Pudemo News

MARIO MASUKU RECEIVES A DEMOCRACY AWARD FROM DANISH STUDENTS

2010-09-10T06:34:00.001-07:00

MR. MARIO MASUKU, THE PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE’S UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (PUDEMO), SWAZILAND RECEIVES A DEMOCRACY AWARD FROM DANISH STUDENTS.

The President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), the banned national liberation movement in Swaziland, Mr. Mario T. Masuku finally received an award given to him by the students of Denmark early this week. The award was given to him earlier in the year but he could not attend. The award was handed over to the President by Mr. Motern Nielsen from the Afrika Kontakt, the former anti-apartheid group that assists people and groups advocating for fundamental human rights and socio-economic empowerment of people in the developing world.

Mr. Masuku is vocal in the struggle for the democratization of his country that is currently ruled by King Mswati III, the world’s only surviving absolute monarch, ranked among the top 15 richest Monarchs the world. Mr Masuku was charged with high treason in 1990 but was acquitted after spending a year behind bars. He was again charged with sedition and subversion in 2000, kept in solitary confinement and yet again acquitted in 2002. His last arrest was in 2008 wherein he was charged under the notorious Suppression of Terrorism Act where again he was kept in solitary confinement in the maximum security prison for a year. He was subsequently acquitted by the high court. People, including students from Denmark, had tried paying Masuku a visit while in jail, but the Swaziland government refused them entry.

In between these arrests Mr Masuku had his house ransacked by the joint army and police contingents; his family harassed and party documents confiscated. While in prison the state had refused him private consultation with his physician and was not allowed sunshine or exercise outside his prison cell.

Below is what the President said on receipt of the ward:

It is good and comforting to be here today and receive this great award from these great people of Denmark. On behalf of the homeless, the foodless, the educationless, the healthless, the jobless, the landless and the voiceless of our poorest, I feel humbled and greatly honored to receive this award. Yes, it feels good to be with such honorable men and women at this function, but my soul drags me to the streets with street vendors; the hungry and street children of our lofty cities; to be in the factories with the toiling, exploited and underpaid workers; to be in the dry unproductive rainless plains and valleys in the rural areas.

That is where I belong; for my fellow citizens carry the heavy york of oppression from the authoritarian regime imposing itself on the helpless masses in the guise of loyalty. We all live a life of ‘no alternative’ in a land where culture has been politicized and commercialized and where dissent means seclusion or, as recently has been seen, DEATH!

But I extend our honor and respect to those brave comrades in Denmark, South Africa and the world over for their unshaken solidarity with the suffering people of Swaziland. We assure them that history has shown that the oppressed people eventually liberate themselves. Swaziland cannot be an island of dictatorship in a sea of democracy!

Demagogues do not start out as demented demons. Humanity has had plenty of them in the past, and even now, and when they set out on their rise to the top, nobody sees the danger that is coming. Most times, when society does eventually wake up, it is far too late and the damage is done. Often, they find their way into people’s hearts as good orators, born-again souls and inspirational ‘God created’ leaders.

When I was arrested I was prepared to suffer the consequences and would do all to protect the national movement and never to disown it during the trial. To me it was clear that this was less a trial in law than a confrontation in politics. I did not concern myself with the legalities, but the politics of the charge and my attitude to the indictment was to accept it as a generalized allegation, leaving the precise nature of the legal charge to emerge in the course of evidence, thus treating the indictment more as a statement of overall political allegation than a criminal charge formulated in terms of the law.

Asked to plead in the witness box, if I had to, I would have said “It is the Swaziland government that should be in the dock and not me… I plead not guilty.”

At numerous occasions I’m asked if I hate the police for arresting me, the government personnel and the prison warders who ill-treated me, and my answer is that “Yes, it is natural human instinct for the oppressed to feel some sense of vengeance towards the oppressor. But I have opted to hate nobody, to despise no one but the system of government that has created such monsters.

Our Core Demands are listed below:-

· Allowing for the leveling of the political playfield.

· Creating a climate for the independence of the media.

· Unconditional return of all exiles.

· Unbanning of Political Parties.

· Dialogue towards a Constitutional multi-party dispensation.

· The scrapping of the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008, and the Public Sector Bill.

· Implementing of ‘smart sanctions’ on the country’s leaders.

The road to any liberation takes more than just rhetoric. Always remember that there is no GAIN without PAIN, no CROWN without the CROSS and no BIRTH without TRAVAIL.

The hardest tasks in the world are neither physical feats nor intellectual achievement, but moral acts – to return love for hate, to include the excluded.

On behalf of my fellow countrymen and women, comrades in the PUDEMO structures, members of the Swaziland United Democratic Front, I humbly accept this Award.

I thank you.

Issued by Head of PUDEMO Publicity

Zakhele Mabuza

+268 7607 3453 (Manzini)

PUDEMO DEPUTY PRESIDENT FINALLY RELEASED

2010-09-09T04:33:00.000-07:00

The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) would like to formally announce to our friends, allies and partners that our Deputy President, Sikhumbuzo Phakathi, has been released from police custody.

Phakathi was detained by sate security police on Monday afternoon and thus could not participate on the planned two days protests. In as much as we are disgusted that he was detained for two days without charge we, however, welcome his release.

We assure the world that this will not dampen our spirits as we believe that the struggle continues.

PUDEMO also takes this opportunity to announce that Phakathi will be having a press conference tomorrow at COSATU house starting at 11am.

For further details contact Philani Ndebele at

+27 76 942 3565

Statement issues by

PUDEMO Head of Publicity Zakhele Mabuza

+268 76073453

ANCYL MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION FOR DEMOCRACY IN SWAZILAND

2010-09-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

The African National Congress Youth League supports the Global Day of Action for Democracy in Swaziland. As the ANCYL we acknowledge the supportive role played by the people of Swaziland during the period in South Africa when the State was controlled by a few who imposed the harshest inhumane injustices on our people.

