12 April 2021

Build April 12 Movement for Youth struggle for freedom

April 12 1973 saw the banning of political parties by the Swazi monarchy, supported by the apartheid regime in South Africa. This move ushered in an era of repressive feudal-capitalist control under an iron fist monarchic system, one that has forced our people to be subjects rather than citizens.

We commemorate this date by urging a renewed focus on the role of youth in the struggle to end the dictatorship in Swaziland. The revolutionary potential of the youth has been neglected, youth political education is non existent, and yet the youth have played major frontline roles in defending the rights of students and learners. In many countries, the youth are instrumental in fighting for progressive change, whether for democracy, to defend the environment or to end racism. We need a similar reinvigoration and widening of youth activism in Swaziland.

For this reason, the CPS is dedicating the 12 April as the day of youth struggle. The aim of this is to focus youth activism on a particular theme - namely, the need to end the dictatorship and institute a progressive democratic dispensation. We are calling this youth initiative the 12 April Movement, and while we realise that this is a work in progress, we believe as CPS that this can be a rallying point for a broad campaign of youth inclusion in progressive struggle across a variety of fronts: education, culture, anti-GBV activity, an end to Reed Dance exploitation of women and girls, and other pressing demands that will be worked out as the 12 April Movement is developed.

Communists and other progressive elements in the opposition to the dictatorship need to revamp efforts to reach out to youth in Swaziland and inspire them in the demand for Democracy Now.

The CPS also aims to pay greater attention to the youth in the security forces and the regiment system, which the regime has put to its front line of defence.

Youth militancy is the special requirement of our struggle for Democracy Now to supplement the workers protest against exploitation and the peasant’s resistance against land displacements and land repossessions.

What we need now is a reorientation of political action to give a greater space and voice to young people in Swaziland, and to provide them with the basics of political education so as to develop greater political consciousness among our people. This has to happen at grassroots and local level.

Our call to the youth now is:

Don’t Opt for Tinkhundla Misery - Fight for Your Rights,Your Future and Your Freedom.

Let’s build a 12 April Movement to realise these goals and to give greater substance to the broad call for Democracy Now!

Issued by the Communist Party of Swaziland