by Caiphas Chimhete
The government of Swaziland has agreed to institute constitutional reforms after last month’s general strike which crippled the socio-political and economic structures of the country. The tiny landlocked kingdom of Swaziland, previously known for its stability, was in political turmoil following a week-long general strike organised by the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU).
Last year, SFTU put down 27 demands they wanted fulfilled by the government, among which is Constitutional, reform. For several years there has been pressure on King Mswati to lift the 1973 ban on free political activity imposed by his father, King Sobhuza,
SFTU general secretary, Jan Sithole says the Tinkhundla system of government needs review. This, he says, can be done successfully with the repeal of the state of emergency and restoration of the Bill of Rights to enable popular participation in politics.
People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), one of the leading opposition parties in the country, says “the King has executive powers yet we want the King to become a constitutional monarch”. The party also wants land and mineral royalties to be vested in government rather than in the King as it is right now.
The dispute between the government and the SFTU over the establishment of a democratic political system has been going on for years. There were several strikes by industrial and agricultural workers and students early last year and again in June.
Under mounting pressure both from internal and external forces. King Mswati recently agreed to the constitution according to the wishes of the people. He announced that a committee will soon be set up to prepare a draft proposal for a constitutional review. But PUDEMO says Mswati cannot decide on his own whether to revive the suspended 1968 constitution, nor can he appoint hand-picked loyalists to write the new constitution of Swaziland.
Social instability would lead to further erosion of business confidence, relocation of businesses and disincentive to prospective investors, said a statement issued jointly by the Federation of Swaziland Employers and Swaziland Chamber of Commerce.
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), the mother body of trade unions worldwide, called for economic sanctions against Swaziland to force it to institute democratic reforms. They called upon the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Union (EU) to impose sanctions.
Three presidents from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Ketumile Masire of Botswana, met with the King in South Africa to discuss solutions to the pro-democracy strikes. .
Earlier, the MpumaJanga Province Premier, Matthews Phosa visited Swaziland on behalf of South Africa “to give as much advice as possible to the King” at the height of mass stay-away. However, the King said that he would not be advised by foreigners on how to run his country.
SADC intervention restored the Lesotho Prime Minister after he was overthrown last year.
Some leading political organisations in South Africa and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) rallied behind the SITU in its struggle for government to respond to the 27 demands. They strongly believe that the on-going state of emergency, the absence of basic democratic freedoms and the suspension of the constitution and all rights are “absolutely unacceptable”.
In an attempt to force government to reform soon, opposition civic and labour groups have joined PUDEMO in an alliance for political change in the country. The alliance joined Human Rights Association of Swaziland, SITU and PUDEMO.
The visiting British Overseas Development Minister, Baroness Lynda Chalker, who visited Swaziland urged Mswati not to be slow in implementing reforms as this would put the reputation of the country at stake.
During the strike, which has been suspended, an unknown number of people were killed and several others injured. In the capital city, Mbabane, water, power and communication networks were disrupted. Almost all big shops, petrol stations and hotels were closed and the public transport system was brought to a halt, there was heavy police and army presence to thwart the industrial action. However, the trade unions continued to defy King’s call to end the strike.
The Minister of Labour, Albert Shabangu estimated the cost of the strike at US$3 million a day. Fearing total collapse of the economy and foreign investment stay-away, business people in the country are appealing to the government and strikers to resolve their differences amicably.
“If the situation is not urgently resolved, the direct result will be a continuing financial loss to businesses and loss of markets, possibly leading to permanent closure and escalating unemployment in the kingdom,” says a joint statement dispatched from the Federation of Swaziland Employers and Swaziland Chamber of Commerce. Swaziland is the only country in the southern African region in which political parties are banned and all opposition parties in the country playa cat-and-mouse game with the ruling party. Now the SFTU is faced with thousands of dollars’ worth of lawsuits from people who suffered losses during long stayaways, in terms of the recently passed controversial Industrial Relations Act.
The King ordered that anybody who incurred losses as a result of the strike could submit claims for compensation to the Ministry of Labour and Public services. The Ministry will process the claims on behalf of the victims.
The effects of the strike spilled outside the borders of Swaziland into neighbouring Mozambique and South Africa, prejudicing the two countries of thousands of dollars in lost business. Scores of business people who normally get goods from Swaziland were being turned back at Lomahasha border post.
Also affected were ordinary Mozambicans who do their daily shopping from the country and delivery trucks from South Africa transporting goods to Swaziland. The Swazis are meanwhile waiting to see whether the King will come up with a revised constitution that will solve the country’s perpetual political instability through democratic means. (SARDC)
