PUDEMO YOUTH LEAGUE PRESIDENT ADDRESSES OPPRESSION IN ESWATINI AT COMMUNIST LEAGUE CONGRESS
Sakhile Awviva Nxumalo, President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Youth League, also known as the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), delivered a powerful address at the Young Communist League 8th District Congress in Nhlanzeni on Saturday. In his speech, Nxumalo detailed the systemic oppression faced by the people of Eswatini under the undemocratic Tinkhundla regime and called for solidarity in the struggle for freedom and justice.
“For decades, the people of Swaziland have been living under dehumanizing levels of oppression perpetrated by the feudal and neo-colonial Tinkhundla system,” Nxumalo told the delegates. He emphasized how this system entrenches royal supremacy, ensuring the monarchy and its allies maintain control over state power and national resources at the expense of the majority.
Nxumalo drew attention to the historical connections between the Tinkhundla system and the apartheid government of South Africa, describing how this collaboration laid the groundwork for the monarchy’s authoritarian rule. He further alleged that Baston Security, a South African company linked to apartheid-era operatives, continues to train Eswatini’s security forces. According to Nxumalo, Baston Security has been instrumental in covert operations targeting pro-democracy activists, including the smuggling of exiled comrades back to Eswatini to face imprisonment.
“This company is operating on South African soil and has been instrumental in smuggling our comrades who are in exile, taking them back to Swaziland through informal crossings,” Nxumalo said. “As we speak, they are in Mswati’s prisons.”
The PUDEMO Youth League President appealed to the delegates for solidarity, urging them to support the oppressed youth of Eswatini who bear the brunt of the monarchy’s repression. He described the plight of young people as a reflection of the broader struggles faced by marginalized and downtrodden citizens, including poverty, unemployment, and systematic exclusion.
PUDEMO, Eswatini’s largest and most prominent liberation movement, has long been at the forefront of the fight for democracy in the country. The movement enjoys support and alliances across the Southern African region and internationally, with Nxumalo’s address reinforcing the importance of these connections. By speaking at the Young Communist League Congress, he sought to strengthen regional solidarity and rally support for Eswatini’s pro-democracy cause.
Nxumalo’s speech highlighted the urgent need for international attention to the human rights violations occurring in Eswatini. From the violent suppression of protests to the imprisonment of political activists, the monarchy’s actions have drawn widespread condemnation but little concrete action. By drawing parallels with historical struggles against apartheid, Nxumalo reminded the audience of the power of collective resistance and the role of regional allies in dismantling systems of oppression.
The PUDEMO Youth League President’s call for solidarity was met with applause and commitment from delegates at the congress. His address underscored the interconnectedness of struggles for justice across borders, emphasizing that Eswatini’s fight for democracy is part of a larger battle for equality and human rights in the region.
As PUDEMO continues its advocacy for a democratic Eswatini, speeches like Nxumalo’s serve as a rallying cry for unity and action. The message is clear: the fight for freedom in Eswatini is not isolated—it is a cause that demands the attention and support of all who believe in justice and equality. With allies across Southern Africa and beyond, the dream of a free and democratic Eswatini remains alive, carried forward by the determination of leaders like Sakhile Awviva Nxumalo and the resilience of the nation’s youth.