Today we witness the harsh conditions under which the people of Swaziland are subjects to an absolute monarchy. The Swazi Monarchy continues to undermine human rights and at the forefront of suppressing political dissent in that country. This includes the recent detention of Trade Union activists both from Swaziland and South Africa.

The ANCYL condemns such arrests as an effort to undermine political activities in Swaziland. The ANCYL calls for a better life for each and every Swazi citizen. There should be effective improvement in the lives of the people of Swaziland by providing prevention and care and support to its people who are living with HIV & AIDS, who are in massive numbers and to alleviate poverty and strengthen access and provision of education.

The political, social and economic emancipation of the people of Swaziland must remain the most critical focus of the South African Government, neighbouring states, the region, the continent and the world. Good governance must be an obligation to the Swazi people. It escapes our imagination how the South African Government continues to have relations with the illegitimate Monarchy and dictatorial regime when the people of Swaziland continue live in poverty, in an environment growing with HIV infection. The ANCYL will raise the illegitimacy of the Monarchy and its negative impact on the people of Swaziland in the NGC of the ANC. The people of the continent look to South Africa, in particular the ANC for guidance and support and we can never fail them.

The people of Swaziland must enjoy political freedom, we will not sit by and watch whilst our neighbours suffer. The Youth League will raise the issue of bringing political freedom to the people of Swaziland. As the people of Swaziland participate in the Global Day of Action for Democracy, we denounce the undemocratic practices of Tinkundla and reaffirm our support for political emancipation of the people of Swaziland.

Issued by the ANCYL

Contact

ANCYL Spokespersons

Floyd Shivambu

+27 82 8199 474

Magdalene Moonsamy

+27 73 2688 269

PUDEMO CONDEMNS STATE ARROGANCE AND TERROR ON INNOCENT PROTESTORS

2010-09-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

The protest action that was in Mbabane
The protest action that was in Mbabane did not accomplish its intended objective of presenting petitions to the government. Once again the oppressive and repressive nature of the state was witnessed by the protestors.
In the first instance, the Minister of Labour did not come out to recieve the petition, a trend that has been going in the country for many years when petions had to be presented to government. The government wanted to send a junior office to recieve the petition. This shows the disgusting attitude the government of the country has towards its people.
The second factor causing the protestors not to present the petition was the arrogant, provocative and repressive behaviour of the state police. The police wanted to forcefully remove Wandile Dludlu from the protestors because he was deemed not to be part of those who should protest against the state. And police were acting on an instruction by the state which has given itself the right to dictate who should protest against it! In the process, the police assaulted and manhandled several protestors in the skirmish that ensured resulting to two workers getting forcefully and brutally thrown and held inside a police caspir that was on standby.
Earlier in the day the President of PUDEMO Mario Masuku was visited by state police acting on government instruction to take and keep him at the Police Headquarters in Mbabane on the pretext that he was not supposed to attend the protest aaction. Later on he was escorted home where he was placed under house arrest for the duration of the protest action.
This is the hallmark of the Tinkhundla regime. It sustains it power over the people through force, intimidation, harassment, fear and repression while it tells the world the direct opposite of existing concrete conditions.
This dictatorial and arrogant behaviour and tendencies of the state in Swaziland deserves the strongest and unreserved condemnation by the civilized and democratic world. PUDEMO condemns this undemocratic and disrespectful behaviour by the state. We have always expressed clearly over the years the arrogance of the state and all we got for telling the truth was to be labelled unSwazi, disrespectful and most of all terrorists.
However, this arrogance and terror ochestrated by the state will not deter us and the struggling masses of our country until the constitutional multiparty democracy is achieved.
Contact
Head of Publicity
Zakhele Mabuza +268 7607453
Manzini

COSATU condemns the arrest of 14 SAMWU members and PUDEMO President Mario Masuku in Swaziland

2010-09-07T15:04:00.000-07:00

COSATU salutes all its affiliates, the international trade union
movement and civil society organisations from all over the world for
their outstanding show of practical solidarity with the oppressed and
suffering people of Swaziland.

This unprecedented show of solidarity has contributed to the historic
numbers in the march taking place today in Manzini that has literally
brought Swaziland to a standstill. We also send fraternal greetings to
all workers and activists who have organised activities in line with the
global day of action in their own countries.

However, we take this opportunity to condemn in the strongest terms, the
extreme arrogance and desperation of the Swazi monarchy which has and
continue to arrest our members, the latest being the 14 members of
SAMWU, our affiliate. We also condemn the arrest of PUDEMO President
Mario Masuku around 11h00 at Bhunu Mall in Manzini.

Every arrest brings closer the liberation of the people of Swaziland and
we urge the people to stand firm in their demand for democracy, it is a
painful, but worthy struggle. We are also told that an anti-South
African phobia is being instilled by the Swazi regime as we are told the
government has banned every car from South Africa unless it's a guest of
the monarchy. This will not solve the crisis and problems facing the
country, but throw it into further degeneration.

We call on the world leaders to break their silence and act now. The
future of our region is at stake and we are all called upon to be
counted in calling for sanity to prevail in Swaziland, meanwhile, the
struggle continues.

We call on all our members to join the protest at the Swazi consulate
tomorrow (Wednesday) at 12h30 at the Braamfontein Centre.

PROTEST ACTION A HUGE SUCCESS

2010-09-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

PROTEST ACTION A HUGE SUCCESS

The Global Day of Action for Democracy in Swaziland protest action as organized by the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC) and the workers was a huge success. Inspite of the very hostile environment created by the heavy presence of the state police, a huge number of protesters bravely participated in the action.

