Times Of Swaziland: A  monarchy in the 21st century?

A  monarchy in the 21st century?
================================================================================
The Editor on 17/05/2011 00:00:00


Sir,
Workers’ Day has come and gone, thankfully this time without any major
problems which are caused by the police every year.
Statement
One statement that was made on Workers’ Day which sticks out for me is the one
by PUDEMO President Mario Masuku.
It was a bold statement to make, but I have a problem with it.
　The statement by the president that we do not want to do away with the
institution of the monarchy is very unfor-tunate.
Is the president not aware that the King himself does not want to be a
constitutional monarch?
Consulted
I wonder if he consulted his constituency (PUDEMO) before making such statements
because most of the members of PUDEMO, especially from its youth wing, that I
have been privileged to talk to will tell you that they do not envision a
Swaziland with the institution of the monarchy still there.
Anyway, this is not my place to try and change a position by PUDEMO. We will
respect their position.
Mfundvo Ndzimandze,
Manzini　
-------------------------
Comments
Ndzimandze, Cha babe your view is more objective. Its posture and intent (at
least From what one reads between the lines). The issue here is that people in
Swaziland respect, love the monarchy. At the same time they want democracy. Now,
how do you manage the two without a bloody confrontation? If you look in the
past where monarchies were done away with, it came at a huge cost...human lives.
Do you think that if today there was to be revolution to oust the king it will
be peaceful? NO ways, Mswati will fight teeth and nail and who will die/suffer,
NOT him but the ordinary Swazi who will be on either sides of the fence. While i
agree with you on the views of SWAYOCO which is the youth wing of PUDEMO, it
must be understood that SWAYOCO does not drive the policy in PUDEMO it is the
mother body that does so. The youth can only work hard to influence it, which I
think they are doing well. They have put the issue on the table. Its good that
Swazis are debating the issue and very soon its going to be a national debate,
the very same way that the issue of multiparty is now. Also remember that the
president did mention on the same day that the people of Swaziland will decide
on the issue of the monarchy, and in my view the president was trying to say
that is not a static position; conditions on the ground will dictate. For an
example, say there is a revolution in Swaziland. Workers are not paid. Students
cant go to school. Shops are empty. Hospitals are closed. People are dying of
hunger. There are massive demonstrations to demand a better life but in the
course of those demonstrations people somewhat realise that in fact the only way
that the problems will be solved is if the king goes! Have we reached that
stage? Lastly, I have always challenged people who feel strongly about a
Swaziland without a monarchy to form their own political party whose manifesto
states clearly that they dont want the king and his family. Go out there and
recruit people. I bet with my life they wont succeed. I am totally against
people using other organisations to drive that agenda because I am almost
convinced its not sustainable in SD. Roy Dladla PUDEMO since 1986
May 17, 2011, 9:06 AM, Roy (royd@gmail.com)
With all due respect to all constitutional monarchists. I personally respect
your right to assembly and worship. If a man wants to bow to another, he should
be allowed to. What I am totally opposed to is the using of our hard earned
taxes to fund such a huge and expensive family. Siyaphi ngalomndeni lona
yebekunene? Moreover, constitutional monarchies are given a power to veto
decisions. Sisebente ke tsine, gathering information and debating. Bese sitsi
sigodlo, veto....just because it can. Cha, siyabonga kuyilamula, Mfundo.
May 17, 2011, 9:06 AM, Jim Gamedze (jimmy@gmail.com)
Everything must justify its existence before the judgment seat of Reason, or
give up existence” ^Friedrich Engels^....Bese wena ke ngaloku crammer i
politiki without understanding uhleli lapha e COSATU house, you go around
advocating for the continued existence of the monarchy ngoba you lack basic
intellect. Yebo, Masuku, ngisho wena.
May 17, 2011, 10:02 AM, Gadumuzi Dlamini (gaddy_muzi@yahoo.com)
Mario Masuku is not intelligent. Why court controversy with this unnecessary
statement? Abebutwe ngubani vele? He should have gone there wayishaya ngesihloko
watsi."We say no to salary cuts." Intelligent workers would see that cha, lobabe
uyati kutsi yini ema issues etfu kahle kahle. Instead, u busy kangakutincengela.
Phela, Masuku, there would be no need for salary cuts if the country was not
busy feeding the royal family. It's a simple law of economics. Before asking to
debate with the PM, you must pick up an economics book and read. Sitakutjele ke
tsine.
May 17, 2011, 10:02 AM, Mandla Maziya (MandlakheMaziya@rocketmail.com)
Bob Marley told us that soon you will find out who the real revolutionary is,
and who is the mercenary. Wena Mario Masuku why did you not start by telling the
workers that there was no official document in your organization that advocated
for such a thing. Bese ucela kubeka umbono wakho...and mention that
uyatincengela nje. We read that the king paid for your hospital fees. Shame on
you.
May 17, 2011, 10:25 AM, Mahlaba Ngwenya (hlabzo.ngwenya@gmail.com)
I sincerely doubt that the average Swazi even knows the difference between a
constitutional monarchy and an absolute monarchy. We must be honest with
ourselves. Either you are totally for or totally against. Stop these lies of
pretending that Swazis will prefer a constitutional monarchy when they are not
even filling the ranks of the current political parties in numbers. NNLC has it
in their constitution that they only accept members who are for a constitutional
monarchy but this has not made them necessarily more popular. Instead most of
the activists are going to the party that has no stand on this issue, PUDEMO.
Now you want to hoodwink them into accepting this half-way revolution because
you have been bribed.
May 17, 2011, 10:25 AM, Nilisaphi lelive (sappy@gmail.com)
I wonder if this comrade called Dladla is a true member of the Movement. You
cant use being a member of PUDEMO to pronounce ideas that are truly contrary to
that of the movement.In PUDEMO we will never call for a constitutional
monarchy.We are clear that a mornachy by its nature is undemocratic.You can not
therefore allow an undemocratic institution to prevail within a democratic
arrangement.We say forward to a negotiated settlement that we see the people of
Swaziland decide their future way of being governed.
May 17, 2011, 12:20 PM, tisuka dlamini (tisuka.dlamini@gmail.com)
The Pudemo that I have always known is a revolutionary vanguard party. This
means that it is always in the front, leading the masses, not being led by them.
It then becomes a problem for me when Pudemo decides to follow what people think
instead of bringing clarity to the people and make them aware that they will
never be liberated as long as the institution of the Monarchy remains. Pudemo is
not a reformist party but a revolutionary party.
May 17, 2011, 12:20 PM, Simon dlamini (simonsays009@gmail.com)
Maswati lamahle ngatsi silahlekelwa yinhloso lana. Yebo ngiyavuma ngatsi there
was a topic issue lana. kwasho bani futsi kutsi a constitutional monachy is
impossible.Let us analyse things globally, well look at England they have a
constitutional monarchy the royal family still stands and the country is
functioning well. There is no need to demote or revolute against the royal
family. The issue at hand is that of economic instability that Swaziland is
facing.If solving this means kusti barestrictwe yebo yentani njalo but inkhosi
nje ayibe khona.
May 17, 2011, 12:20 PM, pinky (pinky@yahoo.com)
I must say that the change this country needs is not the one that will just suit
PUDEMO but one for the whole of Swaziland. I am really concerned that the
commentators are having an opinion that its all about what PUDEMO wants ,that
will be very dangerous and democracy is not like that.The arrogance and strong
statements shown here, give a picture of a group of people who are not prepared
for a compromise but their own way or nothing. We have lived that life since
independence, where its the government's way or nothing ,we don't want that any
more. If PUDEMO will come with the attitude the present government is presenting
its democracy,I am afraid to say PUDEMO doesn't know what democracy is. We are
still in a process where we are looking into introducing multiparty politics and
some people like PUDEMO present themselves like they have the God given right to
tell the country what to do with the monarch. I have thought democracy is about
choices and people will choose and shouldn't be insulted if they want to keep
the monarch and they shouldn't be threatened if they are not for PUDEMO's views.
In any case we know that we will have more Parties to choose from and PUDEMO
must not win the votes before political parties are allowed and before
campaigns,policies and votes are seen. This is the thing that puts me off about
PUDEMO,especially its youth.They are arrogant and disrespectful.We all want to
have freedom and more especially freedom of speech but that freedom comes with
respect, responsibility and accountability.You discard those elements you spoil
everything even the good intentions and agendas you probably have. I must lastly
say the monarch issue is not for PUDEMO to decide but for the nation.The nation
will decide for its self. This change must also be know that it is not for a
certain political party but for the whole nation. I hope PUDEMO will start to
show signs that they will respect others opinions and other groups by first
respecting their leaders and have a respectable way of addressing and solving
their problems,because what they are doing here scares the hell out of every
respectful and well groomed Swazi,in fact its just annoying.
May 17, 2011, 12:20 PM, Stones (stones.m68@hotmail.co.uk)
Mr Editor. I still maintain that the President was right, since PUDEMO's
formation in 1983, we have been advocating for Constitutional Monarch. To my
fellow comrades, but that does not close the doors for this issue to be debated
in proper structures. The General Congress is on it's way my leaders, where we
can change from advocating for Constitutional Monarch to an establishement of
Democratic Republic State of Swaziland.
May 17, 2011, 12:20 PM, Dvuba Sibusiso (dvubasibusiso@yahoo.com)