Press Release 11 August 2010
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What is the Global day of action?

The global day of action was adopted by the Public launch of the SDC in February, which was the most representative forum bringing together all the key players involved in the Swazi question on both sides of the border. It was meant to generate global focus on the deepening crisis in Swaziland and the need to move beyond words into action for change.

The global day of action means that everyone, everywhere must be involved in some form of action or another to raise the issues facing the people of Swaziland. There are three (3) forms of action expected all over the world and anyone can choose that which is convenient;

1. Joining the main Global March and related events taking place inside Swaziland (exact place to be announced by SDC Swaziland Chapter)
2. Organising a march to the Swazi embassy or consulate in our various countries or where no such embassy exists, to government offices to raise the demands of the Swazi people
3. Sending messages of solidarity and demand to the Prime Minister’s offices in Swaziland and copying to the SDC.

It is encouraged that we do all of these wherever possible, but any one of them would be greatly welcome too. It is in this spirit that we say on this day, everyone should do something, however small it may appear.

But the key elements of the programme are;

• ~ Mass action in Swaziland, 6-8th September, with the 7th being the Global day of action with the whole world acting in solidarity with the struggling masses of Swaziland.
• ~ Following the launch of the Swazi government’s visit programme, we have also developed our own routes for the visitors to get to know the real cold facts or unfamiliar sites and areas in Swaziland that the tourist guide does not show the visitors. These places include;
  1. Vuvulane Irrigated Farms (VIF) and surrounding areas of massive poverty,
  2. Kamkhweli and Macetjeni villages that were mowed down by royal force and evicted families out of the country
  3. Public hospitals, which have become sites of silent genocide and everlasting pain for the poor who cannot afford private health, while the royal family has built its own classic state-of-the-art private health institution and have regular access to international, particularly South African health services.
  4. Victims of poverty, HIV/AIDS and deepening unemployment crisis who need our care, support and practical solidarity. Their side of the story is always hidden and this is the time for the tourist to know and hear them too.
  5. SAPPI and SATELLITE – Street Vendors

• ~ Fact-finding mission to raise international awareness and profile the issues of the Swazi people

• ~ Public launch of a series of activities building up to the day, with a National Defiance Campaign as one of them and others to be publicly announced soon.

What can you do to support the cause?

New ideas around how best to popularise the day, encourage action and inspire more people to join the cause are welcome. Meanwhile, the various activities mentioned herein would benefit from every individual and organisation opting to play their part in doing something that will either result in others taking action or lending support to what has already been indicated herein.

We must organise Swazi Democracy Action Committees to prepare and organise these activities in our own areas and locals. But we encourage even more that we do all within our powers to ensure that everyone is able to go into Swaziland to render practical support, it’s a lifetime experience and all of us must cherish the historic nature of the moment.

The following and other activities are encouraged;

• ~ Organise Public meetings and workshops that brings together all organisations of civil society in our own countries to discuss the situation and developments in Swaziland

• ~ Prepare leaflets and posters that popularise the day and the demands of the Swazi people for multiparty democracy and an end to the brutal repression, detention and killing of workers and activists by the ruling tinkhundla regime

• ~ Organise marches and pickets in the build up towards and during the Global week of action to demand action from your own government and civil society in support of the Swazi people’s demands

• ~ Draft petition and submit to your own parliamentarians and local councillors demanding action

• ~ Boycott all goods and services to and from Swaziland during that whole week to effect economic pressure against the ruling regime and hit them where it matters the most, their pockets.

* Join the march and be part of change,
* Spread the information about the march
* Sign the petition calling for unbanning of  T-shirts
* Petition your government to call for unbanning of political parties in Swaziland
* Defy the draconian laws

For more information contact:

SDC Swaziland Chapter
Mary Pais Da Silva +268 76024007   mpsdasilva@gmail.com
Sikelela Dlamini +268 7617 1151 sikamd@gmail.com

SDC South African Chapter
Ntokozo Mbhele +27 72 370 0974 ntokozo@publicservices.co.za
Philani Ndebele +27 76 942 3565 philani@asc.org.za