Govt officials meet proscribed SSN

MBABANE—A team of government officials on Friday held a meeting with officials of PUDEMO ally, the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), which was proscribed by government early this year.

The meeting took place at Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria and lasted for about an hour and 30 minutes.
Government sources told the Times SUNDAY that the Swaziland High Commi-ssioner to the Republic of South Africa, Muntu Mswane and senior officials of the office were compelled to meet the banned organisation, after its members vandalised government property in protest of prolonged (High Commission and Government) silence over their concerns.

During the skirmish, which happened last week Friday, protestors allegedly harassed people at the Consulate’s office and removed pictures of the Swaziland leadership on the wall, and replaced them with those of Masuku and out-on-bail attorney Thulani Maseko, according to insiders.

Government officers based in Pretoria confirmed the meeting between Mswane’s delegation and the SSN. SSN was led by South African Communist Party (SACP) chief, Solly Mapaila.
Government sources said the High Commission had proposed that the meeting should take place at its offices, but that was rejected by SSN.

“They preferred a more neutral place, hence the meeting at Sheraton Hotel. Government will now have to foot the bill,” said the source.
The High Commissioner, Muntu Mswane was in a meeting when sought for comment on Friday. Beatrice Gamedze, who is also a senior officer at the High Commission reluctantly confirmed the meeting but declined to divulge more details.

 “We have formal communication channels with government and that is where we send details of such meetings. So, please contact the Minister, he will have all the responses to your questions,” she said on Friday.
However, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Lutfo Dlamini said yesterday that he was in Johannesburg and would meet High Commission officials over the same issue.

“We will be discussing that issue tonight. I will only be able to give you more information tomorrow (Sunday),” he said.
Following the Friday meeting, Mapaila appeared on E TV where he spoke at length about issues discussed and the aim of their weekly protest marches.

Meanwhile, the SSN spokesman Lucky Lukhele said “The meeting can be characterised as cordial.”
“SSN had an opportunity to raise its demands and dissatisfaction relating to lack of serious response on the royal Swazi side. The main issue that SSN Chairperson (Mapaila) highlighted is the need to recognise the inevitability of dialogue and a peaceful transition. He called on the Swazi authorities to begin negotiations with PUDEMO and all political and social forces,” he said.
Agreed
Lukhele said the High Commissioner (HC) agreed with the principle of dialogue, but seemed to suggest the inclusion of Swazi traditional consultation platforms such as the Vusela.
“This is not necessarily SSN’s thinking about genuine and broadly inclusive dialogue, but does not exclude it. PUDEMO has the right to determine which platforms are more free and democratic to conduct talks.
“The High Commission will inform SSN about feedback from Swaziland. It was agreed to meet more frequently,” he said.
Under the rubric of the Free Mario Masuku Campaign, the SSN with its allies in the South African Communist Party (SACP), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the Young Communist League (YCL), the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) have held weekly demonstrations at the Johannesburg consulate of the Kingdom of Swaziland. These protests have been held every Friday since the third week of January 2009 without fail, with the exception of public holidays.

Although many of the protests were non ruffian, things took a turn two weeks ago as the protestors were apparently irked by the lack of response from government, through the High Commission or the Johannesburg Consulate.

In more than 15 memoranda submitted, the Swazi authorities allegedly failed to respond to any of the demands.
Lukhele stated that last Friday on June 8, 2009, protesters refused to leave until there was a commitment from the Swazi High Commission and official feedback. “Alongside internal political pressure in South Africa, the region and internationally, this prompted the High Commissioner to make a commitment to meet with SSN,” he said.