Jan. 17
SWAZILAND:
Teachers Association demands return of death penalty
The Swaziland National Association of Teachers has called for the return
of the death sentence. This comes in the backdrop of a recent incident in
which a school principal was allegedly beaten to death by her husband.
About 1000 mourners attended the funeral of Madlenya Primary School Head
teacher Sijabu Margaret Gamedze on Monday. The organization said it was
high time that government took serious action against men who killed their
spouses.
They said so far government is not treating such cases with the attention
it deserves, yet people are dying and unnecessarily leaving orphans.
Delivering a speech on behalf of SNAT, former President Phineas Magagula
said there are people like David Simelane who allegedly killed 45 women
but he has still not been called to answer for the charges yet he is
receiving the best treatment at Matsapha Prison.
"This man eats a decent breakfast and other meals that only a few of us
here can afford. We are tired of men who buy shoes for the purpose of
using them to kick women until they die and get away with it," he said.
He said this while taking out an old shoe the association had brought to
demonstrate to the close to 1 000 mourners who attended the funeral of
Madlenya Primary School Head teacher Sijabu Margaret Gamedze (nee Mamba).
Magagula said it seemed as though between Monday and Friday, a man draws a
plan on how he will use the shoe to kick his spouse until she dies.
Defenceless
Bringing out a big knobkerrie, he demonstrated how tired they were of men
who use it on defenceless women.
"Women are very precious and they should be treated with care," he said.
Magagula brought life in the tent during the night vigil by chanting the
association's slogans, calling for an end to mens brutality on women.
"Phansi ngemadvodza lashaya bafati ngabomakhundu, phansi," he would shout,
meaning "Away with men who beat women with knobkerries, away."
Lubombo Regional Education Officer (REO), Phineas Masinga said, "The
Ministry of Education has made a significant person in Gamedze. We would
like to assure the teachers who are left behind that death is everywhere
and not in that school alone. They must continue with their work because
life goes on."
Gamedze died a few minutes after stepping into the New Year while
undergoing treatment at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital (RFM).
She was being treated for wounds she sustained during a thorough beating
by her husband with a knobkerrie. The husband is currently awaiting trial
at Big Bend Prison.
(source: African News Dimension)
