The biggest youth movement in Swaziland, the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), called for democracy at its 12th聽National Congress held over February 16-17.
The congress was held in South Africa because of political repression in Swaziland.
The main theme of the congress 鈥 the first held since 2013 鈥 was democracy and 鈥渞eawakening youth zeal for liberation鈥.
The congress elected a new president, Sonkhe Dube, who said: 鈥淲e are committed to a peaceful transition from the current dictatorship under the monarchy to a democratic Eswatini [Swaziland]. As young people, we want liberation now, because the injustice to Swazis has long overstayed its time.鈥
Dube, a teacher, told the congress that it was an 鈥渆normous task to build [SWAYOCO into] an effective organisation capable of transforming its beautiful slogans into action.鈥
The congress came at a time when SWAYOCO has been 鈥渂attered by the regime鈥 in recent years.
In a statement, SWAYOCO said that it would work with the labour movement and marginalised groups in Swaziland such as the LGBTI community, and that the organisation was seeking international help to achieve democracy in Swaziland.
Liberation and social justice
SWAYOCO, a member of the International Union of Socialist Youth, was formed in 1991, as the youth league of Swaziland鈥檚 largest democratic movement, the People鈥檚 United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). Both organisations were proscribed under Swaziland鈥檚聽, an act that Amnesty International called 鈥溾 when it was implemented in 2008.
SWAYOCO has previously聽聽against Swaziland鈥檚 鈥渦ndemocratic elections鈥 and for political awareness in Swazi schools,听聽arrest Swaziland鈥檚 absolute monarch King Mswati III.
鈥淭he renewal of SWAYOCO will inspire the youth to demand their rights and define their role in the creation of a new kingdom of Eswatini [Swaziland]. We will sell the idea of liberation and social justice to the people,鈥 Dube said.
A dangerous job
Dube has personally experienced Mswati鈥檚 oppression, as have many other SWAYOCO-members. In 2009 and 2011, he was detained and tortured by police at peaceful SWAYOCO rallies. In 2013, he聽聽in neighbouring South Africa after again having been arrested by police, tortured and threatened that they would 鈥渃ome back and deal with me鈥.
Being a member of SWAYOCO, let alone president, is a dangerous job.
SWAYOCO鈥檚 first president Benedict Didiza Tsabedze died in a mysterious car accident next to the royal palace, in 1996, after having been taken to the hospital by the police. SWAYOCO member聽聽was found hanged in his cell, after having been arrested for wearing a PUDEMO T-shirt.
Several other former SWAYOCO leaders, including聽, 聽听补苍诲听, have all been聽, detained and later released without charge. Bheki Dlamini spent nearly three years in prison.
SWAYOCO member聽聽served a long prison-sentence for聽聽he insists he only admitted to under torture. And other SWAYOCO members have been聽,听聽by police, as well as聽,听.
聽in 2017 how 鈥渞epressive legislation鈥 and 鈥減olitically motivated trials and laws that violate the principle of legality 鈥 continue to be used to suppress dissent鈥 in Swaziland.