STATEMENT ON SWAZILAND’S BUDGET FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF REVOLUTIONARY DEMOCRATIC FORCES

STATEMENT ON SWAZILAND’S BUDGET FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF REVOLUTIONARY DEMOCRATIC FORCES

5 March 2009

We wish to remind our friends and allies, locally and abroad, that the king’s mandate of suppressing voices calling for democracy in Swaziland is still alive. The king’s cabinet is fully determined to carryout the mandate. The Finance Minister made it known that this financial year the regime has made a special budget for this mandate amounting to R43 million ($4.7m).

We further note the arrogance of the state security agents as represented by the Police Commissioner, in his press statement this week, when he declared that they will suppress any protest marches in demand for democracy in the country with ‘military precision.’ This follows the successful rally last weekend by our Youth League. With all this money and threats we have reason enough to believe and suspect that the state is even preparing itself to create killer squads as part fulfillment of the king’s mandate to hunt down perceived enemies of the regime, both domestically and outside the borders of the country. This is happening at a time when the king is Head of the SADC Troika, an organ that is tasked with ensuring democratic governance and peace in member states. We condemn this misplaced priority and wastage of national resources when:
Unemployment has exceeded 40% recently.
HIV/AIDS also stands at over 40%.
Health care is very poor and inaccessible to the majority and poverty stricken population that make up 70% of the overall populace.
There is lack of clean water and accessible roads in rural communities.
The government cannot afford to provide free education.

All that is in the mind of the Swazi regime is to spend available resources to kill, maim, harass and suppress the democratic forces in the country.

However, PUDEMO remains resolute and focused on the national demands which are:

The introduction of constitutional multiparty democracy that shall guarantee the freedom of association, assembly and expression.
An end to the 36 year old state of emergency.
A people driven national constitution.
The scrapping of the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008.
The release of President Mario Masuku.
The return of all political exiles.


Surely the SADC region cannot afford to continue harboring this dirty sport in its midst!

Contacts:
Deputy President – Sikhumbuzo Phakathi 27-731427594
Sec. General – Sphasha Dlamini 268 6089783
Publicity Sec. – Zakhele Mabuza 268 6073453