pivotal in steering the discussions about
the process towards the formation of a Swaziland United Democratic
front, in a meeting of all progressive organisations of Swaziland that
took place in Johannesburg. He surely left an indelible mark in minds
of all the Swazi patriots gathered there as his message echoed at all
times - that unity is the most precious weapon of the oppressed in
struggle.

He was a humble and modest, yet a firmly principled and dedicated
cadre. Many of us in South Africa admired him and felt inspired by his
exemplary leadership, which was characterised by less talk and more
concrete action on the ground. He symbolised the best in Cuban
traditions: selflessness, dedication, courageous and firmness in
principle.

His death should mark a new era of intensification of the Swazi
struggle in pursuit of the ideals for which he stood to the end.

We continue to pledge our fullest solidarity with the struggling
people of Swaziland, workers and the oppressed in particular. We shall
honour the memory of this gallant fighter with a renewed sense of
urgency and commitment to what he stood and died for.

Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets
Braamfontein, 2017
______________________________________

Murder of PUDEMO Deputy President
Issued by Young Communist League (YCL).

The Young Communist League (YCL) has learned with shock of the
senseless and gruesome murder of Cde Gabriel Mkhumane, Deputy
President of Peoples United Democratic Movement of Swaziland [PUDEMO].

Cde Mkhumane was gunned down yesterday evening at 10h00 at
KwaNyamazane Township, Mpumalanga province.

We call on the law enforcement agencies, particularly the South
African Police Service [SAPS] to apprehend those responsible for his
murder.

We extend our sincere condolences to the Mkhumane family and the
democratic movement in Swaziland. His death is not only loss to his
family and friends, but it is also a loss to the internationalist
struggle of the working class and the oppressed.

As the YCL we say to the oppressed people of Swaziland, Cde Gabriel
has not died; he joins the living in ideas. His political activism and
dedication to the liberation of the oppressed people will serve as an
inspiration to those striving for democratic change in Swaziland and
elsewhere in the world.

Issued by Young Communist League (YCL) National Secretary, Buti
Manamela, 2 April 2008.

For more information contact: Castro Ngobese, YCL Spokesperson, 082 567 3557
___________________________________


WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS (WFTU)

The WFTU is following the latest developments in Swaziland and
conveys sincere condolences to PUDEMO and the people of the country
for the loss of cde Gabriel Mkhumane, Deputy President.

We are sure that your organisation will follow cde Mkhumane exemple
and he will be alive on your side in your struggles for freedom and
peace.

Please convey our condolences to his family and friends

Athens April 4, 2008
WFTU Secretariat
40, Zan Moreas street
171 21 Athens Greece
www.wftucentral.org
_______________________________________

Pakistan Federation of United Trade Unions (APFUTU)

Dear Comrades,

All Pakistan Federation of United Trade Unions ( APFUTU ) has learned
with shock of the senseless and gruesome murder of Comrade Gabriel
Mkhumane, Deputy President of Peoples United Democratic Movement of
Swaziland.

Our organisation APFUTU and its 2,46782 members extend our sincere
condolences to the Mkhumane family and the democratic movement in
Swaziland. His death is not only loss to his family and friends, but
it is also a loss to the internationalist struggle of the working class.

The APFUTU is also share with you of this incident & say to the
working class people of Swaziland, that Comrade Gabriel has not died;
he joins the living in ideas. His political activism and dedication to
the liberation of the oppressed people will serve as an inspiration to
those striving for democratic change in Swaziland and elsewhere in the
world.

The APFUTU is always with our Swaziland brothers & sisters. Please
convey our condolences to his family and friends.

Fraternally yours,
Pirzada Imtiaz Syed
Secretary General
April 3,2008.

H.O: Imtiaz Labour Hall, Faizabad, GUJRAT ( Pakistan ). Phone: (+92 -
53 ) 353 3736 Fax: (+92-53) 352 5302 E.Mails:
paklabourunity@... & apfutu2001@... Web Site:
www.labourunity.org

__________________________________

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