Manzini Swaziland: On the 10^th of May 2021 Kombi conductors in the city of Manzini engaged in a protest action against harassment by the police who allegedly arrested them for operating in some of the bus stations they pass-by. Police therefore had to run for their lives and called for back-up as the protestors threw stones at them turning the city into a battlefield. 

When reached for comments, the Secretary General of the Local Kombis Association confirmed that kombi conductors and drivers were complaining that the situation was no longer conducive as police were continuing to arrest them for operating in those bus stations. 

The situation subsequently became chaotic on that day in the afternoon after police tried to dispense the protestors, they were once again welcomed by a hail of stones and had to run for cover. During the protest, a traffic police officer who was accompanied two other officers heavily assaulted and insulted a protestor by mocking him with his mother’s private parts. Sanele Shiba (the protestor) was assaulted in the face and head using a gun that belonged to Bhekokuhle Ndlovu (the traffic Officer). 

MBABANE – SWAZILAND: Thabani Nkomonye (25years) of Ka-Shali, Manzini was reported missing by the Swaziland police whereas he was allegedly killed by the same police and dumped at Nhlambeni at or near Happy Valley Bus stop.

An independent investigation by local news uncovered that Thabani Nkomonye was allegedly shot and killed by traffic police officers on Saturday 08 May 2021 around 2100hrs at Nhlambeni along the Manzini- Nhlangano road, his car was then towed by the police and hidden at Sigodvweni Police Station on the same night while the body was dumped at or near the Happy Valley bus stop.

On or around 11th May 2021, the police published a notice inviting members of the public to assist with information to locate Thabani Nkomonye, at that time, his car a Mazda registered VSD 584 AS was already hidden at Sigodvweni police station with bullet holes and one tyre missing.

A questionnaire was sent to Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Eswatini Police Spokesperson, and she said the University law student Thabani Nkomonye died in a car accident, she appealed for patience from members of the public as they conduct further investigation. In a public statement released on Friday 14 May 2021, Vilakati said traffic officers did arrived at the ‘accident’ scene on 08 May 2021 Saturday night and towed the car to Sigodvweni, however, they searched for the body and could not find the deceased.

“The car was coming from Manzini to Nhlambeni and it was involved in an accident, there were people who were at the scene and they tried to search for the driver to give him first aid but they could not find him. While the people at the scene were searching for him, police who were patrolling the area arrived and joined members of the public in searching for the driver but couldn’t find him. As usual, some people got involved in such accidents while running away from the police, it was suspected that the driver was also fleeing from the police. We then took the car to Matsapha Police Station and on Tuesday Thabani’s relative reported him missing at the Manzini Police Station and we published a notice declaring him a missing person. While we were looking for him, it then transpired that an accident occurred at Nhlambeni and the car that was  involved was at Matsapha Police Station, it was then when Manzini and Matsapha police stations corresponded and it was then suspected that it might be Thabani’s car who had been declared missing. We then instructed a team of officers with the assistance of other officers from the Correctional Services to assist in conducting another search and we found Thabani, unfortunately, he was already dead” said the Police Spokesperson.

Reached for comments, Sibusiso Nhlabatsi, a human rights lawyer said it was now becoming common for police to kill citizens with impunity and later cover their tracks by claiming to be investigating.

On Wednesday 13 May 2021 police had invited members of the public to assist them in locating Thabani Nkomonye and the car that was in their possession and fresh evidence in a form of pictures obtained on Sunday, 16th May 2021 suggests that the police allegedly tempered with the car to cover-up the bullet hole that was found, as a result, a picture obtained on Thursday shows the car with a bullet hole while on Sunday after the alleged tempering, it has been pictured without a bullet hole.

Reached for comments on Sunday 12 May 2021, Thabani’s uncle Sakhile Dlamini who was speaking on behalf of the family said they are aware that the police are tempering with the evidence to cover-up the alleged killing of their son.

Evidence analysis conducted by our local journalists suggests that in the first picture that was taken on Thursday, the number plate and the bullet hole were more visible in Thabani’s car, however on Sunday morning it was discovered that the bullet was covered with the number plate less visible.

