I WON’T OBSERVE MOURNING PERIOD – JAN’S WIFE

mfanukhona@times.co.sz

MBABANE – “Siwatjelile emazulu uyeza uJan Sithole (we’ve alerted Heaven of Jan Sithole’s coming,” sang Marilyn Sithole, the wife of deceased trade unionist and politician Jan.

The Worship Centre dome at Eveni, Mbabane, came alive as Marilyn put tradition aside and went on stage where she paid tribute to her husband in a song that provoked political and human rights activists to join her in the famous toyi toyi (demonstration).

The toyi toyi by SWADEPA, Sithole’s party, began outside the church.

It must be said that his casket was not brought to the church, as he had already been cremated by the time his service began at 9am yesterday. 

Pastors watched as Marilyn chanted a slogan that used to be a norm during labour strikes in the 1990s organised by her late spouse, Jan Jabulani Samuel Sithole: “Jan Sithole lisotja (soldier).” 

Mourners responded to the song and slogan with vigour as they came forward to dance with her. US Ambassador to Eswatini Lisa Peterson and EU Ambassador Esmeralda Hernandez Aragones were also present to pay tribute to the deceased trade unionist. his wife (Marilyn) said she was fortunate to have been her husband.

Introducing her to the mourners was Samson Sithole, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (SWADE), who was a master of ceremonies. Samson said it was the wish of Jan that his wife should be given an opportunity to speak during his funeral. 

forgiveness

In her address, Marilyn said the late staunch culturist Jim Gama should be turning in his grave that a widow was addressing mourners on her husband’s memorial service.

She asked for forgiveness from those who held the view just like Gama, that she should be seated with her family, with her face covered and not glancing at people.

Jan’s wife said it was the first time that her husband died, and it was the first time she was paying tribute to the man who was dear to her heart. 

She said emaSwati should not assume she was disrespecting the country when they see her mingling with crowds tomorrow as she would not observe the mourning period.

In some communities and families, mourning can take up to two years, but the Constitution says a woman must not be forced to do a custom to which she is opposed.

Jan’s wife said she is a self-employed consultant with bills to settle and children to maintain as their father has passed away. 

She pointed out that there was a forthcoming environmental and climate change symposium she was preparing for.

“The symposium is in November, and I have to prepare for it. I’m sorry if emaSwati will take what I’m doing as disrespect,” she said to loud applause of VIVA, Long live the spirit of Jan Sithole Long Live!

She declared that she would mourn on the go because of the demands of life she had to meet. She told the mourners who included high profile human rights activists and trade unionists that her husband never at any stage disrespected the King as some people in certain quarters made others to believe.

She said Jan loved the King and protected him in many ways. She recalled that her biological mother once raised a concern about Jan’s activism, blaming her (Marilyn) for making him a part of the Sibiya family.

Marilyn’s parental surname is Sibiya. She told the mourners that her mother was listening to the news on radio in which Jan was thought to be the one behind the marathon strike of 1996/1997.

She said her parent wondered how she could love a man who was problematic to the whole nation. The dome reverberated with loud shouts of ‘VIVA’ when she told them that she responded to her mother that there was only one person who should love Jan – referring to herself (wife).

 She revealed that Jan had not cut his long hair (afro) in a long time as the last time he did so was when he mourned the demise of King Sobhuza II in 1982.

risks excited jan

The deceased’s wife said she tried to persuade Jan to cut his long hair, but failed as he had the smartest way to cut short the conversation by giving her some money to buy what she liked.

She pointed out that a raised or loud voice during a conversation put him off. In fact, the late Jan did not like people to interfere with his private space, and met people on appointment in his office, said his wife. “Pettiness annoyed him, risks excited him,” she said.

His wife said he refused to have a meal in the absence of his spouse, even if she came home at around 2am. 

“He didn’t like debt, and didn’t know how to practise corruption,” Marilyn said. Jan worked for people without expecting any pay, she narrated.

High profile people who attended the service included US Ambassador to Eswatini Lisa Peterson, EU Ambassador Esmeralda Hernandez Aragones, Apostle Justice Dlamini who provided the venue for the service at short notice, Samson Sithole, the SWADE CEO, Jabulani Nxumalo (trade unionist), Thulani Maseko, the Secretary General of the Law Society of Swaziland. 

Jan breathes last words

His eldest daughter Nonhlanhla said her departed father breathed his last words on Friday (September 11) morning while he was with his family: “In the name of Jesus, Amen!”

