Groups and Players of the 2021 Swazi Unrest

GROUPS & CHARACTERS of the ESWATINI UNREST

This is an evolving and likely incomplete listing of groups and figures, historical and present, surrounding the 2021 Uprising. Please contribute additions and corrections by Contacting Us Here »

RESISTANCE GROUPS

PUDEMO - The People's United Democratic Movement - banned in 2009 - Formed in 1983, likely the longest-running opposition group. Some known members of SSN, PUDEMO and SWAYOCO have been linked to Umbane, and the alleged marriage with the SPLA Sudanese People’s Liberation Army. PUDEMO wiki
SWAYOCO - The Swaziland Youth Congress a @PUDEMO youth wing of PUDEMO- banned in 2009
SSN / ESN - Swaziland / Eswatini Solidarity Network - banned in 2009 - Lucky Lukhele
SWAPLA - Swaziland People’s Liberation Army, aka Umbane [lightning] - underground group laying claim to military style attacks including the 2010 bridge bombing attempt aimed a Mswati II - The Umbane People's Liberation Army, described as "a secret militant group" linked to PUDEMO, claimed responsibility for a series of small bomb blasts in Eswatini in 2008 - Perhaps now SISF? - banned in 2009
SISF - Swaziland International Solidarity Forces - Militant underground group laying claims to military-style attacks
SWALIMO - The Swaziland Liberation Movement
CPS - Communist Party of Swaziland- Wikipedia - banned soon after 2011 formation current national chairperson Dumisani Fakudze
SNUS - Swaziland National Union of Students
EFFS- Economic Freedom Fighters of Swaziland - South African based with Swaziland branch President, Nombulelo Motsa

UNIONS

TUCOSWA - Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (formed in 2013, made illegal by Eswatini govt. in 2013) amalgamates the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU), the Swaziland Federation of Labour (SFL), as well as the most powerful single trade union, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT)SWAPLA Swaziland People’s Liberation Army, Umbane (Lightning)
SNAT - Swaziland National Association of Teachers
SFTU - Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions -
SFL -Swaziland Federation of Labour (defunct? Broke away from SFTU in 1994)
SAPWU - Swaziland Agricultural and Plantations Workers Union (Sugar workers) - have led strikes in Mhlume area
NEHAWU National Education Health Allied Workers Union - in South Africa supported April 12, 2022 Uprising anniversary border protests
COSATU - Congress of South African Trade Unions - Supporters of Swazi democracy groups and border protests

POLITICAL PARTIES

SPP - Swaziland Progressive Party - Pre-independence pro-democratic party headed by J.J. Nquku
SDP - Swaziland Democratic Party - Pre-independence pro-democraticparty headed by S. Nxumalo who joins the INM following the 1964 elections, afterwhich the party dissolves.
EAC - European Advisory Council - Pre-independence organization that representing White Swazi residents in Constitutional discussions. Led by Carl Todd.
EWA - Euroafrican Welfare Association - Pre-independence organization representing Coloured Swazi interests. Led by A. Sellstroom
SNC - Swazi National Council - Pre-independence traditional council representing the royalist interest of Sobhuza II in Constitutional discussions
MNS - Mbandzeni National Party of Swaziland - Pre-independence party led by Dr. G.L.M. Msibi who joins the INM following the 1964 elections, afterwhich the party dissolves.
NNLC - Ngwane National Libratory Congress founded by Dr. Ambrose Zwane - current Secretary General, Moses Ndlela,
INM - Imbokodvo National Movement - Original Ruling party created by Sobhuza
SWADEPA - The Swazi Democratic Party - Prior to the 2018 elections, the political assembly, a coalition of three political organizations, attempted to challenge the electoral laws - the late Jan Sithole was president - current president Elliott Mkhatshwa
AUDP - African United Democratic Party
Inhlava Party - (previously Inhlava Forum)
NGWASOREP- Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party
Sive Siyinqaba National Movement - On 28 November 2019, party leader Musa Nkambule fled from his home and went into hiding to avoid arrest following his calling on Mswati III to make Eswatini a multi-party democracy. On 18 December, he was among four individuals arrested by police on charges of treason.[5]
SWANAFRO - Swaziland National Front
SNPP- Swaziland National Progressive Party
SPLM - Swaziland People’s Liberation Movement - Secretary General Themba Dlamini
PPA - Political Parties Assembly - eSwatini opposition political parties united group formed in the wake of the 2021 Unrest.

GOVERNMENT GROUPS

Mangololo Eswatini - a pro monarchy advocacy group with the elements of a political party that organizes events supporting the King and publishes pro-monarchy statements and videos on social media. Mangololo is a movement that was formed at the height of political unrest calling for a multi-party democracy in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The movement was formed with the intention of opposing the pro-democracy movement ideology.
REPS - Royal Eswatini Police Service - the Eswatini National Police authority
OSSU - Operational Support Services Unit - Police special operations unit responsible for leading raids on opposition and other targets.
UEDF - Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force - the Eswatini National Army
Swazi Observer / Weekend Observer - (Government mouthpiece Newspaper)

RELEVANT OUTSIDE GROUPS

COSATU - Congress of South African Trade Unions

RESISTANCE FIGURES

Thabani Nkomonye - Student leader who death in police custody led to 2021 uprising
Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza - MP jailed in July 25, 2021
Mthandeni Dube - MP jailed in July 25, 2021
Mduduzi Simelane - MP in hiding
Mlungisi Makhanya - Current People’s Democratic Movement (Pudemo) President
Amos Mbedzi - imprisoned PUDEMO activist - After spending six years in detention in Swaziland, Mbedzi was sentenced to 85 years’ imprisonment in 2008 by the Swaziland High Court for allegedly trying to overthrow the Swazi government.
Judge Thomas Masuku, seen as one of the only critical voices in the kingdom's judiciary fired by Mswati 2011 Sep 28. Masuku had already been suspended from the bench in June and faced a series of misdemeanor charges, including insulting Mswati
Musa Ndlangamandla, the sacked chief editor of the Swazi Observer newspaper 2012 Feb 27, said that he has fled to South Africa in fear of his life after receiving a tip-off that police wanted to arrest him on terror charges. He was fired in January after he published interviews with leaders of banned pro-democracy groups in his daily column.
Thulani Maseko, a lawyer who studied at American University's Washington College of Law, and
Bheki Makhubu, editor of Swaziland's The Nation magazine, were jailed and charged with contempt of court for publishing articles in which they lamented alleged threats to judicial independence March 2014.

DECEASED RESISTANCE FIGURES

Jan Sithole - RIP 2020 - former SFTU leader - Natural Causes
Mario Masuku - RIP Jan. 2021 former PUDEMO leader - Natural Causes
Sipho Jele - RIP May 4, 2010 was a member of the banned Swazi political party People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo) as well as the Swaziland Agricultural and Plantations Workers Union (SAPWU), part of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU). He died in police custody in Swaziland, after having been arrested on 1 May 2010, at the SFTU May Day celebrations, for having worn a T-shirt with a Pudemo logo. Sipho Jele was found hanging from the rafters of a toilet at the Sidvwashini Correctional facility where he was being held on 4 May.
Gabriel Mkhumane - In April 2008, PUDEMO's deputy President Gabriel Mkhumane was killed by criminals, according to the Swazi government. However, opposition supporters believe that he was assassinated by government operatives.
Musa Dlamini and Jack Govender - On 21 September 2008, Musa Dlamini and Jack Govender were killed while allegedly trying to bomb the Lozitha Bridge in an attempt to assassinate the King.