The 12th April is commemorated every year in the Kingdom of Swaziland, particularly by those opposed to the undemocratic system holding sway in that country today. This is a system where the route to parliament is by something called individual merit, where an aspirant MP does not campaign on a political party ticket but as individual. On the 12th April 1973, the King at that time, King Sobhuza 11 banned political parties in the country.

On the 12th April 2011, the police used brute force to stop a legal protest action by labour and civil society organisations, on the myriad of issues of concern.

On the 12th April 2012, the police simply filled the towns, effectively to stop any intended protest action.

In February 2013, the Royal Swaziland Police, using only brute force, stopped a prayer organized by civil society organisations where they would be commiserating, among other things about the socio-economic status of the country. Of course some would take on the political situation as that too needs to be prayed for if the Swazi regime is to change without the spilling of blood. On the 9th March 2013, the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), the only trade union federation in the country today, wanted to hold its commemoration of one year having been formed in March 2012. The police again without any authority but brute force stopped that commemoration from taking of the ground. “United we Bargain, Divided we Beg”

Today 12th April 2013, again civil society organisations, political parties and TUCOSWA tried to hold a discussion to mark 40 years of the denial of the people of Swaziland from having their political parties be able to do what such organisations do the world over contesting for political power. In Swaziland all the regime can do is to mislead the world that political parties allowed yet they are as good as banned in because whilst they argue that the current Constitution does not ban them, it is purposeless to allow them to exist without opening up for their participation in national elections or local government ones.
The Prime Minister has been reported as having said that there will never be operation of political parties in Swaziland.

On the same note the Federation highly condemn the arrest of Comrade Wander Mkhonza the Acting Secretary General of SPRAWU and a National Executive Committee Member of the Federation on claims that he is member of the People’s United Democratic Movement.
Comrade Wander was arrested on the 12th April, 2013 in Lavumisa Boarder gate and has joined many other comrades of the pro-democracy movement languishing in various prisons on made up charges of sedition.

THAT IS SWAZILAND TODAY.

Vincent V. Ncongwane

Secretary-General