CTIVISTS STAY IN US AFTER PM’S STATEMENT

MBABANE – Vincent Ncongwane and Sipho Gumedze have cancelled their flight back to Swaziland.

The failure to arrive on their scheduled flights has created tension as it has been confirmed that they have been advised not to return unless they are assured that they will not be arrested when they return to Swaziland following the prime minister’s statement that they had to be strangled.
However, the prime minister has since withdrawn the statement.

Ncongwane, Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA)  was supposed to return on Saturday but the flight was cancelled. Also, Human Rights Lawyer Gumedze was supposed to return home today but indications are that he also will not be touching down.

The duo was in Washington DC attending the US-Africa Leaders Summit which was also attended by His Majesty King Mswati III.
“Ncongwane ought to have returned to Swaziland on Saturday, arriving at 11:30am or thereabout.

“You can verify with the flight provider or travelling agency but he didn’t because of the security concern. He will not return to Swaziland upon advice to do so,” the impeccable source revealed.
It is believed that the duo has been advised not to return to Swaziland by their counterparts in the United States of America following the statement by the PM that they should be strangled.
The PM’s statement is said to have been taken seriously in that country and the trade unionists and government picked it up.

Mduduzi Gina, Deputy Secretary General of TUCOSWA said he was not sure when Ncongwane would arrive in the country but knew that today he was supposed to report to work.
“I can’t give you a definite answer but what I know is that he is supposed to be at work tomorrow (today),” he said.

Intimidate

Mandla Mkhwanazi, of Lawyers for Human Rights, said it was wrong for government to intimidate the duo for expressing how they perceived things in the country. He said they were exercising their rights and they should not be challenged for that.

“The statement sent a sense of shock throughout the country and its withdrawal needs to be translated into actions. As for now, anything is possible upon their return and I wouldn’t be shocked if I hear that they were arrested upon arrival,” Mkhwanazi said.
On Thursday, in an interview with this publication, the duo challenged the head of government to throttle them. Gumedze said a particular trade union at the summit was worried about their return back to the country following the Executive leader’s remarks.

“They are saying we should not return to Swaziland; however, we have told them that whatever happens upon our return; the world will know who was responsible because he said it in public.”
He had emphasised that they were returning home.
“We are coming back home and if he (PM) wants to strangle us, let it be so,” he had said.
Ncongwane had said they did not report to the premier.

“Anyway we did not have to report to him or government that we were leaving. We report to our constituencies,” Ncongwane noted.
On Wednesday, the premier informed Members of Parliament (MPs) that they should strangle workers union leaders who went to Washington DC under the pretext of going to salvage AGOA.
He implored MPs that such people should be dealt with harshly. However, the premier, has since withdrawn the statement and urged the two unionists to come back home, saying nothing would happen to them on their return.

Worldwide coverage for  ‘abakhanywe’ statement

MBABANE – Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini’s ‘abakhanywe’ statement received worldwide coverage during the US-Africa Leaders Summit held in Washington DC.

The PM made the statement in Parliament, where he implored Members of Parliament (MPs) that such people should be dealt with harshly.

He has since withdrawn the statement and urged the unionists to return to the country.

The two worker representatives, who had attended the summit, are Vincent Ncongwane and Sipho Gumedze.
The PM’s statement was widely covered by the US electronic media as it was the second incident to embarrass the US Government at the summit.

The first incident was an assault of a journalist by The Gambia presidential protection unit; which led to President Jammeh to quickly leave the US.
The premier’s statement came shortly after that and was denounced by local and international civic societies. Dlamini’s statement was then followed by another unfortunate incident where President Kabila’s security guards assaulted a journalist.

It was captured in the electronic media; VOA and a number of television stations. The Government of the United States of America called on the Swazi authorities to renounce the statement made by the head of government.
Marie Harf, Deputy Department Spokesperson for the US Department of State said her government was deeply concerned about the threatening remarks made by the prime minister, towards the Swazi labour and civil society leaders who participated in the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington last week.

She said this in a statement published in the US Department of State website.
Harf said the PM’s remarks had a chilling effect on labour and civil rights in the kingdom.
“The United States continues to support and defend fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association, and the human rights defenders who fight for these values each day,” reads the statement. “We call upon the government to renounce the prime minister’s remarks and to ensure respect for the constitutionally enshrined rights of all citizens.”

Meanwhile, the PM unconditionally and unreservedly withdrew the statement that the two members of the union movement should be strangulated.
He said his statement ‘abakhanywe’ (they should be throttled) was misunderstood and misinterpreted by a number of people.

“I used the word and it was misunderstood. I, therefore, unconditionally withdraw it. I did not mean there should be violence against them,” he said.
The premier urged the two unionists to come back home, saying nothing would happen to them on their return.

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