At the core of the demands, is the call for multiparty democracy whose absence has resulted in the blatant miscarriage of social justice.

However, true to its arrogance, the state through the police occasionally disrupted the protesters. In one instance, the police forcefully removed the President of PUDEMO Mario Masuku on arrival resulting in a physical skirmish between the protesters and the police. Subsequently, another worker was detained.

There were other casualties though:

- 8 workers from SAMWU in South Africa were forcefully removed from the premises of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions and later deported.

- 3 representatives from Afrika Kontak led by Morten Nielsen were also forcefully sent to the airport for deportation.

- 2 workers at the Forum for Socio Economic Justice Dumezweni Dlamini and Thami Tsabedze were also detained for unknown reasons.

- 1 foreign observer named Sox was also detained.

Tomorrow the protest action continues tomorrow in Mbabane where petitions will be handed over to the government.

Contact

Head of Publicity

+268 6073453

Manzini

Police raid SFTU offices ( CAMPAIGN HQ) in Swaziland

2010-09-07T04:18:00.000-07:00

From Stiffkitten’s blog

At 8.45 today, Swazi police raided the offices of the Swazi Federation of Trade Unions. This happened only five minutes before the planned march of the Global Day of Action was to commence. The reason for targetting the SFTU offices was that the march activity was being organised and coordinated from here, and that the police with in doing so are trying to shut down the legal march entirely.

Sources amongst the organisers of the march have said that the march will continue as planned, however, regardless of the immense presence of police officers and vehicles on every corner of the city. Sources from within the Swaziland Democracy Campaign in South Africa have told Africa Contact that the Swazi military have also been deployed in an attempt to intimidate the marchers.

The police have also arrested the Deputy President of PUDEMO, Sukhumbuzo Phakathi, and it has not been possible for the laywers of PUDEMO to contact him yet.

SDC condemns the arrest of PUDEMO Deputy President, Sikhumbuzo Phakathi

2010-09-07T04:12:00.000-07:00

07/09/2010 Press Statement

SDC condemns the arrest of PUDEMO Deputy President, Sikhumbuzo Phakathi

The crisis in Swaziland is deepening, so has the resolve of the fighting masses. No amount of arrests and brutal suppression of political and trade union activities will break the profound resistance building up in the country. This was the observation of the SDC South Africa team that was deported after interrogation by Swazi police and intelligence yesterday.

It is in that context that the arrest of PUDEMO Deputy President, Sikhumbuzo Phakathi must be understood. He was arrested around 20h30 yesterday night at the Phongola border post as the Swazi police and army were deporting the South African delegation comprised of COSATU and Swaziland Democracy Campaign activists.

It is known that the treatment of detained activists in Swaziland is a harsh experience none would dare wish to go through. This is worsened by the fact that recently; Sikhumbuzo’s rural home at Hluti was invaded and raided by the Swazi army and police in search of weapons, which in all probability was to build a case for his long planned arrest.

We demand the release of Comrade Sikhumbuzo as we also demand the right of all workers and the people of Swaziland to march and demand a government of their own choice. We further call for the intensification of activities all over the world aimed at mobilising global support for the struggle for democracy in that country.

In this regard, SDC reaffirms that it will be holding a protest action tomorrow at the Johannesburg offices of the Swazi Consulate. The details are:

Venue: Swazi consulate, Braampak behind Civic theatre, Braamfontein

Time: 12h30

Date: 08 September, 2010

For more information please contact:

Ntokozo Mbhele at
+27 72 370 0974
Ntokozo@publicservices.co.za
or
Philani Ndebele at
+27 76 942 3565
philani@asc.org.za

YCLSA CONDEMNS BRUTAL AND UNLAWFUL DETAINING OF WORKER LEADERS IN SWAZILAND

2010-09-07T03:57:00.000-07:00

YCLSA CONDEMNS BRUTAL AND UNLAWFUL DETAINING OF WORKER LEADERS IN SWAZILAND

7 SEPTEMBER 2010

The Young Communist League of South Africa (uFasimba) condemns the unruly behaviour of Swaziland Royal Police who unlawfully detained worker leaders, who were convening a meeting in preparation for today’s protest action. This comes as no shock as the Swaziland Monarchy has proven to be intolerant of democracy and popular views of the people of Swaziland. This unfortunately proves that every word uttered by the King has merely been hypocritical propaganda to paint a facade to the rest of the world.

We re-affirm our support to the people of Swaziland in their struggle for democracy. We urge the South African government to play a more decisive role in addressing political problems of Swaziland. We cannot turn a blind eye to the continuous brutality faced by activists in Swaziland.

We call upon the immediate release of all detainees and for the protest action to continue as it was within legal confines without any interruption from the dictatorship. We support the Swaziland Democracy Campaign in their initiative in spreading awareness about the continued oppression of the people of Swaziland by a Monarchy.

Issued by the YCLSA Head office

Contact

Gugu Ndima

National Spokesperson

+27 76 783 1516

NEWS ALERT: PUDEMO DEPUTY PRESIDENT SIKHUMBUZO PHAKATHI ARRESTED

2010-09-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

NEWS ALERT: PUDEMO DEPUTY PRESIDENT SIKHUMBUZO PHAKATHI ARRESTED

All the visiting worker leaders have been deported save only for Sikhumbuzo Phakathi, the Deputy President of PUDEMO and also International Secretary for CCEPPWU. Information we are gathering is to the effect that upon reaching the border, Phakathi was not allowed to cross over into South Africa but was held up by the police under intense interrogation. We also gathered that the other worker leaders from COSATU were deported through the Lavumisa/Golel border post (northern KZN) but their whereabouts cannot be confirmed, at least for now.

