/ 9 April 1999

SWAZIS WANT VAVI OUT

MEMBERS of Swaziland’s parliament have called for Cosatu’s deputy general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, to be deported after he described Swaziland’s leadership as barbaric and said King Mswati had forced his people to do “compulsory labour”. The call, led by MP Marwick Khumalo, was made on Thursday afternoon. Khumalo said Vavi’s statements, made during an interview on Swazi television, insulted and ridiculed the Swazi people, their king and Swazi culture. Khumalo said Vavi was a foreigner with no African nationality or roots other than his claim to be a South African and should not be allowed to use the Swazi government’s television to criticise the Swazi nation. Vavi is in Swaziland to attend a three-day Southern African Development Community on labour issues.