PUDEMO TRIES TO STOP MPHANDLANA FROM BOXING MATCH

MBABANE – “You are apolitical, you do not understand democracy!”

These strong words were uttered by political activist Mphandlana Shongwe towards some members of proscribed entity, People United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), after they tried to stop him from partaking in a boxing match at the Eswatini Biggest Braai held in Manzini yesterday. Widely known by the name ‘Comrade Victim,’ the political activist felt like he was literally victimised by his own party, PUDEMO yesterday. Trouble started when six members, four women and two men, of the proscribed entity arrived at the political activist’s home at around 8am. Their plan, it was gathered, was to block his gate so that he would not be able to drive out. Clad in replica t-shirts bearing the names PUDEMO and SWAYOCO, the members are said to have informed Shongwe that they had come to check on a child he adopted. SWAYOCO is an acronym for the Swaziland Young Congress is PUDEMO’s youth wing.

messages

However, he is said to have told them that he knew that they were up to something as he had seen some messages circulating on social media regarding his participation in the boxing match. In his usual jolly self, Shongwe gave the members bread and eggs saying they should enjoy breakfast and then leave his home. After they had finished eating, Shongwe took out a E50 note and presented them with it saying they should use it for transport. After giving them the money, he is said to have gone to his car and drove out, only to return after about 30 minutes. When the Times SUNDAY team arrived at the homestead just after 10am, Shongwe was relaxing on a maroon couch inside the lounge while the members stood outside the gate.
He welcomed this reporter and when asked if he was aware that a faction of the political entity was not in support of him taking part in the boxing match he said he would not dwell on rumours.

barring

“I am part of the PUDEMO National Executive Committee and as far as I am concerned, there is no directive that has been issued barring me from competing in the boxing match. For now I just want to rest,” he said as he closed his eyes simulating to be taking a nap. When informed that the PUDEMO members were still outside his gate, he advised this reporter to advise them that he would beat the hell out of them. “I will start with them before I go to show Major V who I am,” he boasted. After about 15 minutes, he stood up from the couch, walked outside towards where his car was parked. As he got inside the car, one of the female PUDEMO members walked to him and they were engaged in a conversation for about 10 minutes. When she re-joined the other members outside the gate, she gave them feedback to the effect that Shongwe had said only the NEC could stop him from partaking in the fight. At that point, the members were heard debating on what should be the next step. Some suggested that they should place big stones at the gate so that Shongwe would not drive out of his home.

guidance

Others suggested that calls should be made to the NEC for guidance on how the matter should be handled. As they were deliberating, Shongwe invited the members to go with him to Manzini for more discussions. They gathered at the Jubilee Park where more members started arriving and engaged with Shongwe. It seemed like the more they engaged him, the more he became agitated as he started accusing them of not understanding politics. He said he did not understand why he was being asked to withdraw from an exercise that would make him generate income. “These people who are stopping me receive salaries every month. They are paid by the same imbokodvo but now they are saying I must withdraw. They are confused because they themselves do not even know the type of activities we are expected to boycott,” he said.

discussed

Some of the members tried to reason with him saying the issue had already been discussed at NEC level and a decision taken that he should be advised to withdraw. In response, he said he would not take serious a deliberation that was conducted over the phone. “The NEC deliberated and ran away without telling me the decision that was taken. I guess they did so because they expect me to tell them how things should be done. I will not babysit anyone. They need to learn democracy. They are acting at the eleventh hour yet the news about the boxing match was released two weeks ago,” he said. Shongwe then suggested that if the members were serious, they should go and picket at the premises where the Biggest Braai was taking place in order to make a political statement.

He explained that he was a boxing coach mentoring young children and was taking part in the match not as a political activist but as a member of the Eswatini Boxing Association. He also suggested that since he expected to make money from the boxing match, the political entity should give it to him if it wanted him to withdraw. “I am a member of the Boxing Association and all of you here do not know. I am also showing support to persons with autism who you do not even bother to show love to.’’

disapproval

At some point, the members were heard discussing that they should design placards to display at the Biggest Braai as a sign of disapproval for Shongwe to participate. However, they abandoned the plan as the political activist was seemingly adamant that he could take part. The boxing match was part of the activities for the Eswatini Biggest Braai which is a charity event held annually to accumulate funds to aid in the running of Philani Maswati’s projects. When interviewed earlier on the day as the stand-off between Shongwe and his fellow comrades was unfolding, Philani Maswati Chairperson Lutfo Dlamini said he expected the political entity to practice what it preaches. A questionnaire was sent to the leadership of PUDEMO to ascertain why it was an issue for Shongwe to participate in the boxing match.

Also, the Times SUNDAY asked to know if the proscribed entity was not infringing on Shongwe’s right to freedom of participation. At the time of compiling this report, a response had not yet been forwarded by the party. Meanwhile it is not the first time for Shongwe and PUDEMO do not sing then same song. Last year, the organisation was unhappy with utterances he had made in Canada. The utterances were to the effect that removing the Monarch could risk the nation’s culture and traditions and that His Majesty King Mswati III should soon lead the political reforms to avoid eroding Eswatini culture and traditions, with the institution of the monarchy. The leadership of PUDEMO argued that members knew that one of the organisation’s key principles was that it wanted a constitutional multiparty democracy, not to preserve the monarchy.

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