Swaziland@Newsletter 80

Published by Africa Contact (Denmark)

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________________________________

1. Bombings are a call for change, says PUDEMO. Nelsiwe Ndlangamandla,
Swazi Observer, 22 September 2008.

2. Swazi 'palace bomb' plotters die. 22 September, 2008.
BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7628784.stm

3. Bombing kills two in Swaziland: police. Reuters 22 September 2008.

4. Swaziland protest memorandum, 19 September, 2008

5. Swazi poll 'window dressing exercise'. IOL 19 September 2008.

6. Swaziland: 'Even Zim elections were better' Imke van Hoorn /
SAPA-AFP. September 19, 2008.

7. Swaziland's political farce. Bongani Wakamsuthu: Comment,
September 19, 2008.

8. Swaziland Protesting Union Leaders Arrested Ahead of Parliamentary
Election. Peter Clottey, Voice of America. Washington, D.C. 19
September 2008

9. Swazi: Voters promised Heaven and Earth. Hans Pienaar. The Star,
September 19, 2008.

10. Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU). 18 September 2008.

11. Swaziland monarchy facing protests ahead of ?joke? election.
Sapa-AFP 18 September 2008.

12. Swazi police arresting protesters. Independent Online, September 18, 2008.

13. SADC and AU must intervene to bring about democracy in Swaziland.
Issued by South African Communist Party (SACP). 18 September 2008.

14. Police hold Swazi poll protesters. BBC NEWS: September 18, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7622667.stm

15. Press statement on Swaziland border blockade, September 18, 2008.

16. Solidarity message to the people of Swaziland. World Federation
of Trade Unions (WFTU), Athens, September 17th 2008

_______________________________

1. Bombings are a call for change, says PUDEMO. Nelsiwe Ndlangamandla,
Swazi Observer, 22 September 2008.


Mario Masuku, President of the People?s United Democratic Movement
(PUDEMO) has said the bombings are a statement that government should
take seriously.

Masuku said he believed that government should call all stakeholders
and engage them in talks to find a solution to problem faced by the
country.

The bombings are continuing and something has to be done fast to
avoid any further loss of life. Masuku people expect changes in the
way the country is governed. He, however, said it was not their place
as a political party to condemn or condone such acts.

We condemn such acts - SFTU

The Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) has condemned the
bombings that have been taking place in the country.

The Secretary General, Jan Sithole said they dissociate themselves
from such acts of violence. He further called on the police to make
sure that people who are responsible for these acts are brought to
justice.

- For a long time we have said that we do not believe in violent acts
and even now as unions we stand by our word.-

Sithole stated that as trade unions they believe that things should be
solved with dialogue. He said it is the task of the police to see to
it that the people who destroy property are brought to justice.

Sithole stated that even in the recent march the people who were
responsible for planting the bombs have to be found and arrested if
need be.

The people who are responsible have no capacity to rule: Sibahle

Violence is not the right direction to political reformation, Musa
Nkhambule of Sibahle Sinje has said.

Nkhambule stated that they condemn such acts and disassociate
themselves from such. He said innocent Swazis suffer in bomb explosions.

- This could be dangerous because you may find that it is your
relatives who will get hurt in the bombings, so this is not right.-

He said the best way to get over such matter was for all parties
involved to come around the table to find a solution.

You reap what you sow: Prince Masitsela

Prince Masitsela has said the terrorists who died over the weekend
have got what was coming to them for planting the bombs in the country.

The Prince said it was sad that these people died but they planted the
bombs so that other people could get hurt and therefore, they reaped
what they had sown.

- It is not a good thing that people are dying and we hope that this
would be a lesson to all terrorists.- He said it is upon every one to
make sure that citizen of this country are safe. The prince said if
people want to rule they, should not destroy the country.

Dialogue is the solution to conflicts - Marwick

Marwick Khumalo Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament (MP) has said
the way to resolve conflicts was through dialogue.

He said violence only makes the situation worse instead of bringing
things into order.

- Violence has never been acceptable in problem solving and people
should not resort to it.- He made an example of Zimbabwe, saying there
were violence acts but they did not bring peace in the country.

- The only way to resolve the conflicts was for the leaders to try and
solve the problems through dialogue.

This should be a lesson to every one that dialogue is the best way for
smooth running of the country.-

_________________________________

2. Swazi 'palace bomb' plotters die. 22 September, 2008.
BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7628784.stm


Two people about to plant a bomb in Swaziland near one of the royal
palaces were killed when the device prematurely exploded, police say.

They made the announcement late on Sunday after the results of
parliamentary polls were released.

Political parties are banned in the tiny kingdom, one of the world's
last absolute monarchies.

Several union officials were detained ahead of Friday's polls as they
took part in protests demanding reforms.

Some Swazis blame King Mswati III - who has been in power since 1986 -
for plunging the country into poverty and failing to tackle an Aids
epidemic.

Referendum call

Police spokesman Vusi Masuku said a third man from neighbouring South
Africa, who was also involved in the attempted attack on Saturday
night, was arrested and will be tried for treason.
The accomplices were trying to plant the bomb on a bridge near the
royal household outside the capital, Mbabane.

The BBC's Thulani Mtwethwa in the landlocked country says the election
was the first held under a new constitution.

He said there were a few surprises amongst the unaffiliated candidates
chosen: two state radio announcers have become MPs and the health
minister lost his seat.

It was also the first poll where foreign observers were allowed in.

The Southern African Development Community observers said the poll was
"free and fair".

The mission's head congratulated the Swazi people as they embarked "on
their gradual and challenging road for the entrenchment of democracy".

But Mary Mugyenyi, head of the Pan-African Parliament observers, had concerns.
"The mission observed the following challenges: political parties were
not permitted to contest in the elections.

"This restriction infringes on the rights of those citizens wishing to
participate in elections through political parties and does not meet
regional and international standards."

She recommended that a national referendum be held to ask the Swazi
people whether they wanted party politics.

Correspondents say the king remains popular with many of his subjects,
though opposition has been growing to his lavish lifestyle in a
country where most people live in poverty.


__________________________________

3. Bombing kills two in Swaziland: police. Reuters 22 September 2008.


Two people who were about to plant a bomb on a bridge near one of
Swaziland's royal palaces were killed late on Saturday when the device
exploded prematurely, police said on Sunday.

"We can confirm that the bomb killed two people," said police
spokesman Vusi Masuku.

Swaziland has faced rare protests demanding democratic reform and
greater social spending in the run-up to last Friday's parliamentary
poll in one of the world's last absolute monarchies.

Masuku said two other people, one believed to be South African, were
also involved in the planned attack near a palace belonging to King
Mswati III just outside the capital Mbabane.

Police on Thursday detained several union leaders and prevented other
labour activists from participating in a protest at the border with
South Africa. Authorities said the protest would have led to anarchy
ahead of the election.

An estimated 400,000 Swazis were eligible to vote in the election in
which 55 seats are being contested. Mswati, who rules the country of
1.1 million people with a free hand, will appoint an additional 10
deputies to the assembly.

Final results, expected on Monday, are unlikely to change the
country's political landscape since opposition parties have
effectively been banned by royal decree since 1973.

The monarch will also choose the country's prime minister and cabinet.

Although Mswati remains popular among many of his subjects, there is
rising discontent over his extravagant lifestyle, refusal to adopt
democratic reforms and to tackle social problems, including one of
Africa's worst AIDS epidemics.

________________________________


4. Swaziland protest memorandum, 19 September, 2008

Swaziland Solidarity Network, PUDEMO External Region, SACP, COSATU,
YCL, COSAS, ANCYL, SASCO, MDC Youth Assembly and PDP-Zim presented the
following memorandum at the Swaziland High Commission in Pretoria:

To King Mswati III, For and on behalf of King Mswati III, The High
Commissioner Mr. Muntu Mswane

The leadership and members of the South African Communist Party
[SACP], Congress of South African Trade Unions, and the Young
Communist League together with a network of organisations led by the
Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] campaigning for democracy in
Swaziland are here today to support the struggling masses against the
oppressive regime of Swaziland and their ignorant 40/40 celebration.
This may be a celebration for the king, but it is a tragedy for the
majority of Swazis living in poverty and disease.

Nothing has changed in Swaziland, from a political point of view.
Swazis are still under draconian laws living under an absolute
monarchy that dictates to the judiciary, executive and legislative
arms of a puppet government. Political parties remained banned,
freedom of speech remains suppressed.

What you call "Swazi Democracy" is nothing but a cover for plain old
dictatorship. Such a disguise does not work with us. We see the face
of devil hidden behind Swazi Culture. A devil that will be destroyed
by the forces of good and justice led by organizations like PUDEMO.

We condemn the 40/40 celebration as blatant act of vanity and a slap
in the face of Swazis. We condemn the elections of Sept 19 as another
means of putting another group of Mswati's puppets in place. We also
condemn the SADC appointment of Mswati. We wholeheartedly support all
the strike actions by SFTU and SFL, SUDF in the coming days of
protest. We praise the voices of justice who struggle against
unreasonable and myopic vision tyrants of Swaziland.

We demand:

1. A democratically elected National Constitutional Forum

2. The immediate un-banning of all progressive political parties as
the first precondition in ensure the full involvement of civil society
in Swaziland in the process of democratising this country.

3. We also demand the unconditional release of all political
prisoners as a precondition to this process

4. We demand the removal of all laws that inhibit political
activity to ensure that the participation of the people of Swaziland
is uninhibited by authoritarian actions by the current Royal regime.

5. We call on the South African Department of Foreign Affairs,
SADC, AU and the Commonwealth to publicly join the ever growing number
of voices expressing serious concern posed by the undemocratic Swazi
regime, particularly:

- The urgent need for Swaziland to comply to the AU's Charter on Human
and People's Rights,

- And the SADC's Principles and guidelines on democratic, free and
fair elections.

The beginning of the end of the regime of Swaziland has begun. Freedom
will reign. There will be no peace with injustice.


_________________________________


5. Swazi poll 'window dressing exercise'. IOL 19 September 2008.

Mbabane - Swaziland's banned political groups on Friday condemned the
kingdom's political system as Africa's last absolute monarchy went to
the poll.

Lawmakers will be elected under a new constitution which allows
freedom of association but still bars political parties, meaning
candidates can run as individuals but not as party representatives.

The run-up to the poll saw protests, border blockades and calls for
multi-party elections.

"Pudemo sees this election as a window dressing exercise trying to
pull wool over the eyes of the international community," said Mario
Masuku of the banned People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO).

"We urge the international community to intensify the pressure on the
Swazi government so that it embraces democratisation,' he said.

Jan Sithole of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU)
criticised the Southern African Development Community of
"double-standards" in its advocacy of democracy.

SADC observer mission spokesperson Joao Ndlovu said the team had seen
a peaceful environment without intimidation.

"If you do not understand the Swazi electoral system you would say
there was no election going on," he said.

"The vibrancy that is seen in most parts of the world during elections
is not there in Swaziland, maybe that is caused by the absence of
political parties where rallies would be held."

Ndlovu rejected the accusation of double standards.

The Pan-African Parliament mission called for change in the country.

"The non-participation of political parties makes these elections
extraordinary from any others... but we hope with time things will
change," said mission head Mary Mugyenyi.

"What we see here is people choosing their leaders to represent them
in parliament. They are not from any political parties," Mugyenyi said.

________________________________

6. Swaziland: 'Even Zim elections were better' Imke van Hoorn /
SAPA-AFP. September 19, 2008.

Swaziland's banned political groups on Friday condemned the kingdom's
political system as Africa's last absolute monarchy went to the poll.

Lawmakers will be elected under a new Constitution that allows freedom
of association but still bars political parties, meaning candidates
can run as individuals but not as party representatives.

The run-up to the poll saw protests, border blockades and calls for
multiparty elections.

"Pudemo sees this election as a window-dressing exercise trying to
pull wool over the eyes of the international community," said Mario
Masuku, of the banned People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo).

"We urge the international community to intensify the pressure on the
Swazi government so that it embraces democratisation," he said.

Lucky Lukhele, spokesperson of the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN),
told the Mail & Guardian Online that the elections will change
"absolutely nothing" and leave King Mswati III in power.

On Friday, the SSN, together with organisations such as the Congress
of South African Trade Unions, the Young Communist League, the African
National Congress Youth League and Pudemo, organised a demonstration
at the Swazi embassy in Pretoria.

"We organised this demonstration to protest against the sham
elections," Lukhele said. "Swaziland is not even close to democracy.
Political parties are banned, there are still people in exile, people
were arrested, [and are under] house arrest."

"Even the elections in Zimbabwe were better. You can't have an
election when the king is above the Constitution," he said.

Lukhele questioned what international election observers were doing in
Swaziland, saying: "There is nothing to observe there."

He said 70% of Swazi people live below the poverty line and 40% are
living with HIV/Aids. "The people in Swaziland are pushed into a
corner. In the end, the only option is to fight. It's a scary idea for
many, but we don't blame them."

He didn't believe many people would vote in Friday's election.
"Ordinary people will rather go to work or stay at home, they don't
believe in these elections."

According to Lukhele, only those who are close to the royal family
would vote, as would those who were forced by their chiefs, who are
instructed by the king.

Jan Sithole, of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, accused the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) of "double standards" in
its advocacy of democracy.

SADC observer mission spokesperson Joao Ndlovu said the team had seen
a peaceful environment without intimidation.

"If you do not understand the Swazi electoral system, you would say
there was no election going on," he said. "The vibrancy that is seen
in most parts of the world during elections is not there in Swaziland.
Maybe that is caused by the absence of political parties where rallies
would be held."

Ndlovu rejected the accusation of double standards.

The Pan African Parliament mission called for change in the country.

"The non-participation of political parties makes these elections
extraordinary from any others ... but we hope with time things will
change," said mission head Mary Mugyenyi.

"What we see here is people choosing their leaders to represent them
in Parliament. They are not from any political parties," she said.


________________________________

7. Swaziland's political farce. Bongani Wakamsuthu: Comment,
September 19, 2008.

Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-09-19-swazilands-political-farce


Although Swaziland has had a new Constitution since 2006, the country
has failed to shake off its status as one of Africa's remaining
undemocratic nations.

King Mswati III, who recently celebrated the 40th independence
anniversary of the country and his own 40th birthday, frequently
invites fierce criticism from political opposition parties and civil
society inside and outside the country.

"If democracy is defined as the right of the people to choose their
own government, under an enabling social environment, through an
institutionalised multiparty system and periodic secret ballots, any
government outside this frame can't claim to be executing the mandate
of the governed," says Mario Masuku, the president of the People's
United Democratic Movement.

On Friday Swaziland holds its first elections under the new
constitutional arrangement, but the fresh political dispensation has
done little to improve things on the ground.

The new Constitution has effectively served only to cement Mswati's
rule and inhibits the existence of opposition political parties.

The absence of participation of political groups in the election
essentially makes the whole exercise a farce and has fuelled talk that
the elections should be boycotted and sanctions be imposed against
Swaziland.

On August 17 this year a major protest march against Mswati and
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was held in Johannesburg to
re-enforce calls for sanctions against Swaziland.

The protest was aimed to coincide with the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) heads of state meeting at which Mswati
took over the chair of the SADC organ on politics, defence and
security. Many in the opposition and civil society feel that giving
the king such an important position is an insult to democracy and to
the people of Swaziland.

Another recurring concern has been the extravagant spending of the
royal family, especially during the 40-40 celebrations.

More than R100-million was spent, while many Swazis are dying of
hunger and hospitals lack basic requirements for healthcare.

Masuku says: "Issues affecting the electorate, like education, health,
social grants, unemployment, cost of living, poverty and so on are
hardly debated in the tinkhundla [Swazi] legislature. The performance
of government arms and structures cannot be challenged effectively
without political parties and opposition; in fact political parties
provide the necessary checks and balances of government."

Mounting dissent

Since 1973 when King Sobhuza II proclaimed that he was taking over all
supreme powers, Swazis have done nothing but watch and obey. To a
large extent they have been living in fear, making it difficult to
ascertain the extent of support for democracy. The voices calling for
an open political space have grown in the past few years, with a range
of people and organisations agitating for change.

First political parties raised the alarm; they were followed by trade
unions, student and youth organisations and now NGOs, social movements
and even churches are calling for dialogue.

The formation of organisations such as the Swaziland Coalition of
Concerned Civic Organisations, the National Constitutional Assembly
and the Swaziland United Democratic Front bears testimony to this.

"If we are to judge by the fact that there is no political space, but
people are now openly making their views known, then it means that the
majority of people indeed want an open political space," Masuku says.

On the eve of the 40-40 celebrations labour groups and political
groups organised a march that was attended by more than 20 000 people,
which effectively brought Swaziland to a halt.

The momentum for change is coming largely from the convergence of
interests of political groupings and trade unions, especially over
socio-economic issues.

Most realise that the country's problems are rooted in the current
political system, especially questions of poor governance and the
growing economic crisis.

The changing Zimbabwean political situation has contributed to a push
for change, as more Swazis realise that theirs is the only country in
the region that is stubbornly refusing to democratise.

Masuku says: "We cannot overlook that our society has become
increasingly politicised -- through the media, political marches, NGO
programmes and church campaigns for social justice.

"This has generated a momentum that has been building silently
underground and it is now beginning to manifest itself openly. More
rural people are beginning to realise that there is a problem in the
country and they are beginning to participate actively in the
activities of different social forces, which further widens the
network of broad social awareness."

The opposition's wish list

Assistance in building its capacity to organise for change;

For international organisations, including the Southern African
Development Community and the African Union to play a pro-active role
in facilitating dialogue between the contending forces, to bring about:

For the region and the international community to challenge the Swazi
government at international forums about its human rights record;

To see Swaziland excluded from all international forums until proper
process towards democratisation

For regional and international communities to pronounce openly the
current elections as undemocratic because political parties remain
banned and the environment is not conducive to free and fair
elections; and

For South African businesses to exert pressure on the king to create a
climate of democratic stability that facilitates sustainable investment.


Obstacles to democracy

There is a low level of political debate and those challenging
authority are labelled "unSwazi".

There is pressure on the media and the judiciary to behave in a manner
defined by royalty as "loyal Swazi". These institutions feel
particularly threatened when issues arise that are perceived to be a
threat to the royal family.

There is an underperforming civil service because most senior
positions are occupied by members of the royal family or its
associates. They feel no obligation to deliver because they owe their
allegiance to the king.

The private sector operates to please the royal family, even though
this makes no business sense. This has created low economic
productivity and a disincentive to invest in the economy and create
jobs.


Bongani wakaMsuthu is the pseudonym of a Swazi political analyst .

__________________________________

8. Swaziland Protesting Union Leaders Arrested Ahead of Parliamentary
Election. Peter Clottey, Voice of America. Washington, D.C. 19
September 2008

The people of Swaziland go to the polls Friday to elect members of
parliament amid government crackdown against pro-democracy
demonstrators who are calling for political reforms under King Mswati
III. Swazi police arrested several protest leaders Thursday, saying
the protesters were causing Anarchy.But the demonstrators say today?s
parliamentary election is a façade calculated to deceive Swazis into
believing that absolute monarch, King Mswati III, is interested in
democracy.

Vincent Dlamini is the main proponent of the protest march. He tells
reporter Peter Clottey from the capital, Mbabane that the protests
would continue unabated until their demands for democratic reforms are
met.

- Some of the union leaders were arrested during our protests and
demonstration around the border post yesterday. Some of the
were released later on after their detention, but I?m not quite sure
what happened to the others. We are still trying to locate where they
are at the moment.

What we can also report is that quite a number of workers, in the
southern part of the country in Mshangano were brutally assaulted by
the police as they were conducting the demonstration against the
election that would be held this morning in our country, Dlamini said.

He said the union workers are protesting against he called an
undemocratic system, which he said clamps down on their right to a
free democratic society.

- We are protesting against the current Nikunda system, which we
believe is undemocratic, and we are demanding that elections must be
held under a multi-party democratic system. This current system came
into place by the banning of the political parties in 1973 by the
previous King Sobhuza II. In this particular state of emergency, one
significant thing that happened was that all three branches of
government were transferred to the king. That is the judiciary,
legislature and all other executive powers were vested in the king by
that particular decree, which banned political parties in the
country, he said.

Dlamini said the protesters want to enjoy democracy just like most
people in other parts of the world do.

We are saying that we want elections to be conducted in a multi-party
democratic environment, Dlamini pointed out.

He sharply denied that the Friday parliamentary election is an attempt
by the government to bring about some democratic reforms.

- No, no, no, there is no reform at all. What is happening in our
country is that the majority of the people reside in the rural areas,
which is about 70% of the population. And therefore quite a number of
them are participating in this election because they are intimidated
by the chiefs who are appendages of the monarch. The chiefs run the
rural areas and the villages on behalf of the monarch and they tend to
intimidate and evict people who do not conform to the dictates of the
regime, he said.

Dlamini accused the government of not educating the masses on the
benefits of democracy.

- What is happening is that the regime in our country currently thrives
on the ignorance of the masses. In the rural areas there are high
level of poverty and people are being abused in the sense that what is
happening, they are given food passes and all that and are being
bribed so to speak, Dlamini noted.

He said union workers would not stop protesting to ensure their voices
for democratic reforms are heard.

- What we are going to do next is that we will continue in engaging in
mass action, we will have mass demonstrations at certain intervals.
And we are going to be educating our people in terms of what is best
for our country, as well as making sure that the international
community understands our plight and understand that Swaziland is
still an undemocratic country, he said.

Some political observes say although the monarch remains popular among
many of his subjects, there is rising discontent over his extravagant
lifestyle, refusal to adopt democratic reforms and to tackle
Swaziland?s numerous social problems.
__________________________________

9. Swazi: Voters promised Heaven and Earth. Hans Pienaar. The Star,
September 19, 2008.

Candidates in Swaziland's election were making promises "off the top
of their heads" to get votes in Friday's parliamentary elections,
widely derided as a joke and meaningless as political parties are not
allowed to form a government.

Police were on tenterhooks and have been arresting opposition members,
fearing a repeat in recent weeks of demonstrations against King Mswati
III's autocratic rule.

The South African Communist Party called "shameful" the arrests and
brief detention of unionists and activists who were on their way to
blockade the border posts on the South African border.

SACP spokesperson Malesela Maleka was scathing about the silence of
the Southern African Development Community and the African Union,
which, he said, should ensure that Swaziland applies democratic
principles. Swaziland is the chair of SADC's organ on politics,
security and defence.

"How opportunistic that the rest of the region and the continent has
chosen to keep quiet while thousands of people in Swaziland are
subjected to poverty and the brutal dictatorship of the king," he said.

"South African government's deafening silence speaks volumes about the
cornerstone of our foreign policy, more so because many Swazis died in
the struggle against apartheid," Maleka said. SA is the current chair
of SADC.

A civil-society advocate, who preferred not to be identified for fear
of victimisation, said wild promises were being made by the about 350
candidates. Candidates stand as individuals, and are nominated by 55
"nkundlas", or groups of chiefs, who can each nominate one person.

Some candidates were promising communities buses and all manner of
other goods that they will never be able to provide, unless they pay
for them from their meagre parliamentary salaries.

The electioneering is fierce, but only because candidates are trying
to outdo each other.

Nevertheless, a high turn-out was expected, as chiefs would act
against people not voting, Maleka said.

Voter registration cards were routinely demanded when social security,
food aid and other largess were dealt out.

A new constitution adopted in 2006 guarantees freedom of association,
and the country's attorney-general claims political parties can be
registered. But as they are not allowed to form a government, and have
to work within tight restrictions, few care to operate.

Opposition politics have been dominated by unionists and activists.

On September 3, on the eve of Mswati's "40-40" celebrations of
Swaziland's independence and his birthday, about 10 000 people
gathered in the commercial capital Manzini, and reassembled the next
day. Their prime target was the cost of the celebrations, estimated at
100-million emlangeni (about R100-million).

"We are elated by the historic outpouring of ordinary people to say to
the royal government 'Enough!'," said the Swaziland Federation of
Trade Unions' Andrew Simelane.

Recently, a thousand HIV-positive women, galled by reports that
Mswati's 13 wives had been sent on shopping trips to the Middle East
and Asia, led a march in Mbabane.

Local newspapers widely reprinted a recent list published by Forbes
magazine, in which Mswati was named one of the 15 richest royals in
the world.
__________________________________

10. Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU). 18 September 2008.

Comrades,

Kindly be informed that the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions
Secretary General, Jan J Sithole together with other labour leaders
have been detained today by the state (Swazi Government).

The Swazi Government has staged a fierce confrontation of armed police
and soldiers against peaceful workers, who are on a lawful and
peaceful protest action against the Swazi regime.

We will update you on the future developments.

Other arrested labour leaders are reported to be taken for a 'hell
ride' in police vans to remote areas where their safety cannot be
guaranteed.

King Mswati's government is hell bent to crash all voices of dissent
so as to protect his nest of corrupt and undemocratic "Tinkhundla
regime". The government uses the armed forces to muzzle and silence
the opposition in Swaziland.

The people of Swaziland live under perpetual fear of being arrested
and beaten up if they do not vote in the Tinkhundla centres.

Comradely

Archie Sayed
Vice Secretary General
_______________________________________


11. Swaziland monarchy facing protests ahead of ?joke? election.
Sapa-AFP 18 September 2008.


Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, faced protests Thursday on
the eve of elections with anger growing in a country that remains
deeply impoverished despite the king's lavish lifestyle.

Unions and banned political parties planned to blockade border posts
ahead of parliamentary polls on Friday that those who have been
pushing for change say will be meaningless.

"How these elections are called democracy is beyond me," said Mario
Masuku, leader of People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), one of
Swaziland's banned political parties.

"The country's political systems makes it a mockery of democracy in
the region. In Swaziland there are no elections just selections of
people who dance to the king's tune."King Mswati III, who ascended the
throne at age 18, keeps a strong traditional grip on power, with
responsibility for appointing the prime minister, legislature and
judiciary.

His country is one of Africa's poorest, with one of the world's
highest HIV rates, and some have blamed the king's state-sponsored
extravagant lifestyle for draining Swaziland's finances.

Two weeks ago, the Swazi government splashed out 100 million
emalangeni (12.2 million dollars, 8.5 million euros) for a
controversial double anniversary to celebrate independence from Britain
and the king's birthday.

Dozens of brand new BMW luxury cars were specially bought to transport
guests for the ceremony and an overseas shopping trip by some of the
king's 13 wives before the event caused an outcry.

The trip drew unprecedented protests from student, political and civil
groups who denounced the tour while more than two-thirds of the
country's one million population live in poverty.

Friday's poll is the first to take place under a rewritten
constitution, put into effect in 2006, which allows for freedom of
association.

However, candidates can only stand for elections as individuals, not
as part of political parties.

Opposition and civil society groups have been fighting for plural
politics and the abolition of the monarchy, which they claim is
dictatorial.

Swaziland United Democratic Front general secretary, Vincent
Ncongwane, this week questioned the sending of observers to what he
called a "sham" election.

Observers from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community,
Pan African Parliament (PAP), the Commonwealth and the African Union
will monitor the vote.

"It puzzles the mind as to why they are endorsing this joke," he said.

Political parties in the landlocked southern African country were
banned in 1973 by the late King Sobhuza after he dissolved the
country's constitution, declaring it was unworkable as it promoted
hatred among Swazis.

Swaziland is currently run on a homegrown political system called
Tinkhundla with parliamentary elections held every five years after
which the king appoints a new prime minister.

With an unemployment rate of 40 percent, the upcoming poll means
nothing to most Swazis, said analyst Thembinkosi Dlamini.

"People want to see an end to the hunger gripping country, access
social grants, health care. They have voted before but nothing has
changed," said Dlamini.

"These elections do not embrace the virtues of modern democracy and
the will of the people."

Mswati III, who rules the country side by side with his mother, has
been named by Forbes magazine as one of the 15 richest royals in the
world, with a fortune of 200 million dollars.

The king was the only African royal to make it into the prestigious
list, published in August. According to Forbes, Mswati III's wealth
comes from investments and real estate.


________________________________________


12. Swazi police arresting protesters. SAPA / Independent Online,
September 18, 2008.

Swaziland police were arresting protesters who were on their way to
protest against parliamentary polls by blockading the Swaziland and
South African border posts, Cosatu said on Thursday.

"Swazi police are arresting protesters at, or on their way to the
border posts... and then dumping them in isolated areas," Cosatu said
in statement.

"Those arrested include PUDEMO president Mario Masuku, STFU general
secretary Jan Sithole and trade union leader Vincent Dlamini," Cosatu
said.

The protests are supported by Cosatu and are aimed at pressuring King
Mswati III to recognise political organisations in the impoverished
country.

The blockades were planned for all four borders posts with
neighbouring South Africa.
________________________________________

13. SADC and AU must intervene to bring about democracy in Swaziland.
Issued by South African Communist Party (SACP). 18 September 2008.

The news of the arrest of various protestors including the PUDEMO
President Mario Masuku, SNAT leadership, SFTU General Secretary Jan
Sithole, and trade union leader Vincent Dlamini has demonstrated the
willingness of the Tinkudla regime to subvert democracy in Swaziland.

It is a shame that this happens whilst King Mswati III is the head of
the SADC Organ on Politics, Safety and Defense. How opportunistic that
the rest of the region and the continent has chosen to keep quite
whilst thousands of people in Swaziland are subjected to extreme
poverty and the brutal dictatorship of the King.

We call on SADC and the AU to stand up and take a stand to defend
democratic principles. South African governments deafening silence
speaks volumes about the cornerstone of our foreign policy, more so
because many Swazis died in the struggle against apartheid on the side
of democratic forces together with their South African counterparts.
We owe it to our own revolutionary martyrs who fell on the Swazi soil
fighting for the freedom we enjoy today and to liberate Swaziland from
this draconian rule. The forthcoming elections are nothing but a sham
and a cheap attempt to fool the world about democracy in Swaziland.

Furthermore the stance taken by other international institutions
including the EU and Britain in refusing to send observes to the
elections must be applauded. This is mainly informed by Swaziland's
flagrant attack on the SADC Protocol on Elections.

Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson
________________________________________


14. Police hold Swazi poll protesters. BBC NEWS: September 18, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7622667.stm

Police in Swaziland have detained a number of pro-democracy activists
planning a border blockade ahead of parliamentary elections in the
kingdom.

