Friday 24 December 2021:- Yesterday, 23 December, the CPS Summer School concluded on the question of transition to democracy, and also dealt with the organisational structure of communist parties, methods and content of their work.

The aim of these discussions is to help delegates better understand the position of the CPS on Swaziland’s transition to democracy, particularly in light of the ongoing debates about what needs to be done now.

In this transition period, the CPS stands firm on its position: No dialogue with the monarch! This position was also affirmed by the delegates at the Summer School.

Communists are not anti-dialogue. Dialogue in Swaziland, under the current situation, will only be possible if Mswati surrenders all his powers to the people. Mswati, Africa’s last absolute monarch, has repeatedly shown that he is prepared to spill more blood to hold on to power.

As such, the only dialogue that is needed at this point is dialogue among the oppressed people, focusing on devising better methods to intensify the struggle against the autocracy.

On the organisational structure of communist parties, methods and content of their work, the School undertook the following interrogations: 1) The Party’s role in organising the masses, 2) The importance of quality and resilient leadership in the struggle, 3) The motive forces of the struggle in Swaziland, 4) How the Party can ensure that it is with the people at all times, and 5) What needs to be done moving forward to intensify the revolution.

While the Party’s “Democracy Now” campaign, launched in 2019, has made some key achievements thus far, delegates to the CPS Summer School concede that a lot still needs to be done to organise the masses in the rural areas, where over 70 percent of the people live.

Communist activists must thus intensify their work in organising the people, form study groups and units, build the community councils as per the Party’s directive, and unite the people.

In addition, the Party’s propaganda machinery must consistently work to expose the regime, firmly rooted on the oppressed people’s side.

The regime has heavily censored the media in Swaziland. As such, activists must creatively use the various media platforms available to them, such as social media.

Organising the masses also involves mobilising the people to use their talents to express the demands of the revolution: writing, poetry, music, and all other artistic talents.

The CPS seeks to empower the people to be in charge of the revolution. The CPS, of course, has a vanguard role to play. The Party must work every day to prevent opportunism, which can weaken and delay the struggle.

In this regard, Communist activists must expose the charlatanry of those within the progressive movement who attempt to preserve the monarch.

Delegates to the CPS Summer School also called for the empowerment of women, to ensure that they play a leading role in the struggle. The Party must campaign for the removal of structural barriers to women participation in the struggle, but also in society, generally.