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LEAVE MAIMANE ALONE - MANGOLOLO

07/02/2022 08:43:00 Ntombi Mhlongo

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MBABANE - Members of Mangololo Eswatini have called upon those criticising One SA Movement (OSA) leader Mmusi Maimane to leave him alone.

Mangololo Spokesperson Gcina Dlamini confirmed the meeting with Maimane and said there was nothing sinister about the OSA leader meeting them. In fact, he said Mangololo Eswatini would not mind even to meet the Commander-in-Chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Julius Malema. Dlamini said besides being a leader of OSA, Maimane was part of the African Leaders Group which was started by the late Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and others. The entity, Dlamini said, supported the opposition of a ruling party and also took care of exiled people. “We are coming in because we have heard him talk about the political situation in Eswatini and we felt there was information he lacked. We have a problem with our political activists; they do not want the other side to be heard. We went to him and enlightened him on the political side of Eswatini since the British era.

Explained

“We also explained how Eswatini came about and the 1973 decree, how it was reached. We also explained to him the false information that there were many appointed Members of Parliament (MPs) than those elected. He wanted to understand the system,” Dlamini explained in an interview yesterday. The spokesperson said they also got a chance to enlighten Maimane on the country’s Constitution and some of its key sections. He said in their view, Maimane needed to be enlightened on the background of the country and its political situation.
“He is a friendly guy and is someone who we are praying will come to Eswatini soon and have interviews with all stakeholders. We told him that if he understands democracy to mean the majority, that is exactly what we are about as Mangololo. It is very much unfair to criticise him for meeting us,” said Dlamini.

Another member of Mangololo Eswatini, Pastor Phetsa Dlamini, who is one of the founding members, also said people should leave Maimane alone as he had done no wrong. In jest Pastor Phetsa said; “Bamjwayela kabi”. He said Maimane made a comment about the Kingdom of Eswatini and that as Mangololo Eswatini, they felt he needed to be enlightened. Pastor Phetsa said they also needed to engage with Maimane since in South Africa, he was known for pushing for individual election of people in local government.

Information

“We requested to see him so that we could ask where he got the information he talked about regarding the political situation in Eswatini. He informed us that he was approached by progressives who told him certain things. So we told him that we just wanted to share with him the other side of the story. We then discussed issues of how elections are conducted,” he said. Pastor Phetsa said the meeting was just a courtesy call they felt was needed to address certain things. Meanwhile, this publication sought a view from one of the organisations calling for change in the country. Sive Siyinqaba Chaiperson Musa Nkambule said in his view, it would not be fair to assume that Maimane betrayed the struggle by having a meeting with the Mangololo Eswatini delegation.

Nkambule said he was of the view that before a person could have a say on issues of politics, it was wise to hear both sides. “Even if he supports the pro-democracy faction, it is good to listen to the views of those who are against it. However, I can only say much once I hear what he has to say about Mangololo Eswatini,” said Nkambule. Also interviewed was Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement Wandile Dludlu, who said; “The regime is under pressure to try and redeem itself and win friends out there so it is bound to directly and indirectly try its best to make friends. As it may be, as PUDEMO we are unshaken. There is no amount of PR and political facelift will rescue the regime from the time and moment of democracy. We are not bothered at all.”