On 17 May 2021 Monday, Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF), Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS), joined by other Unions and Political party organised a protest demanding justice for their colleague and brother who died at the hands of police, the march also attracted scores of public sympathisers. The police have denied the accusations, maintaining that the 25year old UNESWA law student died in a car accident.

It is important therefore, to state that police are part of the brutal Tinkhundla system and they kill these citizens knowing very well that there is a well oiled political machinery that will protect them. As a result, a royal Acting Prime Minister has appointed a Magistrate to investigate royal police, we hope the results will provide justice for Thabani Nkomonye.  Well, citizens who had experienced police brutality will understand that this regime is two faced, while the Acting Prime Minister was preparing to hold a press conference to announce the appointment of the Coroner to investigate the death of Thabani, police were shooting University students in Manzini with live ammunition during a protest whose intention was to demand justice for Thabani.

The police were given the orders to shot the students in Manzini by the very same regime that was holding a press conference in Mbabane pretending to be concerned about the death of Thabani, that’s politics. Senator Themba Masuku pretended as if he didn’t know about what was happening in the police service, the truth of the matter is, as Acting Minister of Police he receives regular intelligence reports about national issues. Police officers normally tell members of the public when torturing them, “we will kill you, the media will report just for one day and you will be forgotten, we have done  this before and nothing happened to us”. Indeed, despite the various cases of politics brutality where citizens lost their lives while others like the then University student Ayanda Mkhabela who now lives with disabilities after police brutality, no police officer was  ever convicted for killing citizens.

On this day of 17 May 2021, while in the protest of demanding Justice for Thabani led by the President of SNUS Colani Khulekani Maseko. Swaziland Police allegedly shot Phiwayinkhosi Dlamini (who was on his way doing work errands) in the eye during the march, some went missing and the President of the Student’s Union with other leaders were denied entry to the hospital where Phiwayinkhosi Dlamini was taken to which is the Releigh Fitkin Hospital (RFM). He was moved from RFM and is currently admitted at the Mbabane Government Hospital, Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

On Friday 21 May 2021, Police fired teargas and live ammunition at Thabani Nkomonye’s memorial in Manzini, elderly people and Thabani’s family members were among those who were injured and rushed to hospital. This comes in the midst of ongoing protests against police brutality on Monday 17/05/2021 and Friday 21/05/2021.  

Siphofaneni Member of Parliament Mduduzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane who was sitting next to Thabani’s mother when the police fired the teargas in the memorial said what happened today where he saw people who are in mourning being persecuted by the police created another person in him adding that those who issued the order wanted the country to burn as they will not keep quiet.

The police dispersed mourners at Thabani Nkomonye’s memorial service using teargas and live ammunition. That was when the students gained momentum and stormed down the nearest police post down.

The post News Feed: May-June 2021 appeared first on Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF).

PROPOSED CONSTITUTION

“SWAZILAND UNITED DEMOCRATIC FRONT (SUDF)”

( please note that official name of the Front is one of the key issues for decision at the National Conference to be held in April 2008) 

February 2008

• PART I Preamble

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; 

Fully aware that the current constitutional arrangement is devoid of any form of legitimacy and popular support given that the drafting of the constitution was flawed in that it was written under an oppressive political environment where the fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizens to organise, participate, assembly and associate peacefully were virtually non-existent; 

Understanding that since 12 April 1973, Swaziland has been ruled under a state of emergency underpinned by the King’s Proclamation to the Nation, which not only banned political parties, but also suffocated and stifled all forms of political activity and meaningful and effective citizen participation; 

Convinced that the constitution-making process was conducted in an environment hostile to effective and meaningful citizen participation and thus stage managed in such manner and form so as to deliberately entrench the undemocratic and nepotic Tinkhundla system of government; 

Now therefore, it is hereby agreed that the Swaziland United Democratic Front alias the “Front” is established whose terms of reference shall be as follows:

2. PART II Terms of reference

• The Swaziland United Democratic Front is a collective pro-democracy body of various and divergent political and civic organisations with the fundamental aim of struggling for the democratisation of Swaziland.
• The United Front shall strive for the establishment, promotion and protection of a constitutional multiparty democracy based on the separation of powers, accountability, maximum popular participation, respect for the rule of law based on majority will that will also respect the views of the minority. 

