‘WE WON’T STOP CALL FOR MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY’

MBABANE – Local political parties say despite this new movement called Mangololo Eswatini, they are not going to stop calling for democratic dispensation in Eswatini.

The People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO)’s Secretary General, Wandile Dludlu, said their stance was that they wanted multiparty democracy where all emaSwati would be free to elect their own government. He said if there were those who were in favour of the Monarch, it was not their business. He said if people had grouped themselves, that was their choice because after all, everyone had a right of assembly.

Unban

Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC) President Sibongile Mazibuko said the King should unban political parties because she believed that this new movement or committee called Mangololo Eswatini was more like the Imbokodvo National Movement. Imbokodvo National Movement (INM) was a political party that existed from 1964 until 1973 when political parties were banned. The party was formed by the Swazi National Council, which was the advisory body to King Sobhuza II. It won the first democratic election in Swaziland held in 1967. The party also won the second parliamentary election in 1972. The INM effectively ceased to exist after the banning of political parties in 1973 after the annulment on the Constitution and the introduction of a decree in the country.

Compete

Mazibuko said if her assumptions were right, the King should then unban all the other political parties and allow them to compete in a fair space. She said after that, people should be allowed to choose for themselves which party they wanted to join or support.  She said all parties should then be allowed to use the national radio and television stations to campaign and market themselves. She added that the authorities should also stop security forces from harassing and intimidating them during those campaigns. She claimed that the Mangololo Eswatini movement might be financed through the taxpayer’s money, which could be unfair to the people. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Swaziland President Nombulelo Motsa said her party was against anything that had to do with the current regime. She said for that reason, she did not agree with such movements like Mangololo Eswatini because that would be taking them back while they wanted a change in the system of governance in the country.

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