Pro-democracy activists in Swaziland are planning mass action against the kingdom’s leader, King Mswati III, following the December arrest of 14 opposition party members on high-treason charges.
”We will concentrate on uprising in Swaziland and we will also look into activities to oust the regime and engage with the Southern African Youth Forum,” the president of the Swaziland Youth Congress said at a press briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
”We will also rally the international community and the South African government,” Alex Langwenya said at the briefing, held together with the People’s United Democratic Movement.
Youth organisations will be called on to participate in mass action, which will take place in Swaziland and South Africa in February and March this year, Langwenya added.
”We are aware that Swaziland’s economy is highly dependent on South Africa. Any disturbance in South Africa will assist in putting pressure on King Mswati.”
All Swazi border posts will be blockaded as a means to affect the economic situation in that country.
”Swaziland is not a democratic country. There is no freedom of the media and its people are oppressed. We will continue to hold mass-action rallies until the people of Swaziland are free.”
Langwenya said King Mswati runs the country as his ”own private community with a private army, private police and courts without due consideration of the people’s will”.
He explained that Swaziland’s judges are not appointed by an independent judicial council or authority, but by King Mswati himself.
”What’s the point of being in a regime that cannot advance its country’s economic position?”
He said more and more people are leaving Swaziland for South Africa, either to ”become educated” or to escape Mswati’s rule.
In reference to South Africa, Langwenya said he is ”worried” about the silence on the part of the government and the African National Congress.
”We will be approaching them as well as foreign affairs for engagement and intervention. We need a stronger voice at government level.”
The two organisations will mobilise the working community and students in the run-up to the mass action.
”It is important for the region to try and contain this tyrant,” Langwenya said.
The 14 were arrested during a police sweep across the kingdom following a series of bombings in October and November, targeting the homes of police officers, courts and the home of a government spokesperson. No one was killed in the attacks.
The group faces charges of high treason in the form of sedition, subversive activities and attempted murder.
The two organisations also called for the immediate and unconditional release of other political prisoners. — Sapa