Times Of Swaziland: SWALIMO BANNERS NOT ALLOWED ON STAGE, THANTAZA IN TEARS

SWALIMO BANNERS NOT ALLOWED ON STAGE, THANTAZA IN TEARS
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Sibusiso Zwane and Phiwase Phungwayo on 02/05/2023 08:44:00


BIG BEND - SWALIMO Spokesperson Thantaza Silolo broke into tears after they were
not allowed to bring their banners on stage.
Leaders of the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) went on stage when
organisations under the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF) were called to deliver
their messages of solidarity. As the leaders of organisations under MSF danced
their way up to the stage, some marshals were seen engaging with SWALIMO leaders
and Silolo was part of them.
Moments later, Silolo was seen crying and he was comforted by his colleagues.
Later on, this publication engaged him regarding the matter and he revealed that
he became emotional after marshals of TUCOSWA allegedly refused that SWALIMO
leaders go up to the stage with their banners, yet others had been allowed
earlier on.  “When I negotiated with them, I saw that they are committed to
ensuring that SWALIMO does not raise its colours up high,” the SWALIMO
spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, SWALIMO Deputy Secretary General (DSG) Paul Matimela, who delivered
the message of solidarity, said labour politics were related to national
politics, thus workers should participate in political issues. After that, DSG
said they, as political parties, might have different political ideologies, wear
different colours and have different approaches, but before they fight each
other, they should remember that their struggle has a sole goal - democracy.
“We are not enemies among ourselves, but our enemy is the Tinkhundla
regime,” Matimela said. He added that if they continued fighting each other,
the arrested members of Parliament (MPs) and those who were on exile would die
there.