NEW AGE, NEW YOUTH, NEW POLITICS

MBABANE – Years are not just numbers in politics as it has been observed by legendary politician Samuel Mkhombe.

Mkhombe, a former Private Secretary at the King’s Office said he had observed that every after 20 years or so the mindsets of the country’s politics evolve and people understand things differently, warranting modifications to the system of governance.
He said the first landmark transformation of the country’s governance was in 1972 just before King Sobhuza II made a landmark pronouncement that from then onwards all political parties would be banned and that the Tinkhundla System of Governance would be used. “People accepted this as the new system of governance, though there were a few that questioned it. However, about 20 years later, in 1992, the youth at the time, started registering discontent with the way the Tinkhundla System was operating,” he said.

It was at this time that MPs were not elected by the people from grassroots level, but the people merely submitted names for appointment by the King. His Majesty King Mswati III had then appointed a Tinkhundla Review Commission, which was headed by Prince Mahlalengangeni. Mkhombe was one of the members of the committee. At the time, he was a strong advocate for human rights as a controlling member of the Human Rights Association of Swaziland.

nominated

It was the committee in which Mkhombe was a member that recommended a new era, by which MPs would be nominated from royal kraal level. It further recommended that the position of indvuna yetinkhundla be abolished and that instead, a Cabinet minister be appointed to head the Tinkhundla portfolio. Also, one of the recommendations of the committee was that there must be a national Constitution. It also said the appointment of the prime minister must be a prerogative of the King. Over 20 years later again, the people are calling for the power to elect a prime minister, among many changes. Three MPs who have set the tone for the calls for change are Hosea MP Bacede Mabuza, Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi Simelane and Ngwemphisi MP Mthandeni Dube. “This is why I have realised that every after 20 years, the youth of that era want a different way of being governed,” he said, speaking as a political analyst.

In the past two weeks, the youth have delivered petitions to tinkhundla centres saying they want the people to be given power to elect a prime minister of their choice. Though Mkhombe did not approve nor disapprove of the recent calls, he said it was not surprising that every after 20 years the people want changes and said the country should not be surprised when such happens. On the election of a prime minister, the seasoned politician said the Mahlalengangeni states that such must be done through the council of Liqoqo.

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