May Day Celebrations in Swaziland in 2010: a brief report of workers'

May Day Celebrations in Swaziland - 01^st May 2010:

A Brief Report of workers' encounter with the State Police

A Police State on the Rampage

The day began with a strange calmness unexpected of a day characterised by expected celebrations of workers' struggles in the history of the small kingdom of Swaziland. In the history of the country, particularly after the promulgation of repressive laws like the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008, one would have expected a strange feeling of uncertainty and tension, mostly to the workers whose celebration was going to mark the activities of the day. That calmness however was not long before it became interrupted and cut short.

The police presence and visibility would continually bring one back to reality that this is indeed the kingdom of Swaziland where organisation of any form is strictly prohibited and criminalised. The town of Manzini was littered by such presence of the police riot-squads and their armoured vehicles ready to brutally crush any form of political rally and all forms of indication to opposing the status quo.

Due to some internal dynamics and organisational challenges the celebration was not held in unity as in the previous years, where both the national centres and the independent teachers' association would come together and celebrate the essence of the workers' struggles together.

The Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) and the Swaziland National Teachers' Association (SNAT) held their gathering at the Salesian Sports Ground in Manzini, while the Swaziland Federation of Labour (SFL) held theirs at the Mphophoma Conference Centre Stadium in Malkerns. To varying degrees, however, the presence of the police characterised both the celebrations.

At the SFTU/SNAT Celebrations, the main appetite of the state police to fuel all forms of violence and aggression against the workers in a celebratory mood was felt when on a rampage the police pounced on activists who were seen wearing t-shirts on the banned political party, PUDEMO (the People's United Democratic Movement) and dragged them into their vans waiting not far off from the stadium.

Most affiliate leaders and union marshals came to try and reason with the police officers, so that the celebrations cannot be marred by violence and aggression at its commencement, but this effort was in vain. The police officers went on to manhandle the reasoning union officials and marshals, threatening either to assault them or to arrest anyone 'resisting arrest', or 'defeating the ends of justice.'

Out of despair, the worker leaders decided to step aside and let the police officers have a field day on the activist, who by then already been thrown into the waiting police van in the stadium. That was not the end of the police invasion as more and more activists were loaded onto police vans. Amongst those arrested were: SWAYOCO (Swaziland Youth Congress - PUDEMO Youth League) President, Comrade Wandile Dludlu, Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC) Chairperson, Cde Mary DaSilva, SDC Committee members, Dr. Sikelela Dlamini and Cde Mphandlana Shongwe, a retired worker, student and member of banned political party, Cde Sipho Jele and others.

Intimidation and harassment were the order of the day as police officers were not disturbed by anyone when they recoded the proceedings, but became very aggressive when by any chance a camera from one of the trade union camera people pointed in their direction, accusing them of 'unlawfully taking pictures of them'. In one instance, the independent teachers' association camera was captured by the police, the photos inside deleted and the gadget given back to the union camera person. This irked the union very much, but certainly the police were resolved to create as much confusion and tension to allow them to instil a sense of fear and disunity within the workers organisations present.

Indeed they achieved that, though to some extent. This was felt when one dance group leader, ahead of introducing her dance group and announce an after-party to the celebration, was pursued by the police for uttering: 'Viva PUDEMO, Viva'. To this the police responded aggressively and demanded to 'talk' to the young lady, but workers' marshals protected her, knowing fully well the outcome of the intended 'talk.' However, a few workers felt she should be released into the hands of the police, saying that the police had only promised to warn her, something obviously most workers did not agree with at all.

The Essence of Workers' Speeches

Part of the demands raised by the worker leaders in the celebrations included the need to fight against the 3 % tax increase even to the lower end of the wage-earners. Both gatherings (SFTU/SNAT and the SFL May Day Celebrations) re-iterated the need to fight against this intended tax against workers.

They even emphasised that the Labour Coordinating Council (LCC) is the only vehicle that can allow the unity in action of all the workers' organisations in the country, and went on to say that all these three organisations have plans underway to form one big federation, consisting of SNAT, SFTU and SFL.

The General Secretary of SFTU, Cde Mduduzi Gina, noted that the tinkhundla system of governance has 'achieved nothing concrete in terms of development other than ushering people to poverty.' He therefore called for a system of governance that would guarantee freedoms, and went on to criticise the Media Commission Bill, saying journalists are free to report on issues of national importance. He therefore reiterated the call for a multi-party democracy in Swaziland.

Other calls included the development of a clear programme of employment creation; the abolishment of all suppressive, draconian and unjust laws; the outlawing of labour-brokering; the cancellation of the Swaziland Electricity Company's (SEC) E/R 55 minimum facility charge; a basic national minimum wage across sectors; the return the multi-party democracy, and a speedy process for the conversion of the provident fund into a pension fund.

The loss of jobs through company closures and retrenchments was also mentioned as a major problem facing workers today in the country on both the gatherings. Alongside this issue are the deteriorating levels of people's standards of living, coupled with the collapsing public health system. All this is against an increasing HIV and AIDS challenge affecting both the unemployed and wage-earners alike in the small country. Tuberculosis is also another major attacker of the physically-able people of Swaziland, the unions noted.

To attract the participation of the various trade unions present in the SFL gathering, the President challenged all the affiliates to start the discussions around the importance of unity and next year work towards a united in action and in purpose May Day Celebrations.

Outcome of the May Day Arrests: The Death of an Activist

One of those arrested on the May Day Celebrations, Sipho Jele, has been reported dead by the police, who went to report this to his family at Ncabaneni on Tuesday. He was arrested simply for being found wearing a t-shirt of the banned political party, PUDEMO at the workers' May Day gathering.

He is alleged to have tied his neck using prison blankets at Sidvwashini Correctional Remand Centre in Mbabane. However, those who were detained with him deny that he killed himself, saying if he did, why did the state police rush to the deceased's family to try and push them to bury him on Wednesday? What are they trying to hide? However, the family resisted such a push, despite the consistent urging and pressure from the state police, and insisted that they would need to get sufficient time to prepare to lay their loved one (the deceased).

Media reports mention that the Prime Minister firstly claimed ignorance of the police aggression over the weekend, and after the reported death of the comrade, claimed to institute a commission of enquiry into this incident. The sincerity and authenticity of such moves are however not guaranteed, as the state police are themselves commanded and directed under the PMs Office.

All these developments have everyone asking the questions:

Are the police being given the 'licence to kill' by someone in authority?

Was the PM not ware of such acts as he claims?

For how long shall this be going on? How many more shall die in police custody, under interrogation?

Is it coincidental that after the statements made by the head of state (King Mswati III), to the effect that those who oppose the status quo shall be throttled, have resulted in such acts of violence by the police or is it part of pursuing a mandate by the security force?

If the current tinkhundla system is as genuine as it is put, why is there need to violently suppress and silence those who disagree with it?

What guarantees are there that Swaziland will forever remain 'peaceful' as it is usually characterised, in light of such state aggression?

This Article is prepared by:

Percy Masuku (IRALE Coordinator)