the first mention of the diaspora on this forum was a couple days ago and
it was called a "political formation" but that has been cleared up so we
can
call it a "platform process"...but what is not clear is this: who was
invited to the hotel gathering on teh 25th?
sometimes mail from this group is flown into my spam folder (when a new
address is not recognized) so i've just scanned the "discussions" over on
our google group page and don't see any notice about the 25th event.
Simphiwe, i assume you are an organizer since you mention it a couple
days
back and now have posted this summary. have i overlooked the notice or
was
something sent here as well?
specifically, since i will be in Jz on the upcoming date i wonder if i (a
canadian as you and Sbera have pointed out in previous emails) qualify to
attend?
________________________________
From: Simphiwe Ntenteza <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 6:45:06 AM
Subject: Re: [SSN Forum] Another Alliance?
Pius,
It is not a Political formation...
Please read summary below.
Swazi Diaspora Platform Process outcomes - Swazi initiative a great
success
Following informal discussions amongst several Swazis based in South
Africa on the crisis facing our country and related issues, a meeting
was held on the 25th June at Parktonian hotel which was open to all
Swazis based outside Swaziland. The meeting discussed the following
issues based on presentations made by experts;
• SACU and the economic crisis facing Swaziland
• Analysing economic trends in Swaziland
• Process towards the launch of a Swazi Diaspora Platform
The presentation on the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS was shifted
to the launching meeting for presentation and discussion.
It was a meeting filled with great enthusiasm, energy, anger and
passion. Swazis from all walks of life, different persuasions and
backgrounds, as well as different destinations, as far as Nelspruit
and Durban and other places throughout South Africa, assembled in
Johannesburg (from where the majority of participants came) for a
critical reflection on the developments back home and the worrying
trends our country is destined for. The discussions were open and
honest, yet very constructive and mature.
What united all the Swazi people gathered in that house was their
common desire to contribute towards a lasting solution to the crisis
faced by our people and country, hence the engagement even on
difficult, complex and sometimes uncomfortable issues, such as what
caused the crisis, who must take responsibility and whereto for our
country? We also reflected on what can be done collectively to
organise the Swazi people to discuss openly about these issues and
bring to bear their skills and energies towards a fundamental
solution.
It was clear from the meeting that all of us are united in our
undivided love for our country and people, hence our interest in
playing our own role towards finding a real solution and making change
happen in a way that should make every Swazi proud of our country and
its people. We have no doubt our country is well endowed with abundant
natural resources, as well as hard working and skilled people.
However, factors such as lack of competent leadership, poor planning
and management, corruption, dwindling investment opportunities and
SACU accruals, as well as sheer nepotism in the recruitment and
deployment of personnel into management positions in the country’s
public service, explain the situation the country finds itself in.
In this regard, therefore, it was further agreed that we must not
allow anything to stand in the way of our unity as Swazis, if we are
to make the desired impact and contribute meaningfully to genuine
change in our beloved country.
We also emphasised that the bedrock of our unity is respect for our
diversity and the different opinions we represent, but are united in
our resolve to make Swaziland a better place for all, through change
that opens space for all Swazis to participate and shape their
country’s destiny, as well as guarantee better conditions of life
through accountable and transparent governance processes.
We then agreed to develop a platform that brings us all together,
without any one group or views dominating or excluding others in our
common agenda for full and free participation in all these efforts.
It was agreed that doing something good and just for our country and
people is a moral and personal responsibility for all of us, hence the
fact that we cannot enjoy good life in other countries while our
people suffer and our country is on fire, not for natural causes, but
for human made challenges.
It was then agreed that the process forward shall be constituted in
the following way;
• A launch of the Swazi Diaspora Platform shall be held on the
30th July, 2011 in Johannesburg 9exact venue to be announced in due
course)
• All Swazis, regardless of views, beliefs, social status,
religion and backgrounds shall be invited to participate
• A brief document outlining principles of the platform shall
be developed to ensure it meets the expectations and accommodates the
interest of everyone willing to participate, it shall also elaborate
the mission and functions of this body in a way that does not alienate
others.
