People's United Democratic Movement Explained

People's United Democratic Movement
Native Name:Insika Yenkhululeko Yemaswati
Native Name Lang:ss
Abbreviation:PUDEMO
Colorcode:
  1. 01A85A
President:Mlungisi Makhanya
Secretary General:Penuel Malinga
Ideology:Democratic socialism
Position:Left-wing
Youth Wing:Swaziland Youth Congress
Colours: Green, Orange, Red and Black
Country:Eswatini

The People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO; Swati: Insika Yenkhululeko Yemaswati) is the largest opposition party in Eswatini. It is a democratic socialist party. Formed in 1983 at the University of Eswatini, it is led by Mlungisi Makhanya.[2]

The absolute monarchy of Mswati III, the ruler of Eswatini, has repressed PUDEMO by jailing its leaders and banning under the party by claiming its a terrorist organization.[3] The Swazi government has been monitoring PUDEMO closely since it launched the Ulibambe Lingashoni ("Don't Let the Sun Set") campaign, which aims for a "total liberation" of Eswatini,[4] and has recently cracked down heavily on even small manifestations of support for PUDEMO, such as the death in custody of PUDEMO member Sipho Jele, who was arrested for wearing a PUDEMO t-shirt in May 2010.[5] [6] [7]

History

The People's United Democratic Movement was formed in 1983 at the University of Eswatini.

Its 1985 manifesto stated that it was

PUDEMO called for democratic reforms in 1988, 1990, and 1991. PUDEMO rejected King Mswati III's 1991 commission to review the tiNkhundla system, and the King's 1992 commission on electoral reform. King Mswati III responded by suspending the legislature, and began to rule by decree.[8]

The Swaziland Youth Congress claimed responsibility for a 6 February 1995 fire in the House of Assembly.[8] [9]

PUDEMO held a campaign of strikes and civil disobedience in 1996.[8]

In 2000, PUDEMO President Mario Masuku was arrested for "insulting the king, sedition and treason."[10]

Pro-democracy protests took place in Eswatini in 2002, with "40% of Eswatini population believed to be on verge of starvation following poor harvests."[8]

At the 2003 elections in Eswatini only non-partisans were elected. In March 2005, the Eswatini High Court ruled that "political parties can not exist."[8]

In March 2006, PUDEMO members, including Bonginkosi Dlamini, the PUDEMO secretary-general, were charged with petrol bomb attacks.[8] [11] [12] In April 2007, "Six PUDEMO members [were] charged with sedition following protests on the anniversary of King Sobhuza II's royal decree banning political parties."[8]

In April 2008, PUDEMO's deputy President Gabriel Mkhumane was killed by criminals, according to the Swazi government. However, opposition supporters believe that he was assassinated by government operatives.

The Umbane People's Liberation Army, described as "a secret militant group" linked to PUDEMO, claimed responsibility for a series of small bomb blasts in Eswatini in 2008.[13]

On 21 September 2008, Musa Dlamini and Jack Govender were killed while allegedly trying to bomb the Lozitha Bridge in an attempt to assassinate the King.[14] Although PUDEMO had "called for a more militant approach to achieving democracy ... [it] denied any part in the bombing.[15] However, at Musa Dlamini's funeral, PUDEMO President Mario Masuku was alleged to have verbally supported recent bombings of government institutions. Mario Masuku spent 340 days in prison before he was acquitted and discharged at the High Court on 21 September 2009.[16] [17] [18]

In May 2010, Sipho Jele, a PUDEMO member, was arrested for wearing a PUDEMO t-shirt, and later died in police custody.[5] [6]

The Bhunya home of Alex LaNgwenya, a leader of PUDEMO's youth wing, the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), was destroyed in a bombing attack in 2010. "The Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 was enacted soon after the incident, and PUDEMO and SWAYOCO were banned as terrorist organizations. Several members of PUDEMO and SWAYOCO were alleged to have carried out a bombing campaign and detained."[19]

PUDEMO's Deputy-President Sikhumbuzo Phakathi said the 2010 Swaziland Democracy Campaign "was launched in South Africa because in Swaziland all political activity is banned," adding:

From 2010 to 2011, attempts to add the history of PUDEMO to Eswatini's high school curriculum failed.[20] [21]

In 2012, the Umbane People's Liberation Army participant Amos Mbedzi of South Africa was sentenced to "85 years in prison for high treason and terrorism" for his part in the 2008 bombing at Lozitha bridge.

Also in 2012, Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini held a political debate with PUDEMO over Twitter, while her father, King Mswati III, continued his refusal to negotiate with PUDEMO on the grounds that they were terrorists.

