The Trades Union Congress of Swaziland calls for democratic change on the occasion of the Global Week of Action.

The Independence Day in Swaziland falls on 6 September. We are publishing a statement by the Trades Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) on the occasion of the Global Week of Action on Swaziland in support of our Swazi colleagues. The TUC is backing the campaign spearheaded by the ITUC to raising awareness of the deepening economic, social and political crisis engulfing Africa's only absolute monarchy.

The Trades Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) welcomes the growing momentum towards the upcoming Global Week of Action on Swaziland (GWOAS).

As the only Trade Union Federation in Swaziland, we are encouraged that our call for a global focus on Swaziland between September 3^rd - 7^th has reached new heights and inspired confidence in the correctness of this campaign to the world.

In collaboration with other progressive organizations, the Swaziland United Democratic Front and its campaign wing, the Swaziland Democracy Campaign, we are working tirelessly on the ground to prepare our forces for the GWOAS and to ensure better coordination and unity amongst all of us in the Mass Democratic Movement.

Towards this end we have called a special meeting on Saturday at Sibayeni lodge where we shall discuss in detail our collective readiness for the Global Week of Action on Swaziland.

We therefore reject the government's decision not to consider any of the Section 40 notices we have issued in our attempt to embark on a legally protected march. The government's pathetic reasoning is that the Labour Advisor Board (LAB) cannot accept a TUCOSWA notice of protest Action because TUCOSWA does not exist and therefore not a legitimate labour representative. How nonsensical can this be?

Our position is clear; we shall support and participate in the GWOAS despite the government's irresponsible and divisive machinations. We will not allow the government to play with legal technicalities only to derail and defocus us from the goal of a united action during the GWOAS.

We shall engage in these activities in total defiance of the regime's onslaught against us and our fraternal friends.

Workers in Swaziland want a people's government and are impatient at the slow pace of change. We therefore call upon our allies in the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and all its sister unions around the world to come into Swaziland for the GWoAS so that they can share with us the pain of a intransigent and repressive regime but more than anything to witness the renewed momentum for democratic change in Swaziland.

TUCOSWA calls for unity amongst the progressive forces in Swaziland and we refuse to be drawn to factional battles meant to split, plant mistrust and drive wedges amongst and between all of us in the Mass Democratic Movement.

We call upon all students, faith-based organisations, civil society and all democracy loving people of Swaziland and the world to join hands with us as we push for Government that would be more responsive to the interest of the working class and the poor, through mass power and resistance.

Mduduzi C. Gina

Acting Secretary General