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The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) continues to stand with all public sector workers in their ongoing demand for a 7.85 per cent cost of living adjustment. The CPS further commends the worker unity that has been manifested during the recent actions.

Public sector unions peacefully marched through the streets of the capital city, Mbabane, yesterday 25 September 2019. These are workers organised under the Swaziland National Association of Teachers, Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel and the National Association of Public Services and Allied Workers' Union.

While workers peacefully marched for justice yesterday 25 September 2019, the Mswati autocracy, through its military police, reacted with violence to quell the march which was getting more support even from public transport drivers and conductors. This is the only language that the autocracy knows. By late last night, 17 workers had been confirmed injured by police assault. The assault involved rubber bullets, live bullets and assault by batons.

Such violence has been a reality in Swaziland since the late dictator, Sobhuza II, abrogated the constitution on 12 April 1973. On that day, Sobhuza moved on to bestow all executive, legislative and judicial powers upon himself and implemented a state of emergency where he would rule by decree.

The task for the fortification of unity is now more important than ever. Unity is the greatest strength that workers need in order to defeat the regime, along with militant and decisive action and leadership.

The Swaziland government has not implemented a cost of living adjustment for workers since 2016. It has, however, easily chosen to splash public funds on the royal family's extravagant lifestyle. Close to 70 per cent of the people of Swaziland live below the poverty line. Swaziland remains one of the most unequal societies in the world. Poverty, inequality and unemployment, along with the worsening education and health systems, continue to deepen under the tinkhundla system.

The Communist Party of Swaziland will continue to stand with workers from all sectors in the demand for justice. Workers must strengthen their unity and ensure to avoid infiltration by the regime. All efforts must lead towards a decisive national strike and uprising against the regime, for the dismantling of the tinkhundla system and replacement by a people’s democratic republic.

Issued by Communist Party of Swaziland