SUDF STATEMENT ON CONTINUED POLICE BRUTALITY ON UNARMED CIVILIANS

Released: 03/06/2021

The Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) is a coalition of pro-democracy interests including political parties, unions, community based Organizations and churches. SUDF was formed in an attempt to coordinate and unite the efforts of the democratic movement in Swaziland and subsequently attempt to expand its political space.

As SUDF we are disturbed by the security situation in the country which is characterised by the brutal murder of more than 30 unarmed Emaswati by the army and police force who claimed to be assigned by the government under the directive of the King. An estimated number of close to 1000 Swazis have been also tortured and shot by the very same security forces. Emaswati have been robbed the right to freedom of expression and social activity through the unilateral shutting down of the internet with the directive from government and the banning of the peaceful delivery of petitions to Members of Parliament.

As a country, we are still fresh from the unjustified brutal scenes by the Police service recorded in the past months where gun wielding police killed a University Law student and further caused a scene at his Memorial Service, shot at close range in the eye Phiwayinkhosi, assaulted Sanele Shiba who then became partially deaf and lastly but not limited Ayanda who was tortured and arrested for demanding her son. These series of occurrences prove a dismal failure of the current government to heed to Human Rights. As a coalition of pro-democracy interests we condemn all the above with the highest discontent.

SUDF reminds the Eswatini government that the heavy hand on political crises management has failed to work in many dictatorship state, and that the rights of freedom of expression, assembly and association are universally .  The commitment to dialogue is not a sign of weakness  but strength.We wish to advice the people, the government and the international community that in the light of the above major concerns, we have an urgent need to take action that will lead to a sustainable and lasting solution to the Country’s political state. We therefore demand the following as the basis on which this can be attained;

• An inclusive political dialogue,
• The total unbanning of all Political Parties with a new Democratic Constitution.
• A Multi-Party dispensation.

To the above demands, we call upon the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and the commonwealth to urgently facilitate a genuine process of intervention to move the country forward and out of the current situation.

SUDF salutes all the people who have joined the protests across the four major regions in the country, and wishes the injured comrades a quick recovery. Lastly, we wish to extend our deepest and heartfelt Condolences to all the families who found themselves in the disturbing situation of losing their relatives. Standing in Solidarity with assurance that their blood shall not be in vein and will forever be in our hearts

Issued by: Abigail Jele

SUDF Media & Communications Officer (+268 76902370)