South African Development Community’s Complicity In the Maintenance of Neocolonial Absolutism in Swaziland

Mswati III of the Kingdom of eSwatini arrives at King Shaka International Airport ahead of the 46th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government. He was received by South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Pemmy Majodina -- image via x

We in Friends of Swazi Freedom are deeply troubled by the announcement that King Mswati III of Swaziland has landed in Durban to be a participant in the 46th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government. Although this meeting is just another formality that underpins the “functioning” of the South African Development Community, we view the continued presence of King Mswati III as a betrayal of the people of Swaziland. The fact is that the South African Development Community has truthfully not served the African people in the region that is under its jurisdiction and hosting Mswati continues in this sad tradition. The SADC was developed due to the fact that there is an objective entanglement of economies in the Southern African region, yet instead of acting as an instrument to build people centered economic and social development which would strengthen the pan-African future, the SADC instead has failed to chart out a sovereign plan of development and continues to provide political, diplomatic and economic support for enemies of the African people such as King Mswati III and the comprador feudal-capitalist class he represents.

Under King Mswati III life in Swaziland for the broad masses has become increasingly miserable and characterized by precarity and terror. From the hundreds of political prisoners who are daily tortured or in many cases extrajudicially executed by prison guards and security forces to the fact that Mswati orders his security forces or mercenaries to track down and murder pro-democracy activists in the Swazi diaspora, should be reason enough to treat this regime as a pariah and fiercely anti-African. We must note that this regime is so bloodthirsty and will utilize all and any measures to stamp out the aspirations of freedom within the Swazi nation that it routinely violates the sovereignty of nations within the SADC in a futile attempt to maintain its terror over the Swazi diaspora. If such actions weren’t criminal enough one must point to the June 29th massacre in 2021. The oppressed strata in Swaziland refused to be trampled underfoot and continually exploited in June 2021. From an awful COVID response by an underdeveloped healthcare system to the rising costs of living for the working class and peasantry, the material conditions of impoverishment bred anger and resentment among the people. All it took was the state murder of law student Thabani Nkomonye for the anger of the Swazi nation to be unleashed, leading to one of the most powerful manifestations of Africans struggling for a future free from absolutist oppression. Yet, on June 29, 2021 the SADC remained quiet as Mswati’s security forces opened fire into the crowds of civilians, massacring scores and leaving numerous Swazis injured.

The sheer fact that in that moment the SADC did not even come close to suspending Swaziland’s membership in the organization is criminal enough. Yet, the fact that is that envoys were sent in order to “stabilize” the situation (in aid of the feudal-capitalist class let us remind you) and then subsequently claimed that just a few years later that “necessary reforms” had been enacted by Mswati III mainly as a way to stem any criticism of the regime which might aid even more “instability”. Thus, the SADC acted mainly as an anti-African, anti-worker transnational organ during a period of popular uprisings in Swaziland. It is obvious that due to the fact that most of the nations who are members of the SADC are ruled by parties which do not represent that working masses, but instead represent a bureaucratic and comprador bourgeoisie that this organization will continue to betray the African masses writ large.

We in Friends of Swazi Freedom fiercely condemn the presence of King Mswati III at the upcoming SADC Heads of State Summit, and we condemn the Republic of South Africa for allowing a bloodthirsty and renegade leader into the country.

We in Friends of Swazi Freedom also affirm our solidarity with the students, workers and

peasantry of Zimbabwe and condemn the presence of Emmerson Mnangagwa at this summit. From the passage of the anti-democratic Constitution of Zimbabwe Act No.3 to the continued harassment of workers, students and peasants who resist against the bureaucratic capitalist order, it is quite easy to recognize that Mswati is not the only anti-African leader present at this summit.

Glory to the Struggles against neocolonialism being waged by the African Masses from Swaziland to Kenya, Angola to Ethiopia!

Forward to A United, Socialist Africa! Down With the Neocolonialists in the South African

Development Community!

In Revolutionary Solidarity,

Jason Cohen

Friends of Swazi Freedom