PUDEMO WANTS ANSWERS FROM MPHANDLANA ON CANADA UTTERANCES

MBABANE – PUDEMO wants answers from veteran political activist Mphandlana Shongwe on his utterances he made in Canada.

This is after our sister publication, the Times Sunday, reported that the senior member of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) said removing the Monarch could risk the nation’s culture and traditions. Speaking while in Canada on a political visit, Shongwe said the King should soon lead the political reforms to avoid eroding Eswatini culture and traditions, with the institution of the monarchy.

Identity

He stated that he was revived to the importance of culture and traditions in cementing the identity of the nation by the Canadians. He said the Monarch was a cultural symbol and the country ran the risk of losing its cultural identity and traditions if the institution of the monarchy was to be totally eradicated. He said the Monarch should be the one leading the reforms in order for it to remain relevant and for the country’s history to be preserved. In response to his statement, Secretary General of the political party, Wandile Dludlu, said Shongwe knew very well the principles and values of PUDEMO. He said Shongwe was yet to be given a chance by the organisation to explain what he really said in Canada. “We have not yet been able to get an audience with Shongwe as he is currently very far to explain what he really said. We will not just believe what the media has reported. No member does not know the position of PUDEMO. One of the key principles is that we want a constitutional multiparty democracy, not to preserve the monarchy. We are not fighting the Monarch, but we want a supreme law of the land to be drafted by emaSwati,” said Dludlu.

Traditions

He added; “Our understanding is that culture and traditions belong to emaSwati, not the Monarch or royal family. We believe in dynamic cultures and traditions, which means those cultures and traditions that conform to the way people live nowadays, not oppressive and in-line with multiparty democracy.” He said it was impossible to live in a democratic society and at the same time preserve your culture and traditions. He said they knew Shongwe and believed in freedom of expression. The secretary general said the political activist would be engaged to explain his position once available and they would not rush on being judgmental. “He knows PUDEMO, he respects the organisation and he knows its fundamental principles to just go against all of them,” said Dludlu.

Shongwe was quoted by our sister publication saying he was discovering that they were not wrong to say the Monarch must elevate itself above politics and leave governance to political formations. He added that while in Canada, he had learnt the importance of the preservation of culture and traditions and it had since assisted him to discover the truth behind the calls for the King to leave governance to political parties and assume an elevated position. He narrated on his experience in Canada, where he was served a traditional dish and joined a conference to deliberate on issues similar to those affecting the continent. Shongwe said the experience was a sign for him that they needed to consider the discussion around preservation of culture and traditions.

Cultured

He indicated that like emaSwati, the people of Canada were cultured and believed in God and ancestors. He said he immediately learnt that democracy, culture and traditions could co-exist. He said in Eswatini, it was paramount for the Monarch to be the one allowing political reforms and helping the nation to embrace democratic means of governance. Shongwe mentioned that his political organisation, PUDEMO, was not against culture and traditions, but was calling for the identity of emaSwati to be preserved, so that the country could have a lasting image in the world. He said in their pursuit for democracy, the issue of culture and its traditional apparatus had been left unattended or explained.

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