Friday, 3 October 2014

This Day in Swaziland History; Revolutionaries MJ Dlamini and Jack Govendor were killed

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), through its chairperson, Comrade Solly Afrika Mapaila, commemorates the death of Comrades Musa MJ Dlamini and Jack Govender who died on this day in 2008. The royal regime later arrested Comrade Amos Mbedzi and has since sentenced him to 85 years in prison. SSN also calls upon the government of South Africa to take a clear revolutionary stand against the royal dictatorship of Swaziland. The full statement follows below.


TO THE UNDYING MEMORY OF OUR MARTYRS FOR FREEDOM STRUGGLE IN SWAZILAND: LONG LIVE YOUR SELFLESSNESS AND COURAGE.

As we write this message today, the democratic winds of change are blowing across the lands of dictators, across the world and surely will reach the shores of absolute monarchical dictatorship of King Mswati III in Swaziland.

We need a strong protest movement to demand democracy and freedom in Swaziland. We owe it to ourselves and the dedicated struggles of those already martyred for the freedom of Swaziland. Equally so, we should remain cognisant of the imperialist forces that brought about cosmetic changes to various countries only to take over the essence of people’s freedoms and retained the control of their wealth and future. 

As Lao Tsu says a “...journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step”, today we urge all peace-loving, freedom-loving and democracy-loving South Africans to rise up and take the first conscious step towards the liberation of Swaziland without a wink of cowardice. Without Collusion the boy dictator and his cronies. 

A CALL FOR ACTION:
We need a multi-pronged revolutionary strategy to essentially topple the dictatorship of King Mswati III. We need to call on the abundant energy of youth to engage the autocratic regime through mass activist protest, we need to lead the Twitter and Facebook cohorts to undermine the regime, we need the intellectuals to come to the fore and provide objective solutions to problems faced by the country, we need the resilience of the peasants to show against all odds and produce food for the country not to starve and we need them to show the urban youth that milk and butter do not come from the fridge, we need the youth militants to show themselves – their bravery and courage to come to the fore and confront the enemy of the people. Where are the men and women who revere honour, pride and sacrifice in service of their fellow countrymen and women? 

Overall we need the leadership of the liberation movement to be counted and show courage and determination to face all against the regime and lead the masses to a popular victory. Long Live the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). Mario Masuku, President of PUDEMO, the tried and tested leader of the liberation forces, the most taunted and tortured, the most ridiculed and victimised and yet the most resilient and respected by the masses, now is the time take the baton and lead the masses to victory Baba Bambatha. Go on we are on your side to destroy entirely the oppressive Tinkhundla system, every ounce of it, and build a new country humanity can be proud of. Show the way to democracy and popular power and lead the masses as they free themselves from royal and capitalist bondage.

We are multiplying the frontline trenches of the democratic discourse and aspiration in Swaziland. This is what Commander Che Guevara called “another Vietnam”, this should be our Vietnam and other Vietnams to create a major crisis for the royal oppressive system and torn it asunder for the creation of a new system of democratic values, human rights, solidarity and empathy.
In essence we are calling for an all-out civil disobedience and outright rejection of tyrannical laws that enslave the people of Swaziland and for a movement to usher in a democratic dispensation. 

To those who gave their lives so that one day Swaziland, like many other parts of the world can be free, we place these notes in their honour and memory and we rededicate ourselves to advance their revolutionary ideas. Yes, indeed Mswati III is the enemy of the majority of the Swazi people. He should be stopped at his rails before the entire country is annihilated by royal house inflicted poverty in the name of culture and tradition. 

On the one hand, the capitalist social and production relations in Swaziland do not support the democratic process and freedom struggle in Swaziland. The big corporate cavorts with King Mswati and the royal house to exploit labour and make super profits when the people in their majority rely on aid from the international community.

The release of political prisoners from incarceration in royal prisons is an urgent matter, the unconditional return of all exiles,  the commitment towards negotiations for a free and democratic Swaziland are issues we need to spearhead without winking. The up North developments are a clear sign that mass power is real power, let us mobilise all our resources towards a free and democratic Swaziland to the great memory of our martyrs.

JACK AND MJ:
Advocate Musa Dlamini, a dedicated Swazi patriot and revolutionary gave his life so that one day his country can be free. He had everything for himself but felt inadequate without fighting for the rights of his people. Together with the South African revolutionary internationalist Comrade Jack “Mchana”, aka Sipho Khumalo, Govender pushed in the course of the struggle. Today marks another year since your untimely death.

We take this moment to lower our revolutionary banners in your fighting memory. The struggle is going on and shall be so until Swaziland is free.

Today President Mario Masuku is languishing in the oppressive jails of King Mswati for only asking better wages for workers during the May Day celebrations. PUDEMO had just come out of a successful congress and we believe this is one reason why Comrade Mario was jailed; to reverse the momentum and disrupt the flow of revolutionary struggle in Swaziland.

On this 6th anniversary on the passing away of our revolutionaries Combatants we renew our unwavering solidarity to the oppressed people of Swaziland.
We call on South Africa to act decisively for democracy and freedom negotiations towards transfer of power to the people through the unbanning of political parties, convening of a constitutional Assembly and preparations for democratic elections.

LONG LIVE JACK GOVENDOR!
LONG LIVE ADV. MUSA DLAMINI!
LONG LIVE OUR MARTYRS!

Issued by Comrade Solly Mapaila- National Chairperson of the Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN].

Contact:
Lucky Lukhele Spokesperson
082 469 1421
OR
072 502 4141

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