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TERRORISTS STALLING NATIONAL DIALOGUE - GOVERNMENT

15/01/2023 15:14:00 Mfanukhona Nkambule

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MBABANE – Government has reiterated its statement that the national dialogue would have long taken place.

However, it became risky to hold it because of the foreign sponsored terrorists, who plowed the country into violence through the random killing of the national security services officers.
In a statement, government said the national dialogue would have taken place already but thwarted or disturbed by the destruction of both public and private properties, through arson attacks and many acts of intimidation and threats perpetrated by unknown people. “The kingdom has clearly maintained one position on the question of dialogue, that is a national dialogue would have taken place already if it was not for the foreign sponsored terrorists, who plow the country into violence through the random killing of the national security services officers, destruction of both public and private properties through arson attacks and many other acts of intimidation and threats perpetrated by some unknown people,” reads the statement issued by Alpheous Nxumalo, the Government Press Secretary.

non-binding oxymoronic

He said the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini would not be deterred by non-binding oxymoronic (contradictory, conflicting and paradoxical) reports and policies by other countries or non state actors in those particular countries. He said Eswatini had adopted an old aged foreign policy of non - interference in other nations affairs. “This policy has worked well for emaswati in as far as diplomacy, partnership and cooperation are concerned,” he said. The government press secretary said government would not endeavour to dignify or ratify contents reports from Human Rights Watch (HRW) and reportedly the ANC resolutions on certain political groups with a response. He said government still maintained the national dialogue would happen when the time was right to hold it. While the government welcomes relevant and informative questions, Nxumalo said it was not under any obligation or impression to entertain ill-advised and malicious interrogations, but any balanced approach would be always welcomed.

Paradoxically, he said the Human Rights Watch, in its annual report on Eswatini, did not mention the people who died because of terrorism and the properties that were stolen, vandalised or burnt.
The government spokesperson said the HRW was possibly quite oblivious to the Eswatini problems; hence it couldn’t report that the dialogue could not take place because of the sinister elements that unleashed terror in the name of achieving the fictitious revelation they called ‘winter revolution’. He said government wished to thank emaSwati who refused to be used as canon fodders for the opportunistic elements. “True, emaswati are and will be always welcome to constitutionally engage in dialogue for their political, social, academic and economic future,” Nxumalo said.

ANC resolutions

Pertaining to the ANC resolutions, he said the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini did not deal with the ANC a political party, hence it was not much concerned about what type, scope and nature of relations it established with other political parties in the world. He said the Eswatini Government dealt with the Government of the Republic of South Africa, currently formed by the majority and the ruling party - the ANC. Therefore, he said government could only respond to resolutions taken by the Government of South Africa or at state level, not at the ruling party or political party level. He said the two States operated within a clearly crafted and functional diplomatic framework through which matters of mutual interest, concerns and benefits were handled.

special relationship

He said: “It may suffice to mention quickly though that the ANC as a political party has a long-standing and special relationship with the Monarchy of the Kingdom of Eswatini.”
Nxumalo added: “the spirit of ‘Ubuntu’ or ‘buntfu’ can only detect and impose upon the current crop of the ANC leadership to preserve that kind of relationship.” He said ancient wisdom has it in good authority that one should not damage or destroy the bridges between where he was today and from where he had been yesterday or where he came from. He then advised the ANC against being used as smokescreen by political enemies of the Kingdom of Eswatini through enacting or taking hostile resolutions on the country.

MSF differs

Sikelela Dlamini, the Secretary General (SG) of the Swaziland Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), said instability caused by parties in dispute was a facilitating factor for the dialogue.
He said the MSF, as non-partisan, called for the dialogue because of a violent situation on the ground. He said it was a lame excuse that the environment was not conducive for the national political dialogue. “They are now running away from the issue,” he said. The SG mentioned that the talks would not be held in an open area such as a stadium but in a controlled place with high level security. As the dialogue takes place, Dlamini presumed that the party, unknown as it were, would stop any element of violence. “I don’t think there’s someone who can continue to cause violence at the time when the things he complains about are being discussed or given due attention,” he said. He said the situation could become explosive if the dialogue was not held.

In its annual report, the Human Rights Watch said absolute monarchy in Eswatini continued to face waves of demonstrations that began in June 2021, against the drastically deteriorating human rights situation in the country, and the lack of democratic reforms. It is said that intervention in November 2021 by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, then-chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation, of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), resulted in King Mswati agreeing to a national dialogue facilitated by SADC.

dialogue format

The HRW stated that there had been no progress toward instituting the Sibaya or ‘People’s Parliament’ dialogue format proposed by the King. According to the organisation, the dialogue format has been rejected as undemocratic by the Multi-Stakeholder Forum, an umbrella body of political parties, churches, local businesses, student groups and civil society organisations.
Following the series of protests that began in June 2021, it is reported that authorities continued to use excessive force and the threat of violence against activists and critics, some of whom were assaulted and harassed. The organisation also reported that the Members of Parliament (MPs) who voiced support for the protests have also been targeted.

It said MPs Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube have remained in custody since they were arrested in July 2021, after calling for democracy. It also said they were facing trumped-up charges of terrorism under the Suppression of Terrorism Act, and for the alleged murder of Siphosethu Mntshali and Thando Shongwe, who were knocked down and killed by a car in Mbabane during the June 2021 protests. Another former MP, Mduduzi Simelane, fled to South Africa, following weeks in hiding, after the police issued a warrant for his arrest in July 2021, the HRW reported. It quoted media reports to the effect that a ‘militarised police unit of the King’, the Operation Support Service Unit, has repeatedly used excessive force, including firing live bullets into crowds, to break up sunset rallies.

anti-monarchy campaign

It went on to say that the rallies were a part of an anti-monarchy campaign tagged ‘Turn Up the Heat’ organised since March by the Communist Party of Swaziland. In February, the authorities detained, and allegedly tortured student union leaders, according to media reports, following protests by university students demanding scholarships and refund of hostels fees unused during the Covid-19 lockdowns. It is reported that riot police in April fired tear gas and evicted protesting students from university campuses in Mbabane and Manzini. Concerning the media, the Human Rights Watch said Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini published an order in July 2020, declaring South African-based online publication, Swaziland News, and its editor, Zweli Martin Dlamini, ‘terrorist entities’. He made the order on the recommendation of the Attorney General, Sifiso Khumalo, who accused Dlamini of publishing articles ‘that instigated violence, the burning of public and state property, the seizure of state power and the overthrow of lawful government’.