• It shall link Swazis based in South Africa with their
counterparts all over the world to exchange views and opinions on
these and other issues of common interest
• The key pillar of this initiative shall be information
sharing about developments at home, issues of common interest and
concern, as well as matters requiring our individual and collective
attention, including social and cultural activities of interest. In
this regard, an information system shall be immediately put in place
for such purposes
• Coordination shall be as follows;
o A Coordinating team has been put in place to organise till the
launch where a structure shall have to be elected to lead the whole
initiative.
o Five Sub-Committees have been put in place with team leaders or
Coordinators who lead them and these are on;
1. Research (on critical information about the situation at home
and what alternatives are possible)
2. Information and Communication (to improve contact, networking,
information sharing, dialogue, etc)
3. Projects (Practical assistance programmes and charity projects
for poor Swazi families and orphans in particular)
4. Campaigns (including HIV/AIDS, clean governance, against corruption,
etc)
Entertainment and culture (to promote social activities and
recreation that promotes our unity and cohesion)
The meeting also benefited from a social networking forum (obviously
with refreshments) afterwards, which allowed more space to get to know
each other better, retrace old friendships and lost contacts, exchange
business cards and details, as well as celebrate our common identity
as Swazis in a relaxed manner and under a good atmosphere of brother
and sisterhood.
To crown it all, all participants committed themselves to doing
something to make the platform a reality and pledged to ensure that
they organise every Swazi to do something for his/her country now.
For all these and more, the Coordinating team thanked all who made the
day the resounding success it was and in particular, those who
sponsored to make the event a reality with such decent venue, meals
and even accommodation for those from outside Johannesburg. It all
went a long way to demonstrate what common purpose can do when
everyone is united behind a good cause.
On Sat, Jul 9, 2011 at 8:14 PM, pius rinto <[email protected]> wrote:
'It is another political party like PUDEMO, SSN and other...'. Can I
please have clarity on that statement?
On 7/8/11, Maseko Phepsile <[email protected]> wrote:
hello Simphiwe,
i do not think it is necessary to respond to the honourable Dominic in
that
way
Siphiwe but rather tell him the truth that Swazis like any nation in
struggle
have a right to freedom of association and associating with such
campaigns,networks and information programs can only make us a better
and
informed community. Invite him to attend if at all swazi. it is another
political party like PUDEMO, SSN and other but purely a platform where
swazis
meet to discuss issues of concern and get clarity on how to participate
in
their
own struggle. Like me, i participate in such informative platforms and
we
do
not
feel it is proper for any person or ambassador to show disrespect of
structures
like these. For once, people should learn to respect and appreciate
that. Invite
him to organise all his swazi friends or even himself if swazi to
participate.
He needs to attend the platform launch to understand the rational being
its
establishment and get a year calendar of scheduled events so to
participate.
Thank the Cde. for being honest and for asking!
leadership of the Platform is diverse from students, youth,rural women,
men, soldiers, police, healers, traditional leaders, academics,
unionists
and just about all swazis based in south africa that want to have a
clear
picture of the status quo in swaziland but are not interested in
listening
to
long political speeches and "mainstream" politics as was indicated in
some
of
the meetings. The platform is a great place to be to know about home
away
from
home. Keep up the good work Ntenteza and your colleagues.
i trust this is clarity enough for the comrade and perhaps others that
will
find
this useful.
Comradely,
Phephsi
________________________________
From: Simphiwe Ntenteza <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Fri, 8 July, 2011 15:02:46
Subject: Re: [SSN Forum] Another Alliance?
Who is Dominic? Where does he come from?
On Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 2:30 PM, Dominic Tweedie
<[email protected]> wrote:
Dear comrades,
I have just received, from COSATU, a notice announcing something call
"Swazi
Diaspora Platform".
It says that they had a meeting in Braamfontein on 25 June 2011 and
are
going to "launch" on 30 July 2011.
So people, how do you cope with this, now?
I don't know how many permutations and new formations I have seen so
far,
this year and last. It is many.
It is really necessary for people to be frank about the organisations
that
exist, or pretend to exist, who their funders are, and who their
leading
personalities are.
If we don't know all that, then how do we expect the media to know it?
And
if they do not know who is who, then how can we prevent them from
reporting
all sorts of things purported to be in our names?
VC
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