• In this connection, the United Front rejects any form of elections conducted without guarantees of a multi-party pluralistic arrangement duly managed by a credible and independent electoral institution; for we understand fully well that the will of the people expressed through genuine free and fair democratic elections is the basis of governmental authority. 
• The United Front shall strive for the advancement of the political, social, economic and cultural interests of the people of Swaziland through education, mass mobilisation, representation and other forms of information dissemination;
• The creation of a common platform for dialogue, debate, formulation, coordination and leadership of the joint programme and unity in action of the mass democratic movement;   
• The Front shall mobilise resources necessary for the implementation of its terms of reference and its aims and objectives;
• The United Front shall work hand in hand with and complement the work of the all other like-minded and similar bodies in advocating for a people-driven constitution-making process that will result in the establishment of Swaziland as a truly constitutional democracy, in which all citizens have equal rights, equal opportunities and equal access to state resources and where they have a stake in the governance of the country by encouraging people’s organisations and strengthening civil society.

• The United Front appeals and calls upon the international community, all modern governments, the United Nations (UN) and its agencies, the African Union (AU) the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the European Union (EU) as well as the world no-governmental organisations to impose targeted embargo and sanctions on His Majesty King Mswati III, his government and circle of cabals until democracy is fully restored.

3. PART III Head Office

1. The head office of the organisation shall be at such place as will be determined by the National Executive Committee (NEC) from time to time.

4. PART IV Mandate

• The mandate of the United Front as espoused in the terms of reference above, shall be to mobilise and raise the level of consciousness of the mass citizens of Swaziland in order to ensure that Swaziland is transformed from the undemocratic Tinkhundla regime to a fully-fledged constitution and democratic state.
• In this connection the United Front shall be the vehicle through which the transition era shall be fought as a democratic body in order to ensure that democracy is not only achieved but consolidated.

5. Logo and Colours

5. PART V Membership

• The membership of the Front shall be open to all organisations, and individual citizens committed to the complete eradication of the Tinkhundla system and the establishment of a multi-party parliamentary democracy based on the separation of powers, the rule of law, supremacy of the national constitution and the other key tenets set out in this founding document. 
• Member organisations shall subscribe and commit to the principal norms of respect for the autonomy of individual organisations, inter-party democracy, respect for the collective will of the mass democratic movement as enshrined in the approved programmes of the Front. 
• The NEC shall in collaboration with the General Council determine membership and subscription fees from time to time.
• Character of SUDF

6. PART VI Structures, programmes and policy documents

The leadership structures of the United Front shall be organized as set out in Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4.

• There shall be a National Executive Committee (NEC) that will be tasked with the responsibility for the formulation of policy documents of the United Front, which policy documents shall be debated and approved at a plenary session of the National General Conference (NGC).
• The NEC shall ensure that programmes are implemented and implemented efficiently and effectively in keeping with the relevant objectives and targets.

• There shall be a General Council (GC), comprising the NEC, Regional Chairpersons, and Regional Organizing Secretaries, which shall be responsible for the effective running of the day to day affairs of the Front and the overall implementation of the program of action.
• For purposes of mass mobilisation, there shall be the Regional Leadership Committee (RLC) which shall consist primarily of locally based leaders appointed/elected by the member organisations of the Front at regional level.
• The RLC shall implement directly or through its constituent structures the approved programmes and policies of the Front in accordance with the terms of reference and other relevant documents.
• In keeping with the overarching mandate to ensure that the programs of the Front are rooted in the daily life and struggle of the people at community level, the RLC will include 3 community leaders in each region drawn from active local organizations representing the interests of women, the youth and the elderly.
• There shall be a local unit or cell, which shall consist primarily of locally based leaders appointed/elected by the member organisations to spearhead the implementation of the program of action of the Front at local community level.

