11th April 2011
Yesterday it was Mubarak, Today is Mswati and tomorrow is Mugabe!
POPCRU has welcomed the successful 01st Anniversary celebrations since the
launch of Swaziland Democracy Campaign as held at Johannesburg Civic Theatre,
to
mark the historic moment to change the regime as led by a despot-Mswati.
Swaziland has over the years violated the International Labour Organization
Conventions, and in particular Article 3, which states that “workers and
employers shall have the right to draw up their constitutions and rules, to
elect their representatives in full freedom, to organize their administration
and activities and to formulate their programmes.And the public authorities
shall refrain from any interference which would restrict this right or impede
the lawful exercise thereof”.
Swaziland Police Union [SWAPU] in particular have over the years experienced
their meetings literally having government intelligence services in attendance
without any cover and many were harshly harassed through transfers to remote
areas to destabilize the operations of the Union.
A Petition was served to the Prime Minister way back around 2008 by the
International Council of Police Representatives Association [ICPRA] in which
POPCRU sits, alluding to a fact that “Police Officers must be allowed the
democratic right to democratically associate and advocate for better working
conditions”. However such inroads were viewed with resistance and suspicion.
What followed was that the High Court Judgment ruled that the Union has no
rights to associate. We argue further that the planned regime changes must not
overlook these labour relations imperatives, to enhance labour peace and
respect
for rights of workers in that country.
We argue that police in Swaziland or elsewhere are expected to defend democracy
and they should not be denied the basic democratic right, such as the right to
collective bargaining and the freedom of association. Through being part of
Collective Bargaining, police may begin to appreciate the significance of
freedom of association.
On the occasion of the Anniversary, Speaker after speaker alluded to the
outrageous living conditions which ordinary Swazi citizens are subjected to;
with a collapsing health and educational system, threat of wage reductions,
high
dependency-syndrome on foreign donors to alleviate poverty, high prevalence of
HIV/AIDS, lack of political freedom and state controlled media.
POPCRU calls on the people of Swaziland to prioritize the establishment of the
Republic of Swaziland, with a democratic state allowing free political activity
by all citizens and not only have a few “yes grouping representatives”.
Unionization of SADC and beyond is a commitment that will never be compromised
by us all!
Issued by:
Mampane Norman
National Spokesperson
Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union
Tel: 0112424600/4615
Cell: 0720737959
Email: [email protected]
www.popcru.org.za
01 Marie Road
Auckland Park
2006
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