PUDEMO: WHY WE DID NOT ATTEND ‘GAWUZELA’ EVENT

MBABANE- “Rice is better cooked inside the pot.”

This was said by the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Deputy President Wandile Dludlu, when asked about the organisation’s absence at the event hosted by Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO)  on Saturday. Among the parties which did not show up on stage was PUDEMO, which hardly misses such events. Prior to his statement, Dludlu said the organisation had nothing against SWALIMO’s event. As a result, Dludlu said none of their members were banned from attending the event, despite the ongoing talks and accusations against the organisation.

He said he personally did not attend the event, because he normally had busy schedules on weekends. He made an example about a PUDEMO’s event, which was held at the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Centre on a Saturday, stating that he did not attend because of his busy schedule.   When asked to clarify the ‘rice is better cooked inside the pot’ statement, Dludlu said the struggle is in Eswatini. He said PUDEMO believes strongly that any activity meant to take the struggle forward should take place in Eswatini.

Borders

He said politically, any activity held outside the borders of Eswatini by emaSwati, was only meant to sensitise and mobilise the world to hear the predicament faced by the people and provide financial support.  “I am not saying it is wrong to host an event in democratic South Africa, where no one will be chasing after you. As PUDEMO, we have done it, but when it comes to pushing the struggle, it has to happen on Eswatini soil, where the combat experience should come to the test. “If we talk about a struggle, we mean coming face-to-face with the enemy. It means one has to be ready for shooting, arrest and death in Eswatini.  There was no way the enemy could have interfered with the event held in a democratic South Africa,” he said.

He said they were hoping that SWALIMO will come out rejuvenated after the event. Dludlu said they also believed that SWALIMO would show more strength in the struggle going forward. He said PUDEMO respected and gave SWALIMO space at the event. He stated that they never felt threatened, because they were never in any fight with SWALIMO. According to Dludlu, ‘Gawuzela’ could do anything, but he would always know that he was raised by PUDEMO as he always alluded to in his statements.  “Gawuzela’ was raised by PUDEMO, but that does not mean he does not have a right to criticise us politically. He has a right to do so, politically,” he said.

Difference

Dludlu said the only difference they had with SWALIMO was the national elections ideology. He said the organisation believed that politically, there was no way a party could take part in a Parliament operated by the current regime.  “We will have a problem with people who are clad in their T-shirt in a gathering, but keep quiet when we face the enemy on the ground. Our focus is more on groundwork, because it is clear that many political parties are losing strength,” he said. Dludlu said the party is planning to push education and health campaigns as there are many people affected in the two sectors.

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