SWALIMO EXPELS BUSIE, SIPHETFO

MBABANE – After suspending their President, the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) National Chairperson, Busie Mayisela and Secretary General Dr Siphetfo Dlamini, were served with expulsion letters yesterday afternoon.

Two letters dated November 11, 2022 seen by this publication confirm that a decision to fire the two leaders from the organisation was taken in a meeting attended by 403 leaders on the night of November 10, 2022. Earlier on the same night, the two expelled leaders had co-signed a letter suspending President Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane. SWALIMO Spokesperson Thantaza Silolo confirmed the letters as an original and true representation of the movement on the matter. He said the expulsion of the two leaders was made in relation to gross misconduct they allegedly displayed over a period of three months.

Behaviour

He highlighted that the meeting successfully put to rest the pending internal matter on the behaviour of the two other members with a view to fully focus on the movement’s core mandate of liberating the country. “Following a leaked audio in which the implicated leaders were plotting a coup to capture the organisation and destroy the president, the leaders nationally and in the Diaspora had countless engagements to address the issue. This culminated in a suspension resolution by structures on November 8, 2022; it is unfortunate that these leaders responded to their suspension by wrongfully suspending the president. This act and the misconduct, thereof, are viewed as anti-revolutionary and undermining the entire struggle. SWALIMO wishes to put it clear that it will not tolerate any moves by members or leaders seen to undermine the struggle, to an extent that all implicated leaders will be dealt with accordingly to ensure that the struggle of our people focuses on the ultimate goal,” said Silolo.

Both letters informing the two leaders of their suspension had similar wording and indicated that they were both found guilty of the same offences.
Primary to the offences indicated was the contents of the leaked audio, which was initially viewed as harmful to the reputation of the organisation and that of the president.

Emphasised

They were both told that their last day as leaders and members of the organisation was Thursday, November 10, 2022. “An urgent meeting of structures was held on Thursday with over 400 leaders in attendance. The structures decried that they are now and again called to attend to side matters involving you ever since the audio issue surfaced. They emphasised that they want to redirect their focus towards the liberation struggle. They accordingly unanimously passed a vote of no confidence against you as the national chairperson and as a member of the movement. You are, therefore, advised that your last day in office ended November 10, 2022. We wish to thank you for taking your time serving in the movement and we wish you well for the future,” reads the letter.

Meanwhile, Mayisela and Dlamini signed a letter suspending the president on Thursday evening alleging that he wanted to control everyone within the organisation. They alleged that Simelane’s suspension emanates from his ‘track record of ill-discipline’. The letter further stated that the president had persistently refused to take counsel and to heed advice from the leadership, to account and to take responsibility for his failures and weakness.

Complaints

“This letter serves to advise you of your suspension from your duties as president of SWALIMO with immediate effect. This follows complaints received by the office of the national chairperson about your attempts to overturn a resolution of the movement taken on September 6, 2022,” reads the letter. The letter informed the president that while he remained suspended as an NEC member, the movement would be implementing as a matter of priority the decision of the branches and other structures. The letter alleged that the leadership structures of the movement took a decision on September 6, 2022, at SNAT Centre in Manzini to appoint a task team of external leaders to assist in dealing with internal leadership problems and pave a way forward.

“The latest matter is your refusal to implement a decision taken by structures of the movement on September 6, 2022 regarding the audio matter simply because the outcome of the meeting of the leaders was not what you had hoped for. You then tried to circumvent this decision by holding a zoom meeting to mislead comrades on Tuesday November 8, 2022. Your ill-discipline has caused the movement immeasurable loss of confidence in the leadership structures of the movement and the much-needed credibility and support in the national and international allies of the struggle,” further read the letter.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: