‘LET THE NATION CHOOSE’

MBABANE – Arguably for the first time in the history of the People’s Parliament, His Majesty the King was asked to consider holding a referendum to determine the country’s political destination.

This, the King can only do if the country is continuously being persuaded to unban political parties in the country. This was a recommendation from the people who made submissions at the cattle byre during a seven-day people’s parliament initiated by the King in August 2016. The last session of the gathering held at Ludzidzini Royal Residence was on Wednesday, August 10, 2016.

A referendum is a vote in which all the people in a country or an area are asked to give their opinion about or decide an important political or social question. 
Delivering the report on the people’s submissions on August 10, 2016, the Secretary to the Swazi Nation, Nhlanhla Dlamini, said certain people were of the view that the referendum should be held.
The King was present when the report was delivered.

Speaking to the Times SUNDAY, Dlamini clarified that people suggested that the referendum could only be held in response to external pressure to legalise political parties.
He explained that the people, as a matter of fact, were advising the King to engage them whenever this political question was asked.
He added that the speakers were also advising the King that he should not endorse political parties without their consent.

If push were to come to a shove, the secretary to the Swazi nation said the people were of the view that they should vote for a political system of their choice. 
In the 1990s, political activists, particularly the late Dominic Mngomezulu and Benedict Tsabedze often called for the launch of a referendum to determine the number of people who were in support of the Tinkhundla system of governance, in comparison with those who supported multiparty democracy.

Prince Masitsela had to join the fray at some point and supported the idea to hold the referendum, arguing though that Tinkhundla system would ultimately triumph.
In an interview with this newspaper, Prince Masitsela reiterated the Secretary to the nation’s clarity that the King alone did not have the power to make a ruling on the way the country should be governed.
He said no person could also decide on which system of governance the kingdom should adopt as that was the prerogative of the entire Swazi nation.

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