POLITICAL PARTIES REACT TO ELECTION DATES ANNOUNCEMENT

MBABANE – Political parties have mixed reactions towards the announcement of the election dates.

While some were excited on the election process, others were not happy and others said the elections should have been announced after a national dialogue. People’s United Democratic Movement  (PUDEMO) Secretary General (SG) Penuel Malinga said they were ready to oppose the election process. “PUDEMO has a very powerful programme which will be felt by the regime. We will not go to the mountain top with a megaphone to announce our actions. We will do any means necessary to shock the regime beyond their expectations,” he said. Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) SG Futhi Msibi said her organisation was ready to exercise their right to elect a new government. “SWALIMO is continuing to mobilise and educate emaSwati on the rationale and importance of participating in the process to ensure they make the right decision on selecting their voice.

Encourage

“Continuous mobilisation and education remains the fundamental tool for the organisation, particularly for all emaSwati to register for voting. We encourage all citizens to register so they do not miss the opportunity to vote,” she said. Inhlava Party Chairperson Mfomfo Nkambule welcomed the announcement of the dates, but said he was hoping that Parliament would be dissolved first before such a pronouncement. “The announcement of the registration should have been done after dissolution of Parliament to level the playing field for the aspiring emaSwati and those who have been in this country for some time. I hope when the general elections are done and dusted then the real politics, the national dialogue, will resume with preparatory phase,” he said.

Swazis First Democratic Front (SFDF) President Busi Mayisela said participating in the elections was an edorsement of the current system of government and they were not going to participate. “I am not surprised by the regime’s stance on continuing with the elections before the dialogue.  Announcing the elections was not a surprise at all. The regime continues to ignore the call by emaSwati and international stakeholders to prioritise dialogue.  SFDF still believes that participation in the undemocratic elections is endorsing it.

resolution

“SFDF will stand by the resolution taken not only by the party, but by MSF and PPA where it affiliates. We work as a collective in the Mass Democratic Movement. Some strategies cannot be revealed as PPA and MSF is in the right position to share them,” she said. Swaziland People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) President Vusi Shongwe said political parties who were participating in the election process had no backbone. “We call on our fellow compatriots not to register for these elections as a way of registering the rejection of the whole Tinkhundla system. The SPLM says fellow political parties participating in these elections are displaying the highest order of political contradictions, banana backbone and chameleon politics, and the people cannot be fooled, no wonder some of them were even booed at May Day celebrations, they cannot be trusted,” he said. Other political parties were not immediately available to react on the announcement of the dates.

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