7. PART VII Meetings

• The NEC shall meet at-least once per month to review progress and strategize. Specific objectives and targets will be set for each portfolio designed to drive implementation of the policy development agenda and the mass action program. Appropriate mechanism will be put in place to ensure accountability, delivery and discipline. 
• The GC shall meet at-least once every three months, under the Chairpersonship of the 1^st Vice-Chairperson, or in their absence the 2^nd Vice Chairperson, focusing primarily on implementation of the program of action, providing effective leadership for all major events and activities.
• The RLC shall meet at-least once per month to review progress and strategize. At these meeting members of the RLC shall be require to account against specific objectives and targets based on the program of action, policies and assignments. 
• The NEC shall call the National General Conference (NGC) for policy review and adoption, review and adoption of the program of action and mandating. Save for extra-ordinary conferences, the NGC shall convene once per year. 
• The NEC shall call an Extra-ordinary National Conference to deal with any issue(s) that, in the opinion of the NEC, require(s) the engagement and/or mandate of this supreme body.
• Decisions of the Front and its structures shall be made by secret ballot. A 2/3 (two thirds) majority shall be required on policy issues, adoption or review of the program of action or dissolution of the Front. For all other decisions, a simple majority decision shall apply. 
• Only properly accredited and mandated delegates appointed by member organizations may vote at the NGC. 

8. PART VIII Role of Members of the NEC, RLC, BC

• The National Chairperson shall chair meetings of the NEC, National Conference and provide overall leadership of the Front, including representing the Front at activities /events in keeping with the terms of reference and program of action as reviewed from time to time.
• The Secretary General shall serve as the mouth piece of Front, responsible for public and media relations, communications, the development of systems and networks for promoting the interests of Front, and overall responsibility for the administrative functions and offices of the Front.
• The National Organizing Secretary (NOS) has overall responsibility for the creation of the key systems, structures and organs for the implementation of the Program of Action.  The NOS will lead the formation of RLCs, and other structures for mass participation. 
• All other members of the NEC shall be responsible for the research and development of policies for the portfolio and departments / disciplines under their control, and for setting up programs / key issues to be incorporated into the mass action agenda. They shall set up structures and systems for gathering and disseminating informing on topical issues affecting the real life and experiences of the people of Swaziland at national level, regional and local community level. Objective plans and targets will be developed and approved which shall serve as the standard and measures for which officials shall be accountable.
• The primary responsibility of the Regional Chairperson (RC) is the overall leadership of structures and programs of the Front at Regional level, including liaison with the leadership of member organizations and other community leaders at Regional level. Performance objectives and targets shall be put in place for which the RC shall report to the GC.

• The Regional Organizing Secretary (ROS) has overall responsibility for mobilizing and marshalling the implementation of the Program of Action.  The NOS will spearhead the formation of regional organs of people’s power, community based organizations and developing the networks for integration of the program of action of the Front with relevant programs of member organizations and the broader mass democratic movement.
• In addition to the specific responsibilities of their office, all other members of the RLC shall share the collective responsibilities to execute the program of action and deliver the mandate of the Front as set out in the terms of reference and policies.
• Members of Branch Committees are charged with the duty for the implementation of the program of action at grass-roots level. They shall be governed by the same rules and procedures designed to regulate the operations of the RLC. 

9. PART IX Financial Matters, Budgets and Controls

• The Secretary for Finance shall open and operate such bank account(s) of the Front as will be directed by the NEC.
• There shall be no payments from the funds of the Front unless signed by two (2) authorized signatories as directed by the NEC in writing.
• The Secretary for finance shall prepare and exercise overall the responsibility for the control of the budgets necessary for carrying out the objectives of the Front.
• The Front shall maintain proper books of account, in respect of which the Secretary for Finance shall report to the NEC and National General Conference.   

• Code of Conduct for SUDF
• Schedule of Penalties or Corrective Measures

10. PART X Legal standing

• The United Front shall have legal capacity to sue and be sued in its own name. 
• The United Front shall have perpetual succession apart from its members and shall be a universitas capable of owning both movable and immovable property in its own name.

11. PART XI Dissolution 

• The Swaziland United Front shall only be dissolved on account of two-thirds (2/3) majority of its members at a general or extra-ordinary meeting.

ADOPTED AT _________________ON THIS THE ________   DAY OF _______________________      IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT.

The post SUDF proposed constitution appeared first on Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF).