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CHARTER ON HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY FOR KING

31/01/2020 01:19:00 BY SIBUSISO ZWANE

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LUDZIDZINI - His Majesty King Mswati III was presented with a Charter of the Commonwealth as he officially welcomed the visiting Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland.

The secretary general arrived in the country on Monday afternoon, but the King personally welcomed her into the country yesterday morning when he met her at Ludzidzini Royal Residence.

This is Scotland’s first ever visit to the kingdom since she became the Secretary General of the Commonwealth. Her visit is also part of her goal of familiarising herself with Commonwealth member States. In his remarks, the King told Scotland that the country was pleased to receive her as such a visit provided on important opportunity for her to appreciate and understand the kingdom’s programmes and initiatives that it was engaging in as a member State.
During the courtesy call, the King said they would discuss various issues of mutual interest that included, but not limited to, social, political and economical affairs.

Cooperation

He said they would also discuss possible areas of cooperation and support by the Commonwealth to the kingdom. Thereafter, the King shared the country’s vision of attaining First World status by 2022 and told Scotland that the kingdom would count on her support towards realising the national aspirations.
Furthermore, His Majesty thanked the Commonwealth for the support it extended to the kingdom in the past and present.

He also acknowledged that the Commonwealth was conducting workshops in the country through a team of experts from the secretariat. “We appreciate this expertise and we are looking upon you (secretary general) to ensure that help is provided whenever the country is in need,” the King said. Meanwhile, Scotland, who appreciated the warm welcome from the King and country, presented the Charter of the Commonwealth to the King as a gift. According to the Commonwealth website, the charter sets out the values of the organisation as well as the commitment of its 53 member States to equal rights and democracy among others.

During her visit in the country, the secretary general will meet several government structures and will attend the official State opening of the second session of the 11th Parliament today.