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CHURCH LEADERS WANT MORE VOICES IN POLITICS

03/05/2018 00:54:00 BY THEMBINKOSI MAVIMBELA

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MBABANE – The Swaziland Concerned Church Leaders (SCCL) has called for multiple voices in Eswatini politics.

SCCL did this through the Kairos Document, which a member of the organisation, Comfort Mabuza, talked about on Tuesday during the Workers Day celebrations at the Killarney Sports Ground.

According to the document, the Tinkhundla system of governance is not accountable and its shortcomings are never debated and put to test. It states that this was so, yet democracy was at its best when there is opposition and political vibrancy in a given country. Through the document, the organisation clarified that all political systems should be characterised by the recognition of democratic principles, where there was free space for political contestation without constraints.

“The church is convinced that, in order for the country to move forward and be seen to be enjoying prosperity and stability, we advocate for multiple voices to be allowed to freely express themselves in socio economic and political matters.”

The Kairos Document continues to state that the three arms of governance should be allowed to operate independently, and that Eswatini should become a truly democratic kingdom as per the provisions of the constitution. The organisation opined that it would be folly to expect peace and stability to thrive when so many people were sidelined and could hardly influence the political decisions of their country.

Cementing its stance on the matter, the organisation quotes the book of 1 Corinthians 1:10 which reads, I urge you brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose.
The organisation said this explained that freedom of assembly was what God wanted to discuss and finally agree to be in the same aim and destination. It also supported its claims with the book of Hebrews 10:25, which talks about the importance of meeting. It states that this was what people had to do without fear of intimidation, either by individual or state security forces.