In the meantime, our Deputy President's exact whereabouts are unknown and his safety with the local police cannot be guaranteed as witnessed.

Contact:

Head of Publicity

+268 76073453

Manzini

DETAINED WORKER LEADERS DEPORTED

2010-09-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

DETAINED WORKER LEADERS DEPORTED

As previously reported,all the detained workers have been released from police detention in Manzini Swaziland.

However, all the detained visiting worker leaders from South Africa have been deported. They were all driven in police cars to the border. Their mission of providing solidarity with the struggling masses of Swaziland has been derailed. However, the protest action planned for Tuesday and Wednesday is still on.

Contacts

Head of Publicity

+268 76073453

Manzini

COSATU condemns Swazi arrests

2010-09-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

COSATU condemns Swazi arrests

The Congress of South African Trade Unions condemns in the strongest possible terms the arrest today, 6 September 2010, of members of the Swaziland trade union movement (SFTU), Swaziland Federation of Labour (SFL) and Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), together with COSATU members who are in Swaziland preparing for tomorrow's pro-democracy demonstrations.

We demand their immediate and unconditional release by the Swazi regime, which is once again displaying is brutal opposition to any democratic opposition.

Tomorrow is the Global day of Action on Swaziland and several build-up activities had been scheduled by Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC), the Coordinators of the Global action which were highly successful and massively attended to by workers, communities and international patriots.

Amongst those detained are:

Ø Fundizwi Sifundza, SFTU National Organiser,

Ø Steve Faulkner, SDC South Africa Convenor and SAMWU International Officer,

Ø Mary Da Silva, SDC Swaziland Co-ordinator,

Ø Zanele Matebula, and COSATU Deputy International Secretary,

Ø Sikelela Dlamini, SDC Swaziland Secretary and SDC South Africa member

Ø George Mahlangu, COSATU National Campaigns Coordinator,

Ø Christine Olivier, NUMSA Deputy President,

Ø Ntokozo Mbhele, SDC South Africa Secretary,

Ø Muzi Masuku, OSISA Swaziland Programme Manager,

Ø Frank Mncina, SATU General Secretary (Swaziland)

Ø and several others whose whereabouts are not yet accounted for.

For more details contact:

§ Nomthandazo Sikiti, SDC South Africa, +27 82 455 2303

§ Dumezweni Dlamini on +268 7604 6200

§ Zakhele Mabuza on +268 7607 3453

§ Philani Ndebele on + 27 76 942 3565 phil...@asc.org.za

POLICE DETAIN WORKER LEADERS IN MANZINI SWAZILAND

2010-09-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

POLICE DETAIN WORKER LEADERS IN MANZINI SWAZILAND

As expected, members of the Swaziland Royal Police have swooped on an innocent meeting of workers in Manzini and ordered the meeting to stop. It was a preparatory meeting for tomorrow’s protest action. After much reasoning from leaders of workers, the police instructed everyone present must go to the Regional Police Headquarters for questioning. It was a huge battalion that was heavily armed.

Participants in meeting were then forcefully marshaled and some manhandled as they were loaded into the police van and a huge truck. Participants included workers leaders locally, civic society and internationalguests. Some of those detained are:

1. Musa Hlophe – Swaziland Coalition of the Concerned Civic Society.

2. Muzi Masuku – OSISA Country Manager

3. Vincent Ncongwane _ Secretary General of Swaziland Federation of Labour

4. Sikelela Dlamini - Swaziland Democracy Campeign

5. Phumelela Dlamini – Swaziland Democracy Campaign

6. Mary da Silva – Swazxiland Democracy Campaign

7. Mpandlana Shongwe – Swaziland Democracy Campaign

8. Wandile Dludlu – SWAYOCO President.

9. Zanele - Deputy Secretary International Affairs COSATU

10. George Mahlangu – COSATU

11. NUMSA National President

12. Ntokozo Mbele – SDC South Africa Chapter

13. Steve - SDC South Africa and International Relations Officer Municipal Workers Union.

14. Sikhumbuzo Phakathi – CCEPPWU/Deputy President of PUDEMO

15. Muzi Mhlanga – General Secretary Swaziland National Association of Teachers.

16. Sibusiso Lushaba – General Secretary Swaziland National Association of Nurses

Apart from these, many other members of the trade union movement in Swaziland were detained including two journalists from the local media who were covering the even.

This act has clearly shown to everyone and those who have been doubting the state of human rights abuse in Swaziland. This must be strongly condemned by all democracy loving people of the world and demand the quick and unconditional democratization of the country. This comes at the backdrop of many repressive actions from the state against the poor masseswho on a daily basis are demanding multiparty democracy in SWaziland.

Currently, the detainees are still in police custody at the Manzini Regional Headqurters. They are estimated to be in excess of 30 in number.

Contacts

Head of Publicity

+268 76073453

Manzini

PUDEMO PRESIDENT TO RECEIVE DEMOCRACY AWARD

2010-09-05T03:45:00.000-07:00

PUDEMO PRESIDENT TO RECEIVE DEMOCRACY AWARD

Following that the President (Mario Masuku) of The Peoples United Democratic Movement was awarded a democracy award earlier this year in Denmark for his contribution to the general struggle for democracy in Swaziland, the award will be handed over to him in person. A representative of the friends of the poor and struggling masses of Swaziland coming from Denmark shall perform the honorable task of handing over this award. This is not an award for the PUDEMO President, but for all the struggling masses of Swaziland.

Everyone is therefore, invited to attend this historic event. Such include:

· Trade unions

· The church and civic society

· Community based organizations

· The informal sector

· Political organizations

· The media

The activity shall take place on Monday 6^th September 2010 in Manzini at 1800 hours.