After he had uttered these words, he died. Nonhlanhla said her father brought God to the house as he was a prayer warrior, always interceding at 12 midnight. She described him as a selfless person and sacrificial giver.

“He taught us to love God,” said Nonhlanhla.

She said the last time he cut his hair; his first wife did not recognise him. 

Pastor gets Jan’s 

first MP salary 

His first salary as an MP in 2013, deceased Jan gave it to Reverend David Chaliyumba. 

Sithole’s first salary in 2013 was E35 027. At that time, Reverend Chaliyumba was a pastor at Christian Life Centre where the late trade unionist and former Manzini North MP was a member.

Chaliyumba said the former secretary general of the defunct Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) also made an offering of E70 000 to the church to pay for its television programmes at Eswatini TV.

“The cheque advanced to us by Sithole reached us at a time when we were in default on payment for two months,” he said.

The man of God said the first salary he sacrificially offered to him was based on the teachings about the significance of the first fruits offerings.

First fruits are the religious offerings of the first agricultural produce of the harvest.

Reverend Chaliyumba mentioned that Sithole liked to sing the song titled: “yehlisa umlilo nkosi (bring down the fire oh Lord).” 

“He never missed a service unless he was out of the country,” the pastor said. “In fact, he used to attend church services once a year; that was during our crossover services. I then encouraged him to come every Sunday, and he did so till he died.” 

Jan helped country regain AGOA – US ambassador 

Lisa Peterson, the US Ambassador to Eswatini, revealed yesterday that the late Jan was an important part of her embassy’s efforts to help Eswatini regain AGOA eligibility.

Earlier on, she said Sithole informed himself on how to improve the draft laws that were needed to restore trade benefits. The ambassador told the mourners that he engaged in his own lobbying and helped to guide her team on who they should meet within both government and traditional structures to discuss why and how the drafts needed to be changed.

Peterson explained that the ex-MP was the first to disclose to her that the improved Bills had passed in Parliament.

“Many emaSwati probably do not realise that Jan was an important part of our efforts to help Eswatini regain AGOA eligibility,” Ambassador Peterson said.

The outspoken envoy who received a cheerful welcome on stage said such work behind the scenes and in the corridors of power led some to claim that Jan’s presence in Parliament had not noticeably changed conditions in the country’s politics and governance.

The ambassador pointed out that this criticism was blind to the landmark established by the ex-MP’s deliberate choice to openly represent a political part in Parliament.

She mentioned that the deceased showed that it was possible to advocate constructively for change without delivering petitions or participating in demonstrations.

“Jan simply adapted and added new tools to his kit,” she explained.

She said while he might have been alone in openly identifying as a SWADEPA (Swaziland Democratic Party) in Parliament, he never made the mistake of trying to work alone.

Ambassador Peterson referred to his final Times SUNDAY column in which Sithole observed that ‘all solutions that the world has been able to resolve are a product of dialogue.’

She said dialogue has sometimes been elusive for Eswatini, even though almost everyone is connected by family, church, school or village. In spite of this high level of connection, she said individuals and organisations sometimes remained disconnected, especially when they hold differing opinions. 

In calling for peaceful dialogue, the diplomat believed Jan sought to overcome this disconnect and bring people together to discuss and understand their differences, while also identifying the shared interests that connect them.

She pointed to the fact that such peaceful dialogue would be a tremendous gift for future generations of emaSwati, and a tremendous tribute to Jan.

Jan inspires EU 

ambassador 

EU Ambassador to Eswatini Esmeralda Hernandez Aragones said she had great admiration for Jan’s unwavering engagement and tireless advocacy for social justice, democracy and human rights.

Ambassador Aragones mentioned in her tribute to the fallen trade unionist and politician that she liked his active participation in parliamentary debates during his tenure as an MP. 

Since her arrival in 2017, the EU diplomat said she had the privilege to interact with Jan on many occasions, both formally and informally, and she was struck not just by his imposing personality but also his inspirational eloquence on issues, quality of his intellect, astute leadership and great passion and energy that he displayed in everything he did.

“By his death we have all been deprived of an extraordinary human being and a recognised champion of human rights and democracy,” the EU ambassador said.

“However, he will remain a source of inspiration to all those who strive for the same values and the same causes.”

Despite their grief and pain, she urged his family, friends and relatives to take comfort from the fact that though Jan is gone, his legacy will live on and remain not just an example but also an inspiration to all those who stand for social justice, advancement of human rights and democracy. “The extraordinary footprint he has left behind will bear everlasting witness to posterity that a great person and visionary leader in the name of Mr Jan Sithole once walked this earth,” the EU ambassador said.

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