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SDC Prepares for a year of decisive action for democracy in Swaziland

The SDC Co-ordinating Committee met to take forward the Programme adopted by the Joint meeting of the two chapters and civil societies from both countries in October last year at NUMSA HQ in Johannesburg.

We reflected on the activities of last year since the launch of the campaign and confirmed that within a year tangible progress was recorded in both areas of focus; co-ordination of internal mass action and co-ordination of global solidarity activities. We took this opportunity to salute all our partners, friends and supporters all over the world for the remarkable work done and the progress recorded in the interest of the oppressed and struggling masses of Swaziland. Allow us to also introduce to you our online platforms, SDC website www.swazidemocracy.org and SDC mobile site www.sdcampaign.mobi . We encourage you all to sign the declaration and visit these sites more often for detailed information on Swaziland.

From the programme adopted last year, three major activities were identified to constitute the key flag-bearers of this year’s activities.

1.       The First Anniversary of the SDC to be held in February, which shall be organised along the following activities for three days;

Day ONE: The state of the Swazi economy, its evolution, the structure and engines driving its performance in the past few years and towards an alternative economic vision for a new and democratic Swaziland.

Day TWO: The  Swazi Democracy Campaign today and what is next, which shall be about evaluating the first year of the campaign and impact – successes and failures, developing a Co-ordination Framework and structure and finalising a medium-term Programme of the Campaign and its implementation Plan. We shall also use this opportunity to review our current model and structure of organising to ensure maximum participation of all organisations and people who support our cause. The lessons of the past year and before shall be of great assistance in this regard.

DAY THREE: Public Rally, which shall involve a Mass gathering to receive new Strategy and Programme of the SDC arising out of the Joint consultations to inform our work for the next year or so, including massive presence of the media, international community, ambassadors, faith based communities, celebrities, political leaders (pledging solidarity), etc.

2.       The People’s march for democracy in Swaziland to be held at Oshoek in April, which shall form part of the first Global week of Action during the 12^th April week of focus on Swaziland.

3.       The Global week of action for democracy in Swaziland to be held in September (GWOAS), where we shall be crowding Swaziland in numbers to join a very bold mass programme of action to be led and co-ordinated by SDC Swaziland together with the trade union movement. Indeed, eSwaziland Siyaya! It is our firm belief that the real struggle is inside Swaziland and that is where the real test of our solidarity shall always be.

Linked to all these activities shall be a series of high-profiled persons and delegations being arranged to visit Swaziland as part of our campaign, initiated last year to expose as many key and influential people to the reality of the country called Swaziland today. The first such announcement should be soon, linked to our First anniversary celebrations, which shall involve a broad programme inside and outside Swaziland.

In our political reflections about the developments in the country, we noted several important happenings, but also noted the report of the IMF Article four consultation mission to Swaziland, as well as the recently held Economic Indaba by the Swazi state itself. All of them confirm one thing, the Swazi economy has virtually collapsed, exactly what the SDC has correctly confirmed in its own analysis, which shall be finalised and made available during the First anniversary events.

We also took the opportunity to express our firm and full support and salutation to the Swazi trade union movement, its leaders and members for the great strides they are making in uniting the working people of Swaziland and committed to mobilise all possible resources to support the process through our trade union allies all over the world, particularly here in South Africa. We shall also join what promises to be Swaziland’s great event of the year, the Grand Workers Festival in May when the new federation is launched inside Swaziland. It shall mark the triumph of the working people of our region and the world, for the success of Swazi workers is the success of all workers.

The Swazi trade union movement supported by their South African counterparts have been the mainstay and central force of the SDC in all its activities and their successes are our pride too.

Finally, we congratulated our sister Chapter Co-ordinator, Sikelela Dlamini on his new appointment as SUDF Coordinator in Swaziland. His skilful and hardworking ethics have earned him that recognition and we are proud to have been associated with the team which he and Mary Da Silva have been and continue to lead in the form of SDC Swaziland.

We shall soon be convening a Civil society Report back meeting to share these reflections with the mass of our partners, friends, supporters and activists in general, as well as allow their important feedback into our Annual and mid-term programme.

For more information, please contact

Ntokozo Mbhele: 072 534 0842, ntokozo@swazidemocracy.org

Philani Ndebele: 076 942 3565 philani@swazidemocracy.org 

Or visit: www.swazidemocracy.org or www.sdcampaign.mobi