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Swaziland: No injuries in city blats
Fri. September 05, 2008 02:18 am.- By Bonny Apunyu. -
(SomaliNet) On the second day of demonstrations for the government to introduce democratic reforms and improve workers' welfare, two explosions went off in Swaziland's capital causing no injuries on Thursday.
Media sources say a bus and a concrete rubbish bin were damaged in the separate blasts, two days ahead of Swaziland's "40-40" double celebrations to mark independence from Britain and King Mswati's birthday.
Some 10 000 protestors marched in Mbabane, the day after demonstrators took to the streets in Manzini, the industrial capital of the landlocked state which is Africa's last absolute monarchy.
An eyewitness who runs a hawker stand at the bus station said smoke billowed out of the bus' windows.
"A loud bang was heard and it was at this stage that we called the police," she said.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Vusi Masuku confirmed the bus blast, but declined to offer details.
"The marchers were responsible for the blast and we will not rest until we get the culprits.
"For now we can confirm the blast but we do not know whether it was a bomb or another form of explosive," Masuku said.
March organiser Vincent Ncongwane of the trade union Swaziland Federation of Labour condemned the sabotage.
"None of our members could be associated with these acts and we would like to challenge anyone who claims that our members engaged in such acts to come and name such a person or people," Ncongwane said.
A group calling itself Umbane, meaning lightning, has reportedly threatened using force to spoil tomorrow's celebrations.
Local newspaper The Times reported at the weekend that the group - which claimed responsibility for two blasts last month - would make sure they did not give the ruling elite a chance to celebrate.
Although Africa's last absolute monarch is widely revered by his one million subjects, the so-called 40-40 festivities have attracted less than flattering comparisons: 40 percent of the Swazi population is unemployed; nearly 40 percent of adults are infected with the Aids virus; only one in four people will survive to be 40 at current trends. - Sapa-AFP
News Category: World
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