MPUMALANGA DECLARATION, 5 November 2000
Following the current catastrophe, crisis and state of affairs in the, country, particularly the gross violation of human and trade union rights, the rife oppression and suppression of the people.
Believing that those who govern should do so with the, mandate of the governed.
Government is a social contract between the governed and the governing.
That taxation without participation is tantamount to tyranny.
That worker rights are human rights.
That good governance and democracy are the only tools that can guarantee transparency and accountability to the electorate.
That it is only the upholding of social justice that can guarantee free judiciary and the rule of law.
That rule by decree is tantamount to feudalism and outdated.
Concerned that the present system of Government has failed to deliver to the populace.
That the system is unworkable and cannot be transformed but needs total eradication.
We are ruled by decrees which stifle all fundamental rights and civil liberties which were provided for in the independence constitution.
With the lethargy and delay by Government in effecting the necessary changes in the IRA 2000 so as to be compliant with the ILO Conventions and continue to enjoy the US GSP benefits.The ever declining economy and rampant abuse of public funds by Government does harm to the economy
The exorbitant military expenditure vis a vis the ever decreasing education and health budgets.
We abhor and condemn
The continued existence of oppressive laws, i e
The 1973 Decree which usurped the bill of rights and civil liberties from the independence constitution which brought about a state of emergency and banning of party politics.
The 1998 Swazi Administration Order which legalizes forced labour and servitude, which has brought indiscriminate and cold blooded eviction of innocent citizens from their place of birth (KaMkhweli and Macetjeni eviction victims). This order converts citizens into squatters in their own country.
The public order of 1963 which stifles the right of assembly and used to ban trade union meetings.
The 1996 Decree No.2 which nepotically and undemocratically appointed the Constitutional Review Commission whose terms of references deny participation of civil formations and political parties and continued to operate in camera; thus denying an all inclusive, participatory and democratic constitutional reform.
Brutalization of peaceful innocent and un-armed citizens in their meetings and prayer services.
Teargasing and brutalization of peaceful demonstrations.
Forceful violent and senseless evictions of innocent citizens and Chiefs.
Muzzling, gagging of the media and persecution of journalists.
Denial of the right of shelter and education of the children of the eviction victims.
Total disregard of the rule of law.
Denial of the right to associate, assemble and expression etc.
The abuse of Worker / Trade Union Rights:
Banning of workers meetings.
Teargasing and beating of peaceful demonstrating workers.
Interference by Government into trade union issues.
Harassing and molestation of workers.
Unleashing all armed forces to frustrate worker rights.
Imposing civil liabilities on to workers an thus usurping their right to strike.
We re-iterate that all the above mentioned atrocities should stop forthwith.
We demand that Government should respond to all the concerns contained in all petitions sent before this declaration.
In a meeting held at Nelsville Stadium at Mpumalanga on the 5th of November 2000,1 comprising of members of the SFTU affiliated unions, members of the Swaziland Teacher Association, the members of the Swaziland National Union of Students,- the members of the Swaziland Association of Students, the eviction victims of Macetjeni and Ka~weli, and concerned citizens including political parties and civic formations who all are members of the Swaziland Democratic Alliance (SDA). Deliberated on all the abovementioned atrocities and flagrant abuse of human and trade union rights' with impunity by the Government, and in conclusion, the meeting made the following DECLARATIONS:That sections 40 and 52 of IRA 2000 be amended to comply with ILO Conventions forthwith so as to salvage the GSP status.
That the rest of the IRA 2000 must comply with ILO Conventions and the banning of meetings to be stopped forthwith unconditionally.
That Government gazettes with immediate effect the GOVERNING BODY which is responsible for setting up the fast-track dispute resolution machinery as per the provisions of the IRA 2000.
That Government responds to the remainder of the 27 Demands forthwith.
That the Swazi Administration Order of 1998 be revoked forthwith.
That the eviction victims of both Macetjeni and KaMkhweli be re- instated and compensated commensurate to the loss suffered with immediate effect.
That Government account for the mysterious death of two girls near the heavily guarded Chiefs' Kraal at Macetjeni.
That Government revokes the April 12th 1973 Decree.
That we dis-associate ourselves and reject up-front the product hatched by the undemocratically appointed Constitutional Review Commission.
That muzzling and gagging of press freedom, and persecution of journalists be stopped forthwith.
That the public fund sponsored electronic media houses be accessible to all citizens and formations equitably.
That violent dispersal of peaceful meetings and marches should stop forthwith.
That the Tinkhundla "UNIQUE" democratic experiment has dismally failed and is directly responsible for the log-germ crisis and catastrophe that has entirely engulfed this country and as such cannot be reformed, but needs total eradication.
The meeting resolved to mandate the SDA to carry out the following tasks:
To establish an interim all inclusive democratic Government whose task would be to manage transition to multi party democracy.
SDA is also mandated to engage SADC,OAU, Commonwealth and the United Nations to underwrite the process of change in Swaziland.
That the institution of the Monarchy should be above reproach and constitutional, so as to effectively remain symbol of unity and lead change.
Following that the content of this declaration is composed of all petitions delivered to the authorities in the past, and that the year 2000 was declared "A year of delivery", the meeting resolved that:
The state must address all the above on or before Thursday the 9th of November 2000 failure there-to, shall result in the following programme of action:
Mass action 13th & 14th November 2000.
Border blockade 29th and 30th November 2000.
Staggered rolling mass action as will be announced from time to time until all our demands are acceded to.
We hope and believe that this time around the concerns of the governed shall be adhered to by the State.
Signed by:
Students
SFTU
SNAT
SNA
SNACS