Contacts

Head of Publicity

Zakhele Mabuza +268 76073453

Manzini

Raid of Mario Masuku's house and Arrest of Thokozani Dlamini

2010-06-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

PUDEMO STATEMENT ON THE RECENT RAID OF OUR PRESIDENT AND THE ARREST OF OUR YOUTH LEAGUE MEMBER

Friends and compatriots we report today that our President, Mario Masuku, was this morning raided by police officers and most of his documents confiscated. This comes in the wake of reports that the police have been on a clampdown on our members, engaging in wanton arrests and harassment of our youth league members in particular. This subsequently led to the arrest of Thokozani Dlamini of Ekwendzeni.

Dlamini was detained for the entire week and secretly hauled at the High court where he was officially charged with Terrorism and remanded into custody. Efforts by our youth league to have him see a lawyer was thwarted by the police. Nothing new there.

Our President, on the other hand, was woken up by armed to the teeth police officers who turned everything up and down at his homestead in Mbabane. He was subjected to the most harrowing experience of his life; intimidation, harassment and being ridiculed in front of his family. We note with great concern that this happens to a country that is fast degenerating to a state of emergency and police state. This happens while the head of state was wining and dinning with democratically elected heads of state during the official opening of the World Cup in South Africa.

Our President is a known enemy of the state having been arrested and charged with everything from High Treason to Sedition and now Terrorism. In all these instances he has come out victorious, something that seemingly has not gone down well with Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini who is toying around with the idea of reviving the non bailable offences Law.

Against all evidence of a country in crisis, SADC has remained quiet while stroking the ego of the monarchy by turning a blind eye to these atrocities.

We are again alarmed that the pseudo political party and state collaborationist Sibahle Sinje, is now on the media, calling for everyone to condemn violence while parachuted themselves as standing on the moral high ground. We can’t believe it is Sibahle Sinje saying this. We can’t help but ask ourselves; where was Sibahle Sinje when we were unfairly proscribed as a terrorist entity? What did they say? What did they say when unionist and patriot Sipho Jele died? We heard nothing from them when Workers day was disturbed by police officers. Their silence is too loud when Swaziland Democracy Campaign leaders are harassed and abused by police for merely being democracy activists. It therefore came as a surprise to us when they woke up from their slumber to demand that the whole world must run like headless chickens simply because the ‘master’ has spoken. Sibahle Sinje would best be advised to continue collaborating in the plundering of the economy and their soft reprimand of the regime while we, together with the democracy loving masses, continue our peaceful struggle for democracy in our life time.

As PUDEMO we are unequivocal in condemning violence and have openly challenged the regime to the round table for negotiations. For this we have been labelled terrorists, beaten, maimed, dehumanised, forced into exile and sanctioned economically in our own country. Our genuine commitment to peaceful struggle and none violence has been met by brutal force and harassment. When ordinary people of Swaziland decide to give the regime a taste of their own medicine (violence) organisations like Sibahle, who have a history of standing on the side of the oppressor, scream blue murder. We view this as hypocrisy of the worse order. Right now the regime plants its agents to bomb people’s homes so that they can marshal public sympathy in their escapades to harass, torture and induce fear to the masses. This is done so that they can set the right environment for a final onslaught on our members. It is hoped that this would justify the state labelling us terrorists. But the regime had not prepared enough for what was to happen after the bombing of comrade Alex LaNgwenya’s house at Bhunya—public opinion turned and people began to see a dangerous regime on a rampage. We are encouraged that the people see these latest bombings for what they are; a state creation to induce fear, a pivotal weapon in their quest to throttle us all into submission. But the Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini should know by now that PUDEMO will never die because the people are PUDEMO and PUDEMO is the people. Our ideology lives and our membership is swelling. We will continue to call for dialogue while encouraging the international community, particularly the South African government to do more to foster dialogue in the country. We have demonstrated in the past our willingness to engage this regime and create a real democratic society but our willingness to create a stable, peaceful and democratic Swaziland has been shown the middle finger by the regime. We advise the Prime Minister that no amount of draconian legislation and reviving of the non bailable offenses law will stop the people of Swaziland from attaining their long desired freedom. We also would like to say that our youth league member who has been arrested and charged with Terrorism is innocent until proven guilty. He is a victim of the police’s fertile imagination and we know the general public does not at all believe that PUDEMO or its youth wing has anything to do with these bombings.

Contact

Zakhele Mabuza

+268 7607 3453

PUDEMO Members Harrassed

2010-06-12T05:24:00.000-07:00

PUDEMO Members Harrassed:

A Five Day Record

Members of PUDEMO continue to receive harassment from the Swaziland Tinkhundla regime. In the space of five days atrocities have been visited on our members including:

the mysterious bombing of Alex Langwenya's house.
the raiding of Mphandlana Shongwe's house.
the raiding of several homes of PUDEMO Youth League members in Manzini.
the raiding of PUDEMO National Organizing Secretary Jabulani Dlamini's house on Friday morning.
the detention of three members of PUDEMO Youth League in Hlatikulu on Friday morning. Two of them have been released while one, namely Zonke Dlamini remains in detention. Reports are that the comrades were severely tortured by the police. Zonke remains in the cells enduring the torture being visited on him by the police and we fear a repeat of what befell the late Sipho Jele might be witnessed for no one is allowed access to him and he is neither afforded medical attention.
the raid on the home of the former PUDEMO National Organizing Secretary, Armstrong Robinson in his absence.

We suspect there might be more of such unreported atrocities and abuse of human rights on the members of PUDEMO meted out by the state's security agents countrywide. And more are still to come! After all the campaign was declared in 2008 and this week, the Prime Minister reiterated the state's commitment to carryout this deadly campaign on democracy activists in Swaziland and instill fear on anyone who dares think of publicly criticizing the status quo.

