![](https://i0.wp.com/sudf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sudf-banner.jpeg?resize=960%2C720&ssl=1)
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 2 February 2008 in an attempt to coordinate and unite the efforts of the democratic movement in Swaziland and subsequently attempt to expand its political space.
The founding of the SUDF was the result of a growing conviction that in order to create a strong civil society that could work actively for democratization and poverty eradication, there would have to be more unity and coordination among the civil society organizations of Swaziland.
The formation of the SUDF is a concerted attempt of these organizations to increase the space for democratic participation for and by the socio-economically and politically marginalized people of Swaziland. The existing space for protest action is currently limited to the unions, who have secured themselves this space through the Industrial Act. Since the unions are member organizations of the SUDF, the SUDF is therefore in a strong position to expand the space for this type of action.
The SUDF affiliates are as follows;
People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO)
Swaziland Rural Women’s Assembly (SRWA)
Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) (Tertiary institutions)
Swaziland National Ex-Miners Workers Association (SNEMA)
Swaziland Unemployed Movement (SUPMO)
Arterial Networks
Swaziland Consumer Forum (SWACOF)
Siyatfutfuka
Lalufadlana
Swaziland United Democratic Front is United and driven by the common historical objective to build a truly democratic constitutional dispensation grounded on the universal principles, codes and practices of multiparty democracy and conscious of the fact that the liberation of Swaziland is a national responsibility, and that our strength lies in joint action in the establishment and marshalling of a broad front of struggle, activism and unflinching commitment to fight until the oppressive Tinkhundla regime is uprooted in all its forms and vestiges, and with full recognition that the respect of individual organisational identity and programme is the cornerstone of democracy;
Committed to the restoration of a culture of respect for all fundamental human rights, civil liberties and freedoms and the creation of a just, democratic, caring and prosperous society based on equality and human dignity;
Recognising the urgent need for the genuine democratisation of Swaziland and removal of the undemocratic Tinkhundla system of government which has ruled us for so long against our will since 12 April 1973;
Remembering that the basis of authority of a government is the will of the people expressed through genuine free and fair democratic elections conducted in accordance with international norms and standards to which Swaziland is a party;
Conscious that in order for a government to command popular support, legitimacy and credibility, it must have been founded on a constitution that reflects the genuine aspirations of the people who own it by virtue that they were involved in its crafting thus, in charge of their destiny.