PUDEMO was admitted into the Socialist International as a consultative member at the SI's spring congress on 4–5 February 2013.[22]

In 2014, PUDEMO President Mario Masuku and Swaziland Youth Congress leader Maxwell Dlamini were arrested during Labour Day celebrations.

In April 2014 PUDEMO General Secretary Mlungisi Makhanya was arrested for wearing a party t-shirt, and released on bail. Makhanya was wearing the t-shirt to protest the incarceration of journalist Bheki Makhubu and human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko.[23] According to IFEX, Maseko is alleged to have said: "MJ Dlamini and Jack Govender died for the liberation of this country. One day the Lozitha bridge will be called MJ and Govender bridge."[24]

On 23 January 2023 Thulani Maseko, a human rights lawyer and member of the party was assassinated.[25]

Organization

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Participants | Progressive Alliance . 8 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150302142054/http://progressive-alliance.info/participants/ . 2 March 2015 . dead .
  2. Web site: Factsheet on The People's United Democratic Movement. Think Security Africa. 19 October 2014. August 2012.
  3. News: Eligon . John . Silva . Joao . 2024-02-17 . The Father, the Son and the Fight Over Their King . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  4. News: Nxumalo . Donny . 24 April 2008 . Who killed Pudemo leader? . 30 July 2008 . Mail and Guardian.
  5. Web site: Killed in Swaziland for wearing a t-shirt . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110903103701/http://www.afrika.dk/killed-swaziland-wearing-t-shirt . 3 September 2011 . 5 May 2010.
  6. Web site: Times Of Swaziland . 11 February 2019 . www.times.co.sz.
  7. Web site: ACTSA on various civil society organisations, including PUDEMO . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195013/http://www.actsa.org/Pictures/UpImages/Swaziland/Civil_Society_Swaziland.pdf . 3 March 2016 . 11 February 2019.
  8. Web site: Boddy-Evans. Alstair. Swaziland Timeline #2 -- Timeline of Swaziland from Independence to Present Day. About.com. 19 October 2014.
  9. Encyclopedia: Arnold. Guy. Swaziland in 1995. Encyclopædia Britannica. 19 October 2014.
  10. Web site: Limb. Peter. SWAZILAND: Strikes, protests shake monarchy. Green Left Weekly. 19 October 2014. 22 November 2000.
  11. Web site: Swaziland. Freedom House. 19 October 2014.
  12. Web site: SWAZILAND: Senior PUDEMO official arrested for treason. IRIN Africa. 19 October 2014. 6 January 2006.
  13. Web site: SA man gets 85 for bid to kill Swazi king. IndepthAfrica. 19 October 2014. 18 September 2012.
  14. Web site: Swaziland: Bomb Blast Kills Two. IRIN - allAfrica.com. 19 October 2014. 22 September 2008.
  15. Web site: SWAZILAND: Bomb blast kills two. IRIN Africa. 19 October 2014. 22 September 2008.
  16. News: Mario Masuku Acquitted in Swaziland. Hager. Sarah . 23 September 2009. Amnesty International USA. 15 October 2009.
  17. News: Mario Masuku a free man. Nxumalo. Manqoba. 22 September 2009. Times of Swaziland. 15 October 2009.
  18. News: Swaziland's Opposition Leader Expected in Court Over Terrorism Charges. Clottey. Peter. 24 November 2008. VOAnews.com. Voice of America. 15 October 2009.
  19. Web site: SWAZILAND: Faceless bombers sow insecurity. IRIN Africa. 14 June 2010. 19 October 2014.
  20. Web site: Mduduzi Magagula. PUDEMO in new school syllabus. Times Of Swaziland. 19 October 2014. 29 November 2009.
  21. Web site: Sibisi. Vusi. New syllabus geared to brainwash Swazi child. Swaziland News. 19 October 2014. 3 March 2010.
  22. Web site: Decisions of the Council. www.socialistinternational.org. 19 October 2014.
  23. Web site: Swaziland: Africa′s last absolute monarchy. Deutsche Welle. 19 October 2014. 14 July 2014.
  24. Web site: MISA condemns arrest of human rights lawyer. IFEX - Media Institute of Southern Africa. 19 October 2014. 10 June 2009.
  25. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/24/eswatini-of-pro-democracy-activist-prompts-outrage Eswatini: murder of pro-democracy activist prompts outrage
  26. Web site: The Danish Red-Green Alliance and Swaziland's PUDEMO. Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy. 19 October 2014. 2014.
  27. Web site: Macdonell. Andrew. People's United Democratic Movement - Swaziland: the Facebook revolution that wasn't ... for now, at least. The Caledonian Mercury. 19 October 2014.
  28. Web site: swazilandsolidaritynetworkcanada - PUDEMO. 19 October 2014.