SWAZILAND@NEWSLETTER EXTRA
PUBLISHED BY SOUTHERN AFRICA CONTACT (DENMARK)


MEMORANDUM: PUDEMO’s RESPONSE TO MEDIA REPORTS.
SUBJECT:‘BOMB SUSPECT ADMITS TO HAVE TAKEN PART IN BOMBING OF INKHUNDLA’.
DATE:9th FEBRUARY 2006.
_________________________________________________________

1.0. Introduction.

The current state of affairs in Swaziland comes in the backdrop of a
situation where Comrade Mduduzi Dlamini, one of the suspects in the
bombing case that has drawn local and international attraction, was
arrested and incarcerated ALONE for long periods at the remote Nhlangano
Prison. It comes from the scenario of constant harassment, torture,
insults, beatings of suspects, intimidation and the threat to evictions by
traditional authorities of families and relatives of the suspects. The
wife to Mduduzi Mamba, one of the suspects sadly died of trauma
immediately following interrogation by the royal Swaziland police (who
admitted in their response to inquiries that she had been uncooperative
during the interrogation).

The state fails to establish a reasonably prosecutable case against any of
the suspects, save only to bundle up their investigations and please the
Mswati regime who had instructed the police to arrest as many PUDEMO and
SWAYOCO members as possible before the end of 2005. We have proof that
more than four of our members have been coerced by Khethokwakhe
Ndlangamandla and others into making self-incriminating statements and to
‘volunteer’ to be state witnesses. Most of these comrades have rejected
the offers with the contempt they deserve. Comrade Mduduzi Dlamini may
not have had that opportunity to withstand that pressure.

Even though political party affiliation is prohibited by law in Swaziland,
Mduduzi Dlamini has a right to enjoy his fundamental freedoms, including
those of association, expression and assembly and, therefore, his
membership or not to the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO).

2.0. The State Of the Suspects.

The comrades in Mbabane, Matsapha Central, Nhlangano and Manzini prisons
are strong and principled members of the organization, and we do not doubt
their allegiance and commitment to the organization’s objectives. We
stand by them, and are in contact with them and their families whenever
possible. In spite of continued attempts to by the state, and other
people who claim to be messiahs, to manipulate the comrades’ lack of legal
understanding, the suspects are consistent on their principles,

3.0. The Justice Course.

PUDEMO acknowledges that the members currently in custody are innocent
until proven guilty, and the onus lies on the crown to prove their guilt.
We have no reason to doubt the capability of the presiding judicial
officers in this case and believe that they are honorable enough to uphold
the principles of an independent justice in an environment respecting the
rule of law.

We, however, have strong reservations on the manner comrade Mduduzi
Dlamini was secretly hauled into the High Court for a confession when he
(and the rest) were still to argue for bail, let alone plead. The
statements that he allegedly made are so clear that he was spoon-fed to
not only incriminate him but the other co-accused. This practice is
common in undemocratic states as previously seen in Mozambique, Zimbabwe
and The Republic Of South Africa recently.

We also find it strange that a suspect charged for high treason together
with 15 others, is eventually singled out and ‘tried’ separately. We also
note that the comrade did not make these admissions under oath, and still,
they were admissible in court. Our observations here are not with
intentions against Mduduzi Dlamini, but on the commissions and omissions
by the prosecution and the judicial processes which all raise doubts about
the ‘trial’.

4.0. PUDEMO and Its Position.

We reiterate that at this moment the issue is not and should not be who is
responsible for the attacks, but what their root cause is. The country is
in such deep crisis due to the arrogance and intransigence of the royal
tinkhundla regime, and this crisis gives birth to the people’s actions in
quest for their freedoms. The people in Swaziland are angry for many
reasons; from the rapid job losses, abject poverty, education system,
evictions, declining standard of living, independence of the three arms of
government, violation of the fundamental human rights and the overall lack
of good governance. For these core demands, PUDEMO believes that people
will vent their anger in any way at their disposal, and history teaches us
that constructive dialogue and negotiation help avoid such situations.

In 1992, PUDEMO issued a document entitled The Way Forward To A
Constituent Assembly Through A Negotiated Settlement as a proven mechanism
for a sustainable people-driven, all-inclusive and owned transition to a
democratic Swaziland. The royalist regime arrogantly rejected this
peaceful program, and opted for a unilateral Mswati driven reform process
sponsored by the Commonwealth Of Nations, the European Commission,
cessationist Taiwan and other proponents of repression and custodians of
perpetual suffering of the poor African masses. PUDEMO is ready for any
round table negotiations for a peaceful settlement in spite of the
constant violent response on our unarmed members during peaceful marches
and rallies.

We reaffirm our position on the current constitution that irrespective of
whatever reforms that may have been unilaterally done in exclusion of
representative stake-holders, the process MUST go back to the people
through democratic processes of a national forum up to a constituent
assembly stage for the people’s full ownership. Anything short thereof is
nothing but cosmetic and will only be to the benefit of the monarchy and
its surrogates. We call on the local and international community to see
and view this position, and also the royal tinkhundla regime visa vis the
conventions it is signatory to eg; the NEPAD and its APRM, the Harare
Declaration, the African Charter and People’s Rights, the ACP/EU Cotonou
Protocol the only way it is – dictatorial.

5.0. Conclusion.

The arrests and recent admission by Mduduzi Dlamini are nothing else but
attempts by the regime to silence the voice of opposition in Swaziland, in
particular, PUDEMO and its youth league, SWAYOCO. We are not shaken by
these clandestine moves, but they only strengthen our resolve to have a
constitutional multi-party democracy in Swaziland. We are ready for talks
towards this goal, but time is not on our side, and time comes when people
say enough is enough and when time for such dialogue wanes.

We are waiting!


Official Statement Of PUDEMO
From the President’s Office.
09th February 2006. Ref.PR17/06PO

SWAZILAND CANNOT BE AN ISLAND OF DICTATORSHIP AND REPRESSION IN A SEA OF
DEMOCRACY.

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