UED pleads for SA parties’ support

MBABANE – United Eswatini Diaspora (UED) has pleaded with South African (SA) political parties and trade unions to support them in the calls for freedom and democracy in Eswatini.

In the letters, UED Convenor Bonginkosi ‘IB’ Dlamini said like the people of SA who fought for their freedom from apartheid, emaSwati were actively fighting for their own freedom.

The intended recipients of the letters were the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).

He appreciated the parties and unions who had supported them for the past years in the calls for the democratic reforms in Eswatini.

Dlamini urged these organisations to come up with strategies to support them and such may include border blockades. It is worth noting that last year, the EFF led several border blockades in the different ports of entry.

“We make this solemnly pledge, that, we are doing everything to achieve our democracy and freedom in our lifetime,” said Dlamini.

Petition

“We have written to the Presidency and Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and handed a petition to the latter on Friday, February 10, 2023. We were and still are requesting the SA authorities to investigate the alleged mercenary activities in Eswatini by its citizens,” he said.

On another note, Dlamini said another issue they raised with the SA political parties and trade unions was to ask them to use their influence in the SA body politic to support the call for the SA Government to urgently institute the investigations into these alleged SA mercenaries killing emaSwati.

It is worth noting that Eswatini Government had repeatedly refuted the reports about mercenaries.

In the letters, Dlamini also urged the SA parties and unions to use their influence to engage or facilitate a meeting with the SA companies that were doing business with Montigny Investment as it was alleged that Montigny was associated with the mercenaries.

However, on Wednesday, Montigny Investments Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andrew Le Roux stated that his company did not hire mercenaries.

The CEO said such reports were mere speculations and it was unfortunate that some people who called themselves emaSwati would go to such limits to cost jobs over speculations.

He said the UED, by communicating with Montigny clients through the said letters, may cost thousands of emaSwati their jobs.

(Pic: Thokozani Mamba) One of the Takhamuti Farmers Association workers hoisting a placard written ‘No Money, No Work’, as they picket at the sugar cane scheme offices yesterday morning, demanding the payment of their two months’ oustanding salaries.