POLITICAL EXPERT BACKS CALL FOR TRANSITIONAL GOVT

MBABANE – Former University of Eswatini Political Science lecturer Dr Qambukusa Magagula backs the call for a transitional executive government amid the ongoing political instability in the country.

Dr Magagula, popularly known as Dr PQ, was reacting to the call made by the Multi-Stakeholders Forum (MSF), together with the Political Party Assembly (PPA). According to Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko, Chairperson of the MSF, the solution to the political issues faced by the country was putting in place a transitional executive government while dialogue was ongoing.

In the statement issued by the MSF on Monday, which was signed by Maseko, putting together a transitional government was part of their plan. Dr Magagula said in as much as he had not listened to Maseko during the Family Meeting that was broadcast live on the Swaziland News Facebook page, to determine if he was right or wrong, a transitional executive government was usually a result of an agreement that the status quo was not working, hence the need for a new one.

Petition

He said the call for the transitional government was the most relevant thing to do. He noted that when the PPAs delivered a petition to the United States Embassy, they were asked how they were planning to take the country forward; this answered that question. Dr Magagula said as much as the pressure mounted for government, it was good but then the question would be what the action plan was; hence was answering that question. “Multi-Stakeholders Forum is doing well and must do it thoroughly,” said the professor.  He noted that emaSwati could run the country much better than what was happening now. He said many emaSwati were educated as some were in Diaspora, hence they had learnt from the experiences of other countries.

Dr Magagaula elaborated that a transitional government would come after the obtaining status quo and the pro-change party agreed on certain things and disagreed on others. He said in order to form an interim or transitional government; the two parties needed to agree to disagree on those things.  He said the two parties would have to agree to put aside their differences, but rather take up all the scenarios where they were in one accord so as to form the interim. 

government

The professor said during the era of a transitional government, all emaSwati should understand that the conflict would not have been totally resolved. He said the transitional government would be the management of the process leading to a permanent government. He said then after thorough deliberations and negotiations had been done, the country would go for proper elections where the people would decide on which party they thought should run the country. He said the winning party would then take the mandate from the people on how to run the country; hence a permanent government would be formed.

Dr PQ said that was how South Africa moved to majority rule. He said when the late former South Africa President Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990, an interim government was formed. He said it took South Africa four years to have her first elections in 1994. He said that could be the case for Eswatini as well. He said there would be a lot happening during the interim period and that included the political parties having their manifestos and other things. He stated that the parties which would contest elections would use that period to campaign.

He said in some instances, the change would not allow the former government to be part of the interim government, more especially if that government was overthrown in conflict, however, in the case of Eswatini, the present government would have a good chance to be part of the interim government if it responded positively to the demands for change that was raised over the petitions that were delivered at the tinkhundla centres.

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