Several union leaders were bundled into police vans at the main border
crossing with South Africa, organisers of the planned blockade said.
Political parties are banned in Swaziland, one of the world's last
absolute monarchies.

There have been recent protests calling for change and multi-party democracy.
King Mswati III, who has been in power since 1986 and recently
celebrated his 40th birthday, hand-picks many of Swaziland's
parliamentarians.

Correspondents say the king remains popular with many of his subjects,
though opposition has been growing to his lavish lifestyle in a
country where most people live in poverty.

Border protest

Early on Thursday, authorities detained unions leaders and other
activists after they arrived at Oshoek, Swaziland's main point of
trade with South Africa.

Among those being held was Jan Sithole, the secretary-general of the
Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions.

The BBC's Thulani Mthewa, who is at the border, said some 200 people -
both South African and Swazi - had begun a protest on the South
African side of the border, but the demonstration on the Swazi side
had been blocked.

South African unionists from the umbrella organisation Cosatu are
demonstrating in solidarity with their Swazi counterparts.

Riot police have been deployed on both sides of the border crossing,
our reporter says.

Landlocked Swaziland is almost entirely surrounded by South Africa.
Ahead of the planned blockade, Swazi government spokesman Percy
Simelane said the protest was unnecessary.

"The issues have been dealt with, the blockade is illegal, Swaziland
hasn't done anything to deserve being treated the way it is being
treated by our unions and also the unions in South Africa," he told
the BBC Network Africa programme.

But the secretary-general of the Swaziland Federation of Labour,
Vincent Ncongwane, said protesters wanted to demonstrate that Friday's
elections would not be inclusive.

"We still have in Swaziland this myth that you can have a democracy
where there isn't the participation of other political parties," he
told the BBC's.

________________________________________

15. Press statement on Swaziland border blockade, September 18, 2008.


The Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] condemns with strongest
possible terms the arrest and intimidation of our Swazi comrades,
Swazi police are arresting protesters at, or on their way to, the
border posts between Swaziland and SA and then dumping them in
isolated areas. Those arrested include PUDEMO President Mario Masuku,
SNAT leadership, SFTU General secretary Jan Sithole, and trade union
leader Vincent Dlamini. All groups of people assembling near the
border posts are being dispersed. This strengthens our disappointment
with the SADC as an organisation for breaking its own principles by
appointing King Mswati as chairperson of the Troika.

As we said it in our press statement on the 16th September, 2008: "We
call upon all peace loving and democrats in South Africa and the world
over to condemn this one sided elections and isolate the Swazi regime
from all the international forums. We call on the people to join the
picket outside the Swaziland embassy in Pretoria on the 19th September
2008 to raise our objection to this shameful 'electoral' process.

By no means is Swaziland a democracy until there is a free political
activity and basic democratic norms and values are observed.

No peace with injustice!
Phambili Emzabalazo!

Protesters arrested include:

Mario Masuku- PUDEMO Pressident
Jan Sithole- SFTU General Secretary.
Vincent Dlamini- SNACS General Secretary and PUDEMO CEC member
Jabulani Dlamini - Acting Deputy Secretary General -PUDEMO
Themba Mabuza- National Oganiser Swaziland Youth Congress SWAYOCO- PUDEMO YL
Thabile Zwane- Secretayr General- SWAYOCO-PUDEMO YL
Sibusiso Mtjali - SFL
Charles Zwane- SNAT
Eric Dlamini- SNAT


___________________________________


16. Solidarity message to the people of Swaziland. World Federation
of Trade Unions (WFTU), Athens, September 17th 2008

The WFTU expresses its full support and solidarity on behalf of its
63.000.000 members and 170 trade union affiliates all over the world.

It is a fair struggle. We unite our voice with your voices against the
sham elections.

The struggle for democracy in Swaziland is a basic duty for the
class-oriented trade union movement and the people of Swaziland as
whole.

Against the absolute monarchy and slavery, the trade unionists and the
politicians, the workers as well as the unemployed should be united
and pursue their demands for freedom and democracy through struggles.

The WFTU sends a strong message of solidarity and calls upon all its
affiliates to organize actions of solidarity and support the people of
Swaziland for the democratization of their country and the end of
slavery.


Long live workers international solidarity!

THE WFTU SECRETARIAT
40, Zan Moreas street, Athens 11745 GREECE
www.wftucentral.org E-mail: info@...,
international@...


_________________________________________


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