Contacts

Head of Publicity

Zakhele Mabuza +268 7607 3453

Manzini

Update on PUDEMO President

2010-05-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

Update on PUDEMO President Comrade Mario Masuku’s

Like the past week, at about 5am this morning a battalion of hundreds of royal hit squads came to Sipho Jele's funeral.

This time around not raiding, but taking notes of what speakers had to say with the aim of targeting those who would say "viva PUDEMO".

Of note, this time they were carrying a digital video camera and recorded the morning sermon.

The environment was tense; last week's events were still fresh on the minds of the people who had attended.

Just when all was done, on our way back there was a road block, our car was following that of PUDEMO President and his son.

About 50 cops ordered Mario to get into the police van which took him to a police station near Luyengo.

In fear that he might be tortured as well, we decided to drive with them to the police station.

Many other comrades came, we waited out side the station. The media was already there to cover the story.

After waiting since morning we were told that he allegedly committed a crime under on terrorism act by shouting VIVA PUDEMO at the funeral.

After waiting for hours he was released, claiming that they will serve him with relevant papers so that he appear in court.

But I can proudly say that it was our support that changed their minds.

Mario rearrested

2010-05-22T01:47:00.000-07:00

Breaking News!!!!!!!!

PUDEMO PRESIDENT COMRADE MARIO MASUKU ARRESTED BY THE SWAZILAND ROYAL POLICE ON HIS WAY BACK FROM THE FUNERAL OF COMRADE SIPHO JELE.
MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW.

Listen to PUDEMO President on METRO FM tonight

2010-05-18T05:59:00.000-07:00

Tune into PUDEMO President Mario Masuku live on air tonight at 8:10 PM local time.

Masuku will be speaking about the murder of our Comrade Sipho Jele on METRO FM - a Jo'burg based radio station.

For those in SD, and those of the international community, you can go online and listen through the METRO FM podcast.

Go to
http://www.metrofm.co.za/player.html

The burial of Comrade Sipho Jele

2010-05-15T03:36:00.000-07:00

Preparations for the burial of Comrade Sipho Jele continue.

The urgent court application could not go to court after the dramatic and mysterious disappearance of the file on Sipho's file.

This was deliberately done by the state to buy time in an effort to do serious and urgent damage control.

It ensured the case did not go to court, but be settled out of court.

(See " Dead PUDEMO man’s file goes missing at High Court" -

http://www.times.co.sz/index.php?news=16582)

The postmortem proceeded well and a report is expected soon.

Today at 1330 hrs, there will be a memorial service to be held at the Fellowship Church next to Palm Beach in Manzini.
a night vigil shall follow in the evening at Ncabaneni.
burial will be in the morning at Ncabaneni.

We envisage no problems, but we never knows with the governance structures in the country.

Killed for wearing his PUDEMO T-shirt

2010-05-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

PUDEMO Media Release, 5 May 2010

Killed for wearing his PUDEMO T-shirt

The royal security agents in Swaziland have done it again

We report with great grief to all our comrades both at home and internationally that Comrade Sipho Jele has died, as usual in the hands of the police. Cde Sipho was detained on Workers Day for wearing a PUDEMO t-shirt in Manzini. Subsequently, the police took him to his home in Ncabaneni looking for his membership card and returned with him to custody. On the following day, Tuesday morning the police officers returned to report to his grandmother that he has died by coomiting suicide while in custody. We know this is incorrect. A lot of people in Swaziland have died in the hands of the police and fictitious stories fabricated. And the police were ordering the old woman to bury the comrade on the same day, Tuesday.

Next they will bribe the poor family to fabricate a story on Sipho's death which shall be in favour of the regime and its killer security agents. If they fail, they shall threaten the old lady with a lot of fearful things including being evicted from her home area.

The Swaziland royal regime has always been giving the international community the wrong information that political dissenters are not imprisoned, harrassed and killed. And that Swaziland is a peaceful country. But here is a political activist getting killed for attending Workers Day and wearing a PUDEMO t-shirt. These are the same tactics that were used during apartheid South Africa to silence political activists. It is high time the international community, especially SADC genuinely take up the issue of Swaziland. How many innocent people must die before the regional leadership comes out openly to condemn the Swaziland regime and demand for democratization? Do we need to experience massive deaths like it is happening in other countries to get the international community to act?

Cde Sipho is a former worker at Usuthu Pulp. He was currently among the 2006 awaiting treason trialists. He was also in the process of furthering himself academically. PUDEMO and its Youth League have lost a hard working and committed comrade in Sipho. May his soul rest in peace! He has not died in vain, but for the freedom and liberation of our oppressed masses under the arrogant tinkhundla royal regime.

Contacts

Head of Publicity

+268 607 3453
Manzini

Mario Masuku is free!

2009-09-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

The trial of Mario Masuku ended today about 5 hours after it had begun.

The Court could see through the three false witnesses and called the whole thing off while all had expected the hearing to last at least four days.

Jubliant PUDEMO members went to greet their President at the Matsapha Prison, where Mario Masuku had been kept. Now there are reports that Wandile Dludlu, President of PUDEMO's youth wing SWAYOCO, has been harassed and tortured while waiting to see the release of Mario Masuku.

The trial begins

2009-09-21T05:47:00.000-07:00

This morning the Trial of President Mario Masuku has begun at High Court in Mbabane.

The court room is packed and many outside can not get in.

PUDEMO members were shouting VIVA PUDEMO and were threatened with arrest if they continued to do so.

One PUDEMO member has been arrested for wearing a PUDEMO t-shirt.

Two members of the American Embassy are present.

It is unclear at this point which foreign media networks are present.

