IRIN Focus on political unrest

Swaziland’s volatile political climate looked set for stormier weather on Friday as the pro-democracy movement spurned a government peace offering and resolved to push on with a campaign to force it to its knees. The embattled government opened bridge-building talks with the trade union movement, and the monarchy reversed a controversial order evicting scores of villagers from their ancestral land, in a bid to stem a growing tide of popular unrest this week. However, the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) said it would go ahead with a planned blockage of the country’s borders towards the month-end to force the absolute monarchy to effect democratic reforms. The powerful South Africa Congress of Trade Unions (COSATU) has pledged to support the border blockage, planned for 29 and 30 November. “COSATU have agreed to support us in this. They will be holding a meeting over the weekend to discuss what they can do to help,” SFTU secretary-general Jan Sithole told IRIN. The South African trade union movement, as well as the country’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), both support the campaign for political reform in Swaziland. They join other external groups, including the Commonwealth Youth Congress and the International Federation of Socialist Youth in the campaign. Outrage over an unpopular industrial relations law, and perceived excesses by the monarchy, have seen political unrest rising in recent weeks, with trade union and student groups linking up with an underground opposition to lead a series of anti-government actions across the country. The protests culminated early this month in a petition demanding the repeal of a 27-year-old decree that banned party politics, and the establishment of an interim government. The government initially responded by banning trade union meetings, closing the University of Swaziland and reintroducing a draconian law under which suspects can be detained for up to 60 days without trial. It also charged the leader of the underground opposition, Mario Masuku, with sedition, and expelled several foreign journalists for purportedly tarnishing the image of the country. Masuku, who heads the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), has denied the charges. As the anti-government protests persisted this week, however, the government softened its stance, opening talks with the Labour Advisory Board to address workers concerns. The parliament simultaneously announced the appointment of an independent committee to broker conciliatory talks between the government and the trade unions. The Swaziland National Council, meanwhile, resolved that villagers who had been evicted to pave way for Prince Maguga, a brother of King Mswati, could return to their homes. However, the pro-democracy movement dismissed the overtures as “mere political window dressing” said it would not be satisfied only with “a complete overhaul” of the political system. “By returning the displaced people back to their homes, the government addresses only the symptom, not the cause,” Sithole said. “We want real, irreversible change”. The trade unions have functioned as a de facto opposition since the former king, Sobhuza II, banned party politics 27 years ago. The government of King Mswati initiated a programme to reintroduce constitutional rule to the kingdom in response to growing calls for political reform four years ago. The constitutional review commission presented a report of public submissions and its own recommendations to the king last month. While the contents of the report have not yet been made public, the country’s main lobby groups have rejected it outright and demanded that a more transparent political reform programme be initiated – a demand the authorities are unlikely to entertain.