SUDF`s OPEN LETTER TO ORLANDO PIRATES AND
KAIZER CHIEFS ON THE KING`S CUP PARTICIPATION
19 June 2015
“Dining
and Wining with the Devil”
To Mr
Motaung and Mr Khoza:
It is
common knowledge, if not a fact, that many Swazis love and respect you two
Gentlemen. Amongst the reasons which informs these undying belief in the two of
you, is the fact that you have succeeded through your sacrifices, leaderships
and Art of Organizing, to have us the two greatest soccer teams in Africa. You
have proven to us and the entire continent that it is possible for Africans to
Nurture talent, skills and assemble soccer teams so good that even the struggle
for freedom in your own Country heavily relied on to wage the course for
justice in South Africa under Apartheid.
The
glorious names of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are too precious, glorious
and Humble to be directly linked to the terrible litany of gross violations of
everything African and Human today in Swaziland. To this; We the Swaziland
United Democratic Front (SUDF), representing various pro-democracy formations
inside Swaziland join other progressive forces to humble ask the two giants of
soccer in Africa, to please cancel and further disassociate yourselves with
anything to do with the so called King`s Cup scheduled for July 2015.
As
such we beg for your indulgence dear comrades. Participating in the so called
King`s Cup is tantamount to “Dining and Wining with the devil. “Swazis still
live under Apartheid localized as Tinkhundla system of Governance. This
hegemonic elitist Royal supremacy whose current public face is His Majesty the
king for whom you are been lured into help face-lift has:
1. Presided
over not only the incarceration, but torture and Killings of not less than 65
Political activists over the past 47 years since British colonial yoke handed
power over to Royalty, the latest been just in the past two weeks.
2. Currently
not less than 15 political Activists languishing in jail among whom is
President of PUDEMO Mario Masuku aged 65 years, whose Health is in a dire
situation as he is diabetic charged with flimsy charges of Terrorism for
speaking in a May day 2014.We Know too well that particularly Mr Khoza has met
and knows about Swazi Struggle through the President Mario.
3. Has
not only banned and proscribed PUDEMO but further maintained the 1973 ban on
political parties. This has cascaded to the ban of trade unions as well as
perpetual threat to shut down vocal civil society organizations. This is a
clear demonstration of political hostility and utter levels of intolerance
against democracy and respect for human rights. We are convinced any
association with the King`s Cup will be a direct aiding of the last
absolute Monarchy which is characterized by arbitrary use of force; extra
judiciary killings; forced evictions of innocent poor Swazis and lawlessness.
The King’s Cup is a desperate effort by this regime for recognition, attention
and credibility. It seeks to use and abuse the great name of anyone who is not
well versed about the atrocities and blood of the 1, 2 million Swazis.
4. In
December 2013 through the Royal Swaziland Police Force the State brutally
attacked mourners during memorial service in the Lutheran Church in Manzini who
had convened to pay their last respect to Dr Nelson Mandela upon his death.
5. Moreover
the Monarchy through its appointed Government has despicably failed to support
sports nor to develop a credible environment for nurturing of talent and skills
of Swazi Youth. In fact only R7 million of the national budget goes to sports
when the King alone slice nothing less than R2.8 billion of the national
budget this year 2015 alone. Surely your conscience must speak to you
dear Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, The world supported the struggle for the
boycott of South Africa under Apartheid in all sporting codes which gave
incredible impetus to your course for freedom today. “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”
We
hope that you will find it in your hearts to stand with the poor and Oppressed
masses of our beloved Country Swaziland.
Yours in the Struggle for democracy and
Justice in Swaziland
Wandile Dludlu
(SUDF Coordinator)
25058926
0026876111676
0026876111676
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