Swazi authorities cracked down on union and opposition activists on Tuesday in an attempt to crush anti-government protests which democracy campaigners called for this week.
Opposition media activists, news agencies and the Swazi press reported that:
- Police arrested key leaders of the protests on Monday and Tuesday morning;
- The government instructed bus owners not to allow groups to hire buses to take Swazis to a large protest planned for the commercial centre of Manzini on Tuesday:
- Buses that were running to Manzini were being stopped and their passengers detained at police stations; and
- Police stationed at the protest venue were rounding up protesters.
Pro-democracy groups have called for three days of protest beginning Tuesday, the anniversary of the day in 1973 when King Mswati III's father, King Sobhuza II, suspended the country's 1968 independence constitution, abolished parliament and established an absolute monarchy.
Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini issued a statement last week saying the protests - referred to by some activists as an "uprising" - are illegal.
Agence France-Presse reported Tuesday that 13 activists were arrested after their minibus was stopped at a roadblock on the way to Manzini.
The agency quoted Muzi Mhlanga of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers as saying he was concerned police would prevent protesters from reaching the venue. "Some of them are calling to say how safe is it but we have told them to come," he reportedly said.
The Times of Swaziland said there would be almost no pre-arranged or hired transport to carry protesters to Manzini. It quoted Mhlanga as saying that "certain individuals have been telling owners of buses to turn us down when we hire their vehicles. This is done purely as a move to sabotage the protest march."
The Swaziland Commercial Amadoda Road Transport Council's deputy general secretary, Ambrose Dlamini, said police would stop buses and mini-buses without permits to leave their scheduled routes.
Swazi Media Commentary said all buses from the Big Bend area had been detained at the local police station, irrespective of who the passengers were. Four buses and six mini-buses from Simunye and Mhlume had also been detained, as well as buses from Mananga ferrying teachers to the march.
The protests, led by long-time democracy activists, are being fuelled by a budgetary crisis precipitated by a collapse in revenue from the Southern African Customs Union, and the Times of Swaziland reported on Tuesday that even senators appointed by the traditional "Tinkhundla" parliament were calling for the resignation of the cabinet.
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The newspaper reported that Senator Bhutana Dlamini, supported by a number of his colleagues, as saying on Monday: "Why can't they just do the nation a favour and resign? The people have made it clear and it's high time they do so."
Senator Victor Malambe suggested that both Parliament and the cabinet should resign. "The people feel we are failing to serve them yet we are being paid handsome salaries. If we want the country to be successful, we must all go home," he said.