SWAYOCO President tortured

2009-09-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

SWAYOCO President, Wandile Dludlu, has been detained, tortured and injured by state police today as he returned to Swaziland after coming from the COSATU border blockade at Oshoek.

He is being taken to hospital as he is badly hurt.

Swaziland Youth Congress turns 18!

2009-08-08T04:09:00.000-07:00

Today, Saturday August 8th, PUDEMO's youth wing, the Swaziland Youth Congress will be turning 18 years old.

To commemorate this day SWAYOCO shall be at Matsapha, in the eviction threatened areas, as a sign of continued solidarity with the oppressed masses of our country.

VIVA SWAYOCO VIVA!

News coming out from the Court case of Mario Masuku and Amos Mbedzi

2009-08-07T05:37:00.000-07:00

SSN update.

Message 1:
"Am with Mario Masuku and Amos Mbedzi here in court. Mario says I must tell you all that change will come, he will hang in there till you people rise up and say enough is enough."

Message 2:
"The President was defiant and he shouted VIVA and the over 100 people who turned up at the court were ecstatic....Mario was in high spirit and Mbedzi pleaded not guilty. He even did a little toyi-toyi in his leg irons. Am inspired."

These statements are all by our comrades inside court.

Viva the People's President Mario Masuku Viva
and
Viva to our Internationalist Amos Mbenzi Viva

Amandlanessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

PUDEMO President to have pre-trial hearing this week

2009-08-03T05:43:00.000-07:00

Scheduled for 9:00 AM Friday Aug 7, 2009 is the pre-trial hearing for Mario Masuku, PUDEMO's President.

South African national, Amos Mbedzi, is also to have his pre-trial conference on the same day.

These pre-trial conferences will be attended by High Court Registrar Lorraine Hlophe who today said that the trials will begin in September when the second session of the High Court starts.

2nd Regional Congress

2009-07-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

PUDEMO Media Alert

Issued :28 July 2009

The People’s United Democratic Movement of Swaziland will be holding its 2^nd Regional Congress in South Africa on the weekend of 2^nd August. Delegates to this congress will be coming from branches of PUDEMO in South Africa : Nelspruit, Barberton , Witbank, Ermelo, Durban , Pietermaritzburg, Stanger, Springs, Germiston, Vaal, Carletonville, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Rustenburg.

In the era of the Suppression of Terrorism Act 2008, intensified repression by the Swazi royal regime; and the continued harassment of members of the movement, there is an even greater need to build a strong PUDEMO outside the borders of the country, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to operate inside Swaziland . This congress is in line with the programme released earlier in the year which demands that all regions of PUDEMO must go to their congresses by the end of July 2009.

The congress is organised by an NEC Task Team which is led by the Secretary General of PUDEMO cde Sphasha Dlamini and will be addressed by the Deputy President cde Skhumbuzo Phakathi.

A number of allied organisations have been invited to enrich discussions.

Some of the major issues to be dealt with include:

Release Mario Masuku Campaign

Building a strong SA region of PUDEMO- responding to the new terrain

Intensification of international work

For more information contact the PUDEMO Head of Publicity

Zakhele Mabuza on differmab@yahoo.co.uk

268 607 3453

The deepening political crisis in Swaziland

2009-07-17T03:47:00.000-07:00

Centre for Strategic and Popular Initiatives (CSPI) Seminar

Hear Swazi human rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko

He is also legal representative for Jailed PUDEMO President, Mario Masuku and has just recently been released from jail. Therefore, he will take us through the situation inside and outside jail under the draconian Suppression of Terrorism Law in Swaziland

Date: 23rd July, 2009
Venue: COSATU House, 10th floor
Time: 10h00

The Deputy President of PUDEMO, Sikhumbuzo Phakathi shall also take us through PUDEMO’s Plan for the liberation of Swaziland, including the release of PUDEMO President, Mario Masuku

For more details contact: 073 142 7594

PUDEMO Day 2009

2009-07-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

PUDEMO DAY

It is that time of the year when PUDEMO marks its birth.

It is now 26 years that the movement was born and has continued to wage the struggle for democratic transformation in Swaziland irrespective of the prevailing hostile and oppressive conditions which we are subjected to.

On Saturday, 4 July 2009 PUDEMO will be marking this important day in the life of the people’s struggle under the theme:

Re- affirming PUDEMO’s commitment to fight for a peaceful transition to democracy – demanding a better life for all the people of Swaziland .

We shall further reactivate the RELEASE MARIO MASUKU campaign to give it an improved visibility both domestically and internationally.

Venue: Manzini

Time: 11 am

Friends and allies of PUDEMO, together with the entire mass democratic movement in Swaziland are invited to be part of this important activity.

We shall stand by our people until final victory!

PUDEMO International Relations

C/O Head of Publicity

+268 607 3453

+27 73 142 7594

+27 82 923 1401

PUDEMO member killed by police

2009-06-16T05:38:00.000-07:00

We are very sorry to inform readers of the news that a PUDEMO member* has been killed by the police.

When the police came to raid him on Saturday last week, he ran out of the building.

The police then shot him and claimed that they had found some dagga in the house.

There is a protest march planned for tomorrow in Big Bend to protest the killing.

On this 16th day of June, 33 years after the youth of Soweto defiantly challenged the ruling apartheid regime, we are saddened over another tragedy in Swaziland. Yet we are certain victory is for the people and our martyrs will not be forgotten.

*[Name will be released after family has been fully notified.]

Bail for Advocate Maseko

2009-06-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

(Photo: Lawyer Thulani Maseko with PUDEMO President Mario Masuku.)

Advocate Thulani Maseko appeared in the High Court of Swaziland today.

He was admitted E15,000 (US$1500-1700) bail and released.

