SA supports SD National Elections

LOZITHA – The South African Government has declared its support towards Swaziland’s upcoming National General Elections.

This message was conveyed to His Majesty King Mswati III by South Africa’s newly-appointed High Commissioner to Swaziland Happy Mahlangu.
The new ambassador, who replaces Reddy Mampane, presented his letters of credence to the King yesterday at Lozitha Palace.

Mahlangu said South Africa regarded Swaziland as a strategic partner in the Southern African Customs Union, the region and the African continent.
“Through collaborative efforts with neighbouring countries, South Africa envisages a truly beneficial economic integration. Within the context of SACU, SADC and the AU, our two countries should, as in the past, synergise efforts and establish common positions aimed at shaping regional and continental agendas for the betterment of our people.

“It is quite clear how successful our bilateral relations are and it cannot be sustained unless it is developed within the framework of the African agenda,” the ambassador said.
He continued: “I further wish to make use of this opportunity to express South Africa’s best wishes to Your Majesty and the people of Swaziland for success during the forthcoming  elections. I also want to assure you of South Africa’s support regarding the Swaziland elections.”

The elections are expected to begin in August.
On the other hand, Mahlangu also passed on congratulatory messages from President Jacob Zuma to the King for his 45th Birthday Celebrations as well as the National Flag Day.

“He (Zuma) further mentioned to me to reiterate the importance of good neighbourliness, the betterment and upliftment of the SADC region and the African continent for a better world,” Mahlangu said.

... Zuma invites King

LOZITHA – President Jacob Zuma of South Africa has extended an invitation to His Majesty King Mswati III to attend the World Economic Forum.

The event will be held next week in the neighbouring country’s city of Cape Town. “Allow me to use this opportunity to extend President Jacob Zuma’s sincere gratitude to Your Majesty for accepting his invitation to attend the World Economic Forum scheduled to take place in Cape Town from May 6 to 10, 2013,” Happy Mahlangu, the new SA High Commissioner to Swaziland said. The King assured the High Com-missioner that Swaziland would be well represented at the summit as the event would provide great opportunities for networking by business-people.

King wants initiatives revived

LOZITHA – His Majesty King Mswati III has called for the revival of initiatives like the Lubombo Development Initiative between South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique.

The King said such programmes were pertinent in infrastructure development of the three count-         ries.
“I met with Mozambique’s President Armando Guebuza recently and we spoke about the Lubombo Initiative that it needs to be revived because we can achieve a lot through such programmes,” the King said when accepting letters of credence from new South African High Commissioner Happy Mahlangu.

The King said the country had been looking forward to Mahlangu’s arrival and now that he had arrived, the two countries would explore the programmes they could engage in together to improve trade and the bilateral relations that exist between the neighbouring states.

“We recently met in Botswana during the SACU Summit and reached a lot of conclusions. It is now up to the member states to work together in implementing these decisions.
“We hope to follow that up through yourself and with the other member states.”
The King explained that it was vital that the decisions be implemented because they were meant to improve the citizens’ living standards.

“That is the goal for SADC and the AU.
“We have to work hard to meet those standards.
“We are still a developing country and hope to share expertise with South Africa for the benefit of our two countries,” added His Majesty.
 

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