Times Of Swaziland: DIALOGUE WILL BEGIN AT SIBAYA, THEN VUSELA – GOVT

DIALOGUE WILL BEGIN AT SIBAYA, THEN VUSELA – GOVT
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Welcome Dlamini on 05/02/2023 16:07:00


MBABANE – Government has given an indication of the format that the
much-anticipated national dialogue will take.
Following the statement presented by Prime Minister (PM) Cleopas Dlamini at the
Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Organ Troika plus the Kingdom of Eswatini held in
Windhoek, Namibia, on Tuesday, the Times SUNDAY posed questions to government
regarding the dialogue. The questions were mostly based on the PM having
informed the summit that as part of putting in place the modalities for
convening a national dialogue, ‘…extensive use was made of the National
Dialogue Handbook – A guide for practitioners compiled by the Berghof
Foundation in cooperation with the Swiss Peace Foundation recommended by
international partners”. This handbook provides 14 parameters of a successful
national dialogue and three of these are; convener, topic and security
guarantee. Government Press Secretary Alpheous Nxumalo was asked as to whether
consideration had been given as to who the convener of the national dialogue
could be.
legitimate and impartial
The handbook recommends that it has to be a person considered a legitimate and
an impartial actor by all sides. In response, Nxumalo first indicated that the
handbook was just a small part of many other literature reviews that government
has carried out. He said as per the PM’s indication to the summit, guidelines
would also be drawn-out from the country’s rich history of conducting
successive national dialogues. He then said: “There is no consideration on who
could be the person to act as a convener for the national dialogue. Remember,
the nation’s dialogues are conducted at eSibayeni and extend to the various
tinkhundla centres. Sibaya is only summoned by the King, who also is the
Chairman of Sibaya, although often times he would delegate this responsibility
to tindvuna.” In a joint statement issues in November 2021, South Africa
President Cyril Ramaphosa and His Majesty the King agreed that the process
towards the national dialogue would take into account and incorporate structures
and processes enshrined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini,
including the role of the Parliament of the kingdom, and the Sibaya convened by
the Monarch.
advisory council
The country’s Constitution, in Section 32 (1), (2) and (3) states: “The
people through Sibaya constitute the highest policy and advisory council
(Libandla) of the nation. The Sibaya is the Swazi National Council constituted
by Bantfwabenkhosi, the tikhulu of the realm and all adult citizens gathered at
the official residence of the Ndlovukazi under the chairmanship of iNgwenyama
who may delegate this function to any official. Sibaya functions as the annual
general meeting of the nation but may be convened at any time to present the
views of the nation on pressing and controversial national issues.” On the
topic, Nxumalo was asked if consideration had been given on the issue that
needed to be deliberated on during the dialogue, looking at the fact that the
handbook states that the topic must be of high importance (national) importance
and relevance, getting to the very heart of the matters troubling the country at
that time; and that simultaneously, the national dialogue should not be
overloaded with an unrealistic set of issues.
canvass the issues
“The people themselves will canvass the issues that need to be deliberated
on,” Nxumalo said, and continued: “This usually happens during the sessions
of Sibaya, before His Majesty appoints a commission that shall conduct the
consultative nationwide exercise. It is not only one person or groups that shall
determine the issues/agenda for the national dialogue.” The consultative
nationwide exercise is commonly known as Vusela Commission. The first Vusela to
be commissioned by His Majesty King Mswati III was in 1991, which was chaired by
Prince Masitsela, and its main role was to consult the Eswatini citizens whether
they wanted the Tinkhundla system established in 1978 to continue or have it
abolished. After collating the opinions submitted to the Vusela, Prince
Masitsela reported that a majority of emaSwati wanted the Tinkhundla system to
continue.
The second Vusela was commissioned by His Majesty in 1992 and it was chaired by
Prince Mahlalengangeni; its responsibility was to review the submissions made by
the nation to the Prince Masitsela-led commission. It also had to receive
written and oral submissions from the nation on the country’s political and
electoral systems. This second Vusela is considered the most defining moment in
the country’s politics as it is through it that emaSwati called for a written
Constitution and also that the electoral college system of voting should be
abolished in favour of direct representation through voting by the secret
ballot.
written Constitution
The process to have a written Constitution only ensued in 1996 when His Majesty
appointed the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) that was headed by Prince
Mangaliso (Chief Logcogco). This CRC worked for six years until His Majesty
appointed the Prince David-led Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) in February
2002. After three years, Prince David presented the Constitution to His Majesty
and the nation at Sibaya in 2005. At the SADC Organ Troika Summit, the PM said
since His Majesty ascended the throne in 1986; various initiatives had been
held, with dialogue at their core. He listed these initiatives to include: 1992
Tinkhundla Review Commission; 1996 Constitutional Review Commission; 2002
Constitutional Drafting Committee; 2003 Draft Constitution for public review and
comment; 2004 Swaziland Constitution Bill; and the 2005 Swaziland Constitution.
The PM also told the summit that preparations for Sibaya were halted by
politically-related violent activities, which included the killing of Sate
security officers, the killing of members of the public and arson attacks.
On the parameter of security guarantee, the handbook outlines that ongoing
violence, banning of opposing groups, curtailing of media freedom and political
killings all undermine the credibility of national dialogues. It says national
stakeholders participating in national dialogues should have space to operate
freely and autonomously without fearing political persecution. The Times SUNDAY
asked Nxumalo what measure would be used to determine that the violence had
subsided and dialogue could be convened. “When there are no longer people
killed randomly or assassinated for their respective political, professional and
cultural choices, and there are no acts of vandalism to properties, no threats
or intimidation, then government would make the proper determination on when
dialogue can be convened,” the government spokesperson responded.
unban the political groups
He was then asked if there was any possibility that government would unban the
political groups that are proscribed so as to allow for a smooth dialogue
process. To this, Nxumalo said: “The national dialogue is not for groups,
banned or unbanned. It is a dialogue for all emaSwati.” Pertaining to
curtailing media freedom, he said the media would be allowed to continue to
cover all matters of public interest in the country as has always been the case.
“Government believes that there is no restriction imposed on the media even
now. So, why then, if the media is duly carrying out its reporting business
freely today?” he said. Asked when it was likely that the preparations for the
dialogue would resume and the possibility of making public the identities of
members of the preparatory committee, Nxumalo said: “Government will indicate
to the public as to when preparations have resumed and the identities of those
tasked with that responsibility may be made known depending on their safety and
protection”.
He added by stating that no committee had been appointed as such, but only a
working team doing some preliminary research on how best a national dialogue
could be convened and conducted. This was after he had been asked about the
inclusiveness of this committee’s composition. At the SADC Organ Troika
Extra-Ordinary Summit, the PM stated that the country was open to engaging in
dialogue to find common ground and resolve differences and to enable the
Constitution to evolve with the times so that it continues to meet the
aspirations of the majority of the people. He said this needed to be achieved by
people who had stood for election and gained the support in parliament that is
necessary to bring about the constitutional changes they aspired for. The PM
said this was the process followed in every civilized society.