April 12 protest.. stopped!

MBABANE – Security forces yesterday quashed a protest action by workers under the banner of the deregistered Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA).

Union leaders were left with no option, but to abandon the protest action, at around noon, after police and correctional services officers prevented them from assembling with each other or with their members.

Workers who were being driven to Mbabane for the march were also reportedly turned back at roadblocks that were staged on roads leading to the capital city.

These resulted in the workers failing to deliver petitions to four government ministries as they had intended.

The protest action was scheduled to begin at 9am at the Coronation Park, but at this time the place was only filled with state security personnel.

Union leaders were told that meetings within the confines of the capital city had been banned, following Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini’s statement on Wednesday that no protest action would be allowed, therefore, more than two people were not be allowed to hold any discussions.

First to be approached by the security officers was TUCOSWA Second Vice President Sipho Kunene and SNAT Secretary General Muzi Mhlanga, who were bundled into a police van after they were seen meeting with other unionists.

Kunene and Mhlanga had remained behind while other unionists dispersed as soon as they saw about 20 security officers approaching, opposite the Theatre Club at the Embassy House building.

"What are you doing here? Please, I request that you move away because meetings are not allowed in the city today," a police officer told the two.

Mhlanga replied: "I am a resident of Mbabane and it is my right to be here."

Soon a police van stood next to them and the security officers lifted them from where they were seated and bundled them into the back of the van, without resistance.

Mhlanga was later heard shouting "Viva, TUCOSWA, viva!" and "long live TUCOSWA, long live!" as the car drove away. They were dumped at different locations in the city.

NAPSAWU Secretary General, Vincent Dlamini, was forced to walk alone aimlessly as plain clothes police officers kept tabs on his movements.

In Nhlangano, Wonder Mkhonza, the Deputy Secretary General of the Swaziland Processing, Refining and Allied Workers Union, was also detained and later released.

TUCOSWA 1st Secretary General, Mduduzi Gina, was told to exit Mbabane within 15 minutes of his arrival from Manzini – a journey that saw police tracking him the entire route.

Former SNAT President, Dominic Nxumalo, did not run away from the officers, but he was also told in no uncertain terms not to hold meetings with anyone.

Hhohho Regional Commander Senior Superintendent Richard Mngomezulu told Nxumalo to stand 10 metres away from two women he was speaking to and warned that failure to do so would result in him being bundled into a police van. He complied.

The scattered unionists eventually managed to regroup inside the offices of the Swaziland Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (SUFIAW), where they held a press briefing.

Thereafter the protest action was called off.

On April 12 last year, security personnel also managed to stop a protest action by labour unions following hype on Facebook of an ‘uprising’ to be staged on the day.

The April 12 date is significant because it is the date in 1973 when the late King Sobhuza II banned the existence of political parties in the kingdom as he said they encouraged ‘undesirable elements’.

Lafa lelilhle kakhulu. I have since become convinced that the Government of Swaziland does not care about it's people, not even the tiniest bit. I am a young Swazi, studying overseas and I am very much ashamed of what has become of my beloved Swaziland. Absolutely no regard whatsoever for human rights. Where is the so called Human Rights Commission. This is a pure sign of a failing state. Where the government oppresses its people when they try to voice out their discontent whilst on the other hand the very same government is failing to provide its people with even the most basic services. It is true, the people of Swaziland are alone. No one cares. The big global powers only care about oil and other goods, and Swaziland has none of them and therefore it is not worth their attention. How can a government fail to develop a country of only 1.4 million people. In other countries there are cities with just as many people and even more governed by municipalities who are doing great in taking care of their people. Why can't our government do that. This is worse than a massacre, because in our case the whole country is being led down the cliffs. No one wants to rescue us, our leaders couldn't care even less. What government is this that doesn't listen to its people, a government that kills its future leaders, deprives the young of their right to education, uses brutality to crush opposition and above all drives the country to nothing but a charity case heavily characterized by self enrichment of the few. Only God will hear our cries, our tears will not count for nothing. However woe to those who knowingly refuse to hear the plight of the Swazi people.
Apr 13, 2012, 9:28 AM, Disgusted

Armed forces will never stop the call for a transparent democratic system as opposed to a system alien to to the concepto fundamentalm rights in the name of culture. TUCOSWA will never seize to exist practically as it may on paper. An intergrated community will work efficiently as opposed to individuals under the only Tinkhundla.
Apr 13, 2012, 9:28 AM, Ndezi (hlungwanemenzy@yahoo.com)

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