SNUS’s 7 submissions to Troika
MBABANE – There are about seven submissions which were presented to the SADC Troika team by the Swaziland National Union of Students ( SNUS), most of which focus on unemployment, abuse, police brutality and multiparty democracy.
The submissions were presented by the union which was led by President Colani Maseko.
It was submitted that the youth, in particular, women, and students lived in fear because of alleged rapists who were also prominent in the country. The union raised the matter of a prince who allegedly raped a female University of Eswatini student over two years ago and the matter was reported to the Sigodvweni Police Station but no action was taken.
The union said a 22- year- old female student ( Ayanda Mkhabela) was run over by a police Casspir in one peaceful protest inside the University of Eswatini premises in 2016, and the police were never taken to account, to date. It was submitted that she was permanently disabled and confined to a wheelchair. The union highlighted that government offered to compensate her with a once- off amount of just over E1 million.
“We take this as a serious crime by the state police against our right to protest and the offenders never get to see their day in court. They act with impunity because they know they are untouchable,” submitted the union.
Killed
Further, the union, in its submissions also purportedly stated that in May this year, police from Sigodvweni Police Station allegedly shot and killed a Law student from the University of Eswatini. It was submitted that they allegedly tampered with evidence, misled the nation through the national police spokesperson and presented themselves as not knowing the whereabouts of his lifeless body through a ‘ missing person’ notice they issued through the media.
The union submitted that the police service allegedly threatened the family for asking the right questions. The union claimed that the station commander was at the centre of the alleged lies, denying knowledge of the car wreckage which was recovered at his police station.
“They are a law unto themselves and we are here today because they have been killing us all along without consequences until we said enough is enough,” the union submitted. Of the submissions, it was stated that all parties to this political dialogue process should come to the table as equals, with no one party enjoying superior legal status. It was submitted that while policy makers widely recognised the fact that education served as an engine for economic growth through the accumulation of human capital, education was also strongly associated with boosting levels of social capital.
Unbanning
Meanwhile, the union submitted that the total unbanning of political parties would be a critical prerequisite to facilitating a conducive environment as the basis for an all- inclusive dialogue process.
“Towards this end, it is critical that the Head of State issues a statement to this effect, denounce violence and intimidation against proponents of multiparty democracy and remove all other impediments to plural politics such as removing the proscription on some entities under the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 as Amended ( STA),” it was stated.
In addition, the union highlighted that it was essential to put in place a transitional authority to oversee government and reform of institutions, laws and processes leading up to the first multiparty democratic elections.
Another submission was to the effect that the transitional authority would be drawn from a multi- stakeholder platform representing the broad church which was Eswatini’s society, and their primary task would be to level the playing field.
Moreover, it was stated that an all- inclusive new democratic Constitution based on pillars such as the separation of powers, a justifiable Bill of Rights, equality before the law, gender parity and youth participation, and supremacy of the Constitution.
“On the education aspect, a new Constitution shall ensure equal access to various opportunities through the educational system, public or private cultural entities, scholarships, grants and other incentives,” it was mentioned.
The submission further mentioned that a future governance framework based on a multiparty political dispensation where political parties could contest power in a free, fair and credible election that satisfied international standards and norms, was needed.