TROIKA TEAM COMING BACK, SUPPORTS DIALOGUE

MBABANE – A second fact-finding mission of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security (Troika) to Eswatini will be dispatched urgently to continue with the consultation process.

This is according to a statement issued by Chairperson of Troika Botswana President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi yesterday, regarding the fact-finding mission to the country, which occurred last Sunday. Masisi said, “There was a clear sense of urgency to address the situation in the country. The proposal for an open national dialogue was highly welcomed as a way forward towards finding a long lasting solution.”

Disturbances

The president said following receipt of the reports on the recent political and security disturbances in Eswatini, there was an urgent dispatch of a fact-finding mission which was constituted by the ministers of Foreign Affairs of the republics of Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The mission was led by Dr Lemogang Kwape, Minister of International Affairs of the Republic of Botswana, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ. “The purpose of the mission was to gather first-hand information on the disturbances, including the state of security in the country, and to appeal for calm and restraint from all the stakeholders, as well as to propose consideration of an open national dialogue, as a way forward in the efforts towards finding a lasting solution,” reads the statement which was issued by SADC. It was reported that all the consultations were held in an atmosphere of calm, mutual respect and understanding. He said in that regard, the mission held consultations with the Government of Eswatini. “The mission also made attempts to meet with a broad spectrum of other stakeholders across the Eswatini nation. Due to the short notice, it was not possible to reach many of the stakeholders,” said Masisi.

Dispatched

He said as a result, it was agreed that a second mission would be dispatched urgently to Eswatini to continue the consultation process with the other stakeholders. Masisi said therefore, a short meeting was held with a few civil society organisations to assure them of a second mission to the country to hold further consultations with all other key stakeholders. Masisi’s statement comes after some civil organisations were of the view that they had only been called at the 11th hour by government for a meeting held at the Royal Villas, where government had spent over five hours with the team giving them their side of the story.

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