Times Of Swaziland: POLITICAL PARTIES HOPE TO MEET TROIKA CHAIR

POLITICAL PARTIES HOPE TO MEET TROIKA CHAIR
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Stanley Khumalo on 25/11/2022 06:55:00


MANZINI – Local political parties are hoping to meet the chairperson of the
South African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and
Security Cooperation (Troika) in the next five weeks.
This was said by the Co-Chairperson of the Multi-Stakeholder- Forum (MSF),
Thulni Maseko. The human rights lawyer was responding to this publication after
being sought for comment on whether the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM) of
Swaziland would take up the invitation by the SADC Troika Chairperson and
Namibia President Hage G Geingob. Over the past weekend, in his visit to the
country, President Geingob was quoted by Eswatini News saying: “I am still
going to visit other member States and then soon the date of the Troika meeting
will be set, where we will discuss all the afflictions of our member States,
including Eswatini. After those discussions, we will then invite all parties
concerned to be also engaged, as we look forward to solving our differences
soon.”
This was after the SADC Troika chairperson had informed the local media that he
was not here to discuss political matters, but was in the Kingdom of Eswatini on
a courtesy visit to the King as he was new in the office of chairperson of the
SADC Troika Organ. In light of the Statesman’s assertions, Maseko was sought
to establish if his entity, in collaboration with the Nombulelo Motsa-led
Political Party Assembly (PPA), would follow up on the invitation and what were
their timelines. He said: “As a matter of principle, we agreed with PPA to
take up the invitation and make an application. We shall do so by following the
right channels, which are within SADC.” Maseko said they were committed to
making a follow up on the invitation and they anticipated that the year would
not lapse without them meeting the chairperson of the SADC Troika Organ.
“It is my understanding that this week should not end without us making means
to communicate with SADC. The latest can be next week depending on what is
happening on the ground.” Maseko said if it could be possible, they would
appreciate meeting the president of Namibia before the end of the year. He said
this would also assist them in knowing what to expect next year. He said in
their anticipated meeting with the Namibian president, they would advance their
call as crafted in the Boksburg Declaration.
Declaration
This declaration states that leaders of political formations were determined to
achieve a new, inclusive and fully democratic multi-party democratic State led
by a people’s government, totally independent of the King and the institution
of the monarchy. This, they described as a government that would deliver on the
social contract with the people, frugally managing the economy, all State
resources and assets to drive sustainable economic development and guarantee
universal franchise for all people. Meanwhile, the PPA president also confirmed
that since Monday, groundwork was being done to establish communication with the
relevant stakeholders who would facilitate the meeting with the chairperson of
the SADC Troika Organ.
Motsa, like the human rights lawyer, said their plan was the Boksburg
Declaration. She said the PPA held a meeting on Monday where the issues were
discussed and they would be dealt with in the upcoming days. On the other hand,
the Namibian president, when in the country, said people went to war when
diplomacy failed. He was quoted making this statement during his courtesy visit
to His Majesty King Mswati III at Mandvulo Hall. Eswatini News reported that he
advised the King and the people of Eswatini that the solution to the political
turbulence in the country and the rest of the southern African region could be
sought only through dialogue.
He was said to have first shared the 22 years of suffering his country endured 
and revealed that it was only through dialogue and the support of other
countries that peace was restored. The president noted that it was not Eswatini
alone which was faced with a political crisis, but also the Democratic Republic
of Congo, the Republic of Mozambique and Lesotho.“I am not here to discuss
political matters, but I am here on a courtesy visit to the King, as you all
know that I am new in the office of Chairperson of the SADC Troika Organ.”