CP of Swaziland, Communist Party of Swaziland condemns brutal assault of students by Mswati's police

8/20/19 2:59 PM
  • Swaziland, Communist Party of Swaziland En Africa Communist and workers' parties

The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) condemns the assault of tertiary students by the royal Swaziland police. The attack occurred yesterday, 15 August 2019, in the capital city, Mbabane.

 

At least three students were injured and rushed to the nearby Mbabane Government Hospital. Seven students were detained, rigorously interrogated and tortured for exercising their democratic right to protest, forced to write statements and were later released without charge. Among the detained students was the president of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS).


The attack by the police happened when students were returning from delivering a petition to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security where scholarship grants are administered. The march was constituted chiefly by students from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Eswatini Christian Medical University and the Mbabane Campus of the University of Eswatini. Their main call was for the granting of scholarship for all students admitted in tertiary institutions, including allowances.


The tinkhundla regime has continued to suppress the voice of students in Swaziland. The continuous suppression of their union, SNUS, deepens each year. Cutting of scholarships, with the funds transferred to absolute monarch Mswati to support his luxurious lifestyle, has been entrenched even further. Close to 70 per cent of the people of Swaziland live below the poverty line. It is in that context that SNUS has continued to make the call for free education.


The CPS will continue to work with SNUS and the entire student movement in support of their demands. The Mswati regime is unwilling to uplift the people, and as such all activities must be linked with the push for its overthrowal and democratisation of Swaziland. In this regard, the CPS has already opened up the discussion of an armed struggle against the Mswati regime. Students must come on board to participate and contribute meaningfully to this engagement and ensure that the socialism they call for is implemented in their lifetime!


Death to the tinkhundla regime!

Democracy NOW!

Forward to socialism!