OPTIONS FOR A FUTURE DEMOCRATIC SWAZILAND Date: 11 July 2014 Time: 10h30 – 13h00 Venue: OSISA Boardroom, Ground Floor, President Place, 1 Hood Street, Rosebank RSVP: Tsitsi Mukamba on [email protected] or on 011 587 5000 before 8 July 2014 Speakers • Venitia Govender – SA human rights and anti-apartheid activist • Bongani Masuku – COSATU International Secretary • Mandla Hlatshwayo – Business Leader and member of the SCCCO On 12 April 1973, the Swazi King proclaimed to the Swazi nation, “Now, therefore I, Sobhuza II, King of Swaziland, hereby declare that, in collaboration with my Cabinet Ministers and supported by the whole nation, I have assumed supreme power in the Kingdom of Swaziland and that all Legislative, Executive and Judicial power is vested in myself and shall, for the meantime, be exercised in collaboration with a Council constituted by my Cabinet Ministers. I further declare that, to ensure the continued maintenance Of peace, order and good government, my Armed Forces in conjunction with the Swaziland Royal Police have been posted to all strategic places and have taken charge of all government and all public services. I further declare that I, in collaboration with my cabinet Ministers, hereby decree that:- (a.) The Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland which commenced on the 6th September, 1968, is hereby repealed......”. 41 years later, Human Rights Lawyer, Thulani Maseko and the Editor of the Nation Magazine, Bheki Makhubu are in jail, together with the President of PUDEMO Mario Masuku and the Secretary General of SWAYOCO, Maxwell Dlamini, who is also the President of the SRC at the University of Swaziland. Reasons for their incarceration - merely expressing their views on democracy and the rule of law in the country. Also incarcerated are several prisoners of conscience and political activists with sentences ranging from 15, 20 to 85 years for fighting for their rights and democracy. This follows closely the tinkhundla elections held in 2013, which were characterised by the progressive forces as royal selections. These so-called elections have clearly not changed anything, but reinforced the decisive nature of royal strangle-hold on power in Swaziland. This has resulted in several questions being asked about the real essence, direction and prospects for a democratic breakthrough in Swaziland. Even more critical, is whether begging for democracy in Swaziland will ever bring about desired results or should other options be considered for change. This meeting will serve as part one of a protracted process towards identifying a clear synergy between the forces involved inside and outside the country towards programmatic convergence and clear focus for common action. Part of the discussion will explore and critically reflect what elements are involved in the movement towards real progress. What is holding back progress towards a genuinely democratic Swaziland and what new spaces exist for a real democratic breakthrough? Labour has been an active and consistent force for change in Swaziland, hence their centrality to the issues facing the civil society movement. They have done so with the active and solid support from their international counterparts, particularly the South African trade union movements led by COSATU. Their centrality has placed them in a position as to be real players in shaping the content and form of the democratic outcomes desired by the people of Swaziland. They have faced arrests, banning, detentions and persecution that have only strengthened their resolve and determination to make a difference and this meeting will explore how best to use these efforts to yield results in terms of: • The agenda for democratic change • The process for democratic change • The means and driving forces for democratic change Please join us as we discuss the above and develop a way forward on Swaziland.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 08:26:21 +0000
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