Swazi workers step up challenge to royal elite

SWAZI TRADE UNIONS CALL FOR GLOBAL SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE DURING THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE IN GENEVA

The Swazi trade union movement; SFTU, SFL (under the umbrella of Trade Union Congress of Swaziland - TUCOSWA) take this opportunity to pronounce its desire to take the Swazi struggle to new heights on a global scale. In doing so, we take pride in the renewed momentum inside Swaziland owing to the sacrifices by workers and the rest of the struggling and progressive fraternity of our country.

We note the strides made, including the SDC-led global week of action last year, the November 17th workers mass action, the 18th March action and the April 12th mass action and their impact on changing the political landscape of our country. In all these would count on trusted and genuine friends the world over, who never tire standing on our side and fighting in the same trenches expecting no gains in return.

These are the men and women of honour and integrity, whose names shall forever be embalmed in the walls of every Swazi corner as part of our life and history.

In this regard, working with our reliable allies in South Africa, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), our regional body, SATUCC and our continental organisation, ITUC-Africa, we shall be organizing a Global Solidarity Conference in Geneva during the 100th session of the ILC at a venue and time to be confirmed in due course. There is no other time to put the Swazi issue on the global agenda forcefully than now and we shall not hesitate to do so without further delay.

We note and welcome the ITUC report to the ILC, particularly on Swaziland and its observations that workers on a global scale have already and continue to actively support the Swazi trade union movement, when it says, ‘we need to continue to press for the realization of these demands, workers all over the world staged International Solidarity Actions for the struggle and cause of our fellow workers in Swaziland on 6, 7 and 8 September 2010, the beginning of these actions coinciding with the anniversary celebrations of Swaziland’s independence on 6 September.’

It goes on to state that, ‘Also, the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC), which was launched in February 2010, and which is led by COSATU and strongly supported by ITUC affiliates and other progressive organisations in Southern Africa, has been active in championing this cause.’

Finally, it calls for decisive action when it affirms the, ‘Need to increase greater international media coverage and reporting on Swaziland and the SDC.

This will help to increase awareness, mobilise more support and solidarity and also sustain the pressure on the government to commit to reform. Achieving a genuine democratic outcome in Swaziland is key as experience continues to show that democracy and the ambience of rule of law are necessary and helpful to achieve rights' defence, protection and promotion. A proposal to this effect was already submitted by ITUC-Africa, as to organise a new series of Solidarity Exchange visits to several African countries to further deepen awareness of the SDC and mobilise for greater support and solidarity actions.’

This should present a lifetime opportunity for Swazi workers and our global counterparts to take stock of what has been done, what has not yet been done and what could be done better to make effective our campaign for democracy in Swaziland.

The highlight of all this should be the coming 2nd Global Week of action for democracy in Swaziland, schedule for the 5th to the 9th September, 2011 with the 6th September as the global day of action, meant to coincide with the 43rd anniversary of Swazi independence, which is nothing but a royal monopoly which for all these years, guaranteed the royalty exclusive control and benefit from our country’s wealth.

Therefore, we shall be marking 43 years of further suffering in the hands of royal elites after years of colonial bondage.

We invite all unions and even progressive governments and employers who shall be at the Geneva Conference to join us for a moment of serious dedication to the cause of the struggling and poor workers and people of our country. We plan to hold this Conference on the day before the appearance of Swaziland before the Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS), but all details shall be confirmed in due course.

For further information, please contact:

Mduduzi Gina: SFTU Secretary General at: comfortmgina@yahoo.com /Barnes S. Dlamini: SFTU President at: barnes.dlamini@yahoo.com

Vincent Ncongwane: SFL Secretary General at vincentncongwane@yahoo.co.uk

Bongani Masuku: COSATU International Secretary at: bongani@cosatu.org.za

Austin Muneku: SATUCC Executive Secretary at: austin.muneku@satucc.org

Joel Odigie: ITUC Africa Human and Trade Union Rights Coordinator at: odigie.joel@gmail.com

We count on your maximum participation for the success of this noble program.

Yours Sincerely

Mduduzi C. Gina

Secretary General

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