Mario not allowed to make public addresses - PM By WELCOME DLAMINI <http://www.times.co.sz/author/%20WELCOME%20DLAMINI.html> on September 12,2011
*0* <http://www.times.co.sz/News/32379.html> [image: image] , Political activist Mario Masuku addressing protesters during the protest march on Friday, however, he was stopped by police. *MBABANE – Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini says leader of the banned People’s United Democratic Movement, Mario Masuku is not allowed to make public addresses.* This does not only apply to the veteran political activist but to all leaders of the banned entities which include the *Swaziland Youth Congress, Umbane and the Swaziland Solidarity Network.*** However, Masuku has been addressing demonstrators during the five-day Global Week of Action against Swaziland organised under the Swaziland Democracy Campaign last week. These entities were banned by the prime minister in 2008 after they were categorised as terrorist entities following a spate of bombings that occurred in the country. When the prime minister’s office was asked if Masuku and the other leaders were now permitted to make public addresses the answer was short and to the point: "No, they are not allowed." Masuku and members of the banned PUDEMO and SWAYOCO attended the protest actions from start to finish and sang struggle songs throughout the demonstrations. Notable individuals included renowned ex-SWAYOCO President Mphandlana Shongwe, current SWAYOCO President Wandile Dludlu and erstwhile PUDEMO Secretary General Sphasha Dlamini. The prime minister’s office nonetheless does not believe that PUDEMO AND SWAYOCO participated in the demonstrations. "Banned organisations did not participate formally – they participated as individuals," the PM’s office said when questioned how these entities participated in the demonstrations if they are still banned. Meanwhile, the PM has condemned the five-day protest actions which he said were unnecessary because Swaziland has available mediums where aggrieved people can have their concerns addressed. "There is no need for this protest action. Government has in place official forums recognised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which include the social dialogue. The country also has other dialogue forums such as *Sibaya* and the Smart Partnership Forum," the PM said. During the demonstrations, an unprecedented act occurred when protesters, on two occasions, burnt a kanga (*umhelwane/lihiya*) bearing His Majesty King Mswati III’s image. To this, the PM’s office said "government is still investigating this matter", while the police have opened an enquiry on the burning of the * emahiy*a. The kangas were burnt in Mbabane and Manzini on Monday and Tuesday respectively and the police have promised to get to the bottom of the matter. The protest actions began peacefully on Monday but violent scenes were soon to be witnessed on Wednesday and Friday in Siteki and Mbabane respectively. http://www.times.co.sz/News/32379.html Students to hit the road again 12 September, 2011 11:08:00By Nelsiwe Ndlangamandla Font size: [image: Decrease font] [image: Enlarge font] STUDENTS from all tertiary institutions, except Limkokwing, are yet again expected to embark on a protest march tomorrow to force government to pay for the first year students in the programmes regarded a non-priority. Though the students were battered by security forces last week in a protest of the same nature they said they were not deterred but will march to the capital city, Mbabane. Secretary General of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS), Benjamin Ngcamphalala said they were currently finalising details on how the march would be organised. “In a meeting held at Bosco yesterday (Saturday) we resolved that all students’ representatives and chairpersons must mobilise colleagues in their campuses to join the protests,” he said. The ‘killed’ programmes include Journalism and Mass Communication, Humanities and Law. Science Nursing, PGCE and Agriculture are some of the programmes where government said it would pay for the first year students. Government said it would only pay for 505 first year students at the University of Swaziland in the priority faculties. Students have also been told they would get their allowances in installments which were reduced by 60% and they are against this. Other tertiary institutions like Swaziland College of Technology, Ngwane Teacher’s College and Limkokwing are not affected by the crisis as government paid for all the first year students. http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=29622 -- *Lucky Lukhele- SSN spokesperson* *Tell:011 339 3621* *Fax: 0866135762* *Mobile: 072 502 4141* *Email: [email protected] * Skype: lucky.lukhele -- NEW!!!! SSN FORUM IS ON FACEBOOK!!!! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Swaziland Solidarity Network Forum Google Group. Visit the group home page at http://groups.google.com/group/sa-swaziland-solidarity-eom-forum for more options, pages and files. To post to the group, send email to [email protected] or reply to this message. To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected]
