PEOPLE GO TO WAR WHEN DIPLOMACY FAILS - SADC CHAIRPERSON

LOBAMBA – The new South African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (Troika), chairperson has said people go to war when diplomacy fails.

He made this statement during his courtesy visit to His Majesty King Mswati III yesterday at Mandvulo Hall. Namibian President Hage G Geingob advised the King and the people of Eswatini that the solution to the political turbulence in the country and the rest of the Southern African region can be sought only through dialogue. President Geingob first shared the 22 years of suffering his country endured  and revealed that it was only through dialogue and the support of other countries that peace was restored.

The president noted that it was not Eswatini alone which was faced with a political crisis, but also the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Mozambique and Lesotho.“I am not here to discuss political matters, but I am here on a courtesy visit to the King as you all know that I am new in the office of Chairperson of the SADC Troika Organ.

Afflictions

“I am still going to visit other member States and then soon the date of the Troika meeting will be set, where we will discuss all the afflictions of our member States including Eswatini. After those discussions we will then invite all parties concerned to be also engaged, as we look forward in solving our differences soon,” said the president. He went on to emphasise that SADC countries do not need war but to solve their problems amicably through dialogue as it was time to end the suffering among the people. His Majesty King Mswati III and SADC Troika Chairperson and Namibia President Geingob both reiterated the need for the promotion of peace and stability in the SADC region.

Briefed

The King informed the media present  that he had briefed the SADC chairperson on the situation in Eswatini. “I have briefed the president about the disturbances with regards to security that we have been experiencing in Eswatini. It is also important to strengthen relations between both States (Namibia and Eswatini) as we are experiencing numerous challenges.

“It is of importance to ensