ALPHEOUS WRONG ON THABO MBEKI

Sir,
As Swazi Lives Matter Global Solidarity Movement, we write to address and respond to your recent statement, regarding former President Thabo Mbeki’s remarks on the political situation in Eswatini.

Your recent remarks, which inaccurately portray the former President’s stance, are not only misleading, but also deeply inappropriate. Such distortions of fact are detrimental to constructive discussions, and it is essential for public figures, like yourself, to engage with honesty and integrity. While you claim to represent the interests of the Eswatini people, your words reveal a troubling disconnect from the realities faced by citizens in our country.

Role

Your assertion that, ‘megaphone diplomacy’ is counterproductive and disrespectful reveals your fundamental confusion between diplomatic engagement, and the role of civic engagement; in a democratic society. You see, Nxumalo, in a true democracy, citizens have the right to express their views, engage in public discourse, and hold their leaders accountable. The lecture by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation is a prime example of civic engagement, something both you and the Crown government (which represents the monarchy, not the people) seem unfamiliar with. What you and government do understand, however, is oppression - rights are severely restricted in Eswatini, demonstrated by the banning of peaceful protests and marches. Those who dare to voice dissent are met with imprisonment, under laws like the Suppression of Terrorism Act, evidenced by the many prisoners of conscience, languishing in the country’s prisons, guilty only of speaking out against the regime.
Nxumalo, your dismissal of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation’s efforts as mere ‘dry running’ operations, is both deceptive and a deliberate attempt to divert attention from legitimate concerns. Such statements deeply misrepresent the situation and reveal your lack of understanding of the complexities of global political dynamics. By labeling constructive feedback from respected entities like the Thabo Mbeki Foundation as irrelevant or trivial, you are simply deflecting from the pressing issues at hand. The challenges facing Eswatini are not isolated; they are part of a broader struggle for democracy and human rights in the region. Your remarks suggest either a disconnect from the realities on the ground or a superficial attempt to project a false sense of peace and stability.

Integrity

Integrity is paramount in any discourse, and your claim that former President Mbeki acted in bad diplomatic taste is both misguided and puzzling. His public remarks, regarding his interactions with the King or any other Head of State, were framed within broader discussions on political and social issues, not as threats, insults, or attempts to undermine Eswatini’s legitimacy or sovereignty, as you would like to have the world believe.It is astonishing that you would interpret the former president’s general and broad remarks in such a way. This suggests a significant misunderstanding, on your part, regarding the nature of diplomatic discourse. You are fully aware that addressing complex political and social challenges requires engagement from a range of stakeholders, both domestic and international.

It is rather amusing to hear the government spokesperson dismiss former President Mbeki’s comments on SADC intervention; particularly when implying that Mbeki’s critique somehow undermines the collective intelligence and wisdom of all SADC Heads of State, including President Cyril Ramaphosa. It seems an overreach, Nxumalo, to suggest that SADC’s institutional framework is solely guided by the intelligence and wisdom of individuals expressed collectively under its leadership. Such an assessment risks undermining, not just the credibility of the institution, but its democratic and institutional framework.

Insinuation

Your insinuation that former President Mbeki must ‘choose between two political poles’ - either continuing with so-called ‘megaphone diplomacy’ or pursuing an ‘imposed political regime change agenda’ - is both narrow-minded and a deliberate attempt to belittle the legitimate concerns raised by Eswatini civil society and the global community, regarding Eswatini’s political climate.Thank you for your remarks in which you emphasised that the King is the first to hear the needs of the people and that Eswatini’s governance structure includes representation from constituencies, Parliament, Senate, and advisory councils (emabandla). This statement is a reminder that the current governance structure in Eswatini, as described by you, Nxumalo, does not align with the principles of true democracy. It suggests that despite having various institutions and representatives, the system’s reliance on a monarch, as the primary mediator of the people’s needs, contradicts the democratic principle that legitimacy should come from the consent of the governed, rather than the authority of a single ruler.

Swazi Lives Matter  Global Solidarity Movement

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