DIALOGUE COMING SOON, DIVERGENT VIEWS WELCOME - PM

MBABANE – While preparations for the Sibaya National Dialogue are at an advanced stage, government is expecting divergent views and robust debates.

It is expected that the discourse will be held soon. This was confirmed by the Prime Minister, Cleopas Dlamini, who said the King had committed to making sure that every voice was heard and respected during the process of the dialogue. Dlamini said it was appreciated that there would be divergent views and robust debates, which would all be welcomed since free and full expression was at the heart of the dialogue process. He pointed out and emphasised on what the Constitution stipulated regarding Sibaya on Section 232 (1), which stated that the people, through Sibaya, constituted the nation’s highest policy and advisory council.

Controversial

Dlamini said Section 232 (3) also read; “Sibaya functions as the annual general meeting of the nation, but may be convened at any time to present the views of the nation on pressing and controversial national issues.” Considering the above, he said all citizens were, therefore, encouraged to participate in the dialogue and take full advantage of their constitutional rights to be heard at Sibaya and any other platforms that may be availed. The PM explained that a technical committee had been set up to prepare for the dialogue. He said the committee would ensure that the dialogue was conducted in line with the relevant constitutional frameworks, which had always encouraged dialogue and resolution of issues under Sibaya.

The PM, when asked about the members who make up the technical committee, could only confirm that he was part of the committee. He said the other members would be revealed in due course. According to the PM, it was regrettable that there were people who were trying to undermine the dialogue process by being involved in criminal acts such as arson, violence and terrorism.  These individuals, he said, were supported by subversive foreign entities and revolutionary groups and had waged a campaign of violence against emaSwati with guns, petrol bombs, explosives and other weapons in order to destabilise the country.

Furthermore, he stated that the consequences of the attacks were blamed on government in a relentless campaign of disinformation. “It is painful that emaSwati have been victimised by terrorist acts, reduced to poverty, and bear the brunt of intimidation and disinformation,” noted the PM. He said violence, intimidation, burning, looting and terrorism was not consistent with the path to dialogue that the country had chosen and had always embraced. Dlamini further encouraged emaSwati to jealously guard and protect the peace and security that the country had always enjoyed. He mentioned that it must be emphasised that violence would not be tolerated in this process and that all peace-loving emaSwati should shun and condemn those who sought to incite it.

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