Lawyer of PUDEMO President Arrested

2009-06-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

The Swazi regime has gone mad beyond recovery!

Advocate Thulani Maseko, lawyer of PUDEMO President was arrested yesterday on charges of TERRORISM!

This is a clear indication that the Swazi regime wants to do away with all human rights activists.

Thulani Maseko is a founding member of the Swaziland Association of Students, former president of the Student Representative Council (SRC) at the University of Swaziland, former Secretary General of PUDEMO, founding member of Lawyers for Human Rights Swaziland, founding member and chairperson of the National Constitutional Assembly.

He has represented many comrades in their legal battles against the regime including the successful case by the ex-miners in which the court ruled in favour of the people for free education.

Advocate Maseko is a well respected lawyer around the world, having been recently invited by the Foreign affairs Minister in the UK and the EU to state the case for Swaziland.

It is not clear as yet where he is kept and what is happening to him.

But we fear for his life.

PUDEMO International Relations
c/o Head of Publicity
Manzini, Swaziland

cell numbers
268-607-3453 (Swaziland)
27-73-142-7594 (South Africa)
27-82-923-1401 (South Africa)

Arrest in Manzini

2009-04-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday cde Slovo was taken because of having pamphlets and the police wanted to keep him away of the action today.

Comrades, be informed that in the confrontation with the police some comrades were arrested the number is around four.But then, it might not be only those four because we were just running when they arrested the comrades.

Mostly those arrested were wearing Release Mario t-shirts.There were also casualties in the police force also.

The leadership will correct the number

Cde Sydney from the street

Update on the mass action in Manzini Swaziland

2009-04-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

The protest action organized and led by the Council of Swaziland Churches has taken place in the city of Manzini today to protest against government's failure to implement free primary education as ordered by the High Court of Swaziland.

Protesters assembled at Freedom Square as early as 8 am coming from all four regions of the country. The march within the city eventually started at about 10:30am with protesters expressing their anger and other fundamental demands in addition to that of free primary education. These were expressed in messages on placards, pamphlets, t-shirts, revolutionary songs, speeches, etc aimed at the oppressive regime in Swaziland. Such included the release of PUDEMO President Mario Masuku; scrapping of the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008; the return to constitutional multiparty democracy.

The march continued until 13:00hours.

As expected, confrontations with the hostile security agents took place. The general assessment is that the protest action was a great success judging on the number of protesters who braved the hostility of the state's security agents.

Fraternal Greetings from President Masuku

2009-03-30T06:02:00.000-07:00

I visited Cde Mario at Matsapha Maximum Security Prison yesterday March 29th and he requested me to pass his comradely greetings to all of you and to thank you for the untiring support and commitment to the struggle for democracy and a better life for all in Swaziland. Despite his ailing health, Cde Masuku is very determined and strong.

His condition requires that he must be seen by a medical specialist at least once a week but this is not the case. His diet is not monitored and he is not provided snacks between meals to deal with his medical condition.* He has constant blackouts as a result. He only sees a doctor once in a while. He has tooth problems and has requested to be seen by a dentist to no avail. He will not apply for bail because he is aware that the state uses bail to keep comrades in perpetual bondage outside prison.

"They will give me bail at an exorbitant fee with difficult conditions such as taking my passport and to report at the police station twice a week. They will not take the case to trial for many years making me a prisoner in the street. Let them try me and prove my innocence in court. I haven't committed any offence but I have spoken for the rights of my people" Masuku said.

Masuku has made a call for Talks about Talks with the state. He has called upon the Government, SADC, AU and UN to support this process.

He also expressed concern about the prime Minister's statement that members of political organisations will be dismissed from public sector employment. Masuku called upon trade unions in Swaziland and the world to come to the support of the affected comrades.

"This is an infringement of the freedom of association as a basic human right enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration of Rights" Masuku said.

by J.R.

*Mario suffers from diabetics and doctors have advised against going long periods without eating at least some small amount of food.

Ex-Miners win at High Court

2009-03-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

Seems the judge at the High Court has just ruled in favour of ex-miners to say government must enforce free education in all public primary schools.

Good news indeed!

Swazi Poilce threaten political activist with death!

2009-03-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

Makhosetive death squads were at it again, yesterday 08/ 03/09.

Former Secretary General of SWAYOCO , Cde. Mduduzi "Shwarz" Mamba was told by police that We are now going to kill you…..for your political activities and "movements” into South Africa...".

He was further told not to leave his area of normal abode lest he gets what he is “applying for”.

This was after he had detained by the Swazi police at the border upon entering Swaziland from South Africa where he had gone on a private visit.

Mamba was then transported to the notorious Sigodvweni police station for “further questioning”. While being transported to Sgodvweni, Mamba notifed some Cdes of his detention by phone.

Cde Manyovu then went to the Sgodvweni police station to ascertain why Mamba was being held and to find out what he was charged with and further demanding his release.

At first the police denied having Mamba in their custody but through Cde Manyovu’s uncompromising insistence, the police conceded that Mamba was present for “questioning” at the station.

He was then released and told that police patience with him had run out and was told “not to forget” what he had been warned about.

Update on SWAYOCO detainees

2009-03-02T11:39:00.000-08:00

This morning, five members of PUDEMO Youth League (SWAYOCO), including the President Wandile Dludlu appeared at the Mbabane Magistrate court.

However, it must be reported that no hearing ever took place.

Instead after waiting for approximately one hour, the comrades were taken back to the police station in Mbabane with the intention of bringing them back after an hour.

For more than two hours, nothing has changed.

Seemingly the state and its judiciary apparatus is ill-prepared to handle the issue. They are seemingly not prepared to learn from their past mistakes of effecting quick arrests, but fail to effect justice in the same speed.