Monday 1 August 2022: - On Sunday 31 July 2022, the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) hosted another night rally in the community of KaKhoza, one of the townships outside Swaziland’s largest city, Manzini.

Over four hundred community members, mostly youth, braved chilly winter conditions to actively participate in the rally.

The night rally was part of the Sunset Rallies programme of the CPS under the Party’s “Turning the heat for Democracy Now” campaign.

The CPS held the rally on the same weekend that the tinkhundla regime held its undemocratic elections in Siphofaneni constituency to fill one position in its puppet parliament.

The rally, a form of politically educating the communities and a mobilization strategy towards a revolutionary insurrection against the Mswati autocracy, was received by the people of KaKhoza with great enthusiasm.

CPS National Commissar, Titus Vilakati, addressed the issue of low wages in the midst of a steep hike in the cost of essential goods in the country and how this has caused a strain in the entire livelihood of the people of Swaziland.

He went on to encourage the people on forming welfare and security councils as means to defend themselves against the Mswati regime.

The Commissar added, "We know that the police are murderers. We must thus urgently form the community councils, particularly the security and welfare councils.”

The security council “will ensure that no longer shall Mswati’s police invade our communities and kill our people,” explained the Commissar.

The security council will also “help the people defend themselves against police brutality and help community members fight for freedom in an organised way,” said the Commissar.

The Commissar reiterated the Communist Party’s message that “the tinkhundla autocracy must be forced out and replaced by a democratic system.”

He also reminded community members to obtain whistles as means of raising awareness whenever Mswati’s security forces invade the community.

"At least one member from every household must join the struggle in fighting the exploitative tinkhundla system,” emphasised the Commissar.

Member of the CPS Commissariat, Sambulo Shongwe, also rallied the masses to unite and defend themselves and also empower each other.

“Each and every home must have a role to play,” he said. “Already, the municipality is imposing rates on the people, school fees are too steep,” he added.

The CPS Sunset Rallies have also received support from other political formations whose members actively take part.

On the Sunday night rally, SWALIMO members also participated. Speaking on behalf of SWALIMO, Lucky Ndwandwe emphasised the need for participation of all Swazis in the revolution against the tinkhundla system. He stressed the importance of each and every Swazi to participate in the struggle as no one from outside will come as their “messiah” and deliver them from the claws of this dead system.

KaKhoza community members called upon the CPS to organise more rallies in their community as a means of mass mobilisation and conducting of political education.

As per tradition, the Sunset Rally was concluded with the singing of The Internationale at around 20:30 hrs.

The official ending of the rally did not mean the end of political work in the community as community study groups went on to converge for door-to-door engagements with community members, discussing going on till the early morning hours of Monday.

CPS Press Services