One of Swaziland’s most prominent labour leaders Vincent Ncongwane was arrested
today (5 September 2013) at his office by at least 10 police officers to stop
him taking part in a democracy march.
Reports from the kingdom say Ncongwane, who is Secretary
General of the banned union federation TUCOSWA, was arrested ahead of the planned
march in the Swazi capital, Mbabane.
Police took him to his home
where he was put under house arrest for an undetermined time.
The march is part of a week of campaigning in Swaziland
and abroad to draw attention to the lack of democracy and human rights in the
kingdom, ruled by King Mswati III, who is sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute
monarch.
Reports circulated by the People’s United Democratic
Movement (PUDEMO), a banned organisation in Swaziland, say police said the march
was ‘prohibited’ because TUCOSA was not an organisation recognised by the
government.
Political parties are not allowed to operate in Swaziland
and many pro-democracy groups, including PUDEMO and the Swaziland Solidarity
Network (SSN), have been prohibited as ‘terrorist’ groups under the Suppression
of Terrorism Act.
The march was to be part of a Global Week of Action for
Democracy in Swaziland. Earlier joint organisers the Swaziland National Union
of Students, the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) and the Swaziland
Democracy Campaign (SDC), predicted 10,000 people would take part.
Prodemocracy campaigners also plan to run what is billed
as a ‘people’s summit’ in Manzini tomorrow (6 September 2013) with the intention
to profile the boycott of the national so-called ‘Tinkhundla election’ that
will take place on 20 September.
The Swazi people are not allowed to elect a full
parliament. Instead, they select 55 members of the House of Assembly. The King
appoints another 10 to make the total of 65 members.
They cannot elect any of the 30-member Senate. The king
appoints 20 of these and the other 10 are elected by members of the House of
Assembly.
See also
MASS ACTION FOR DEMOCRACY PLANNED
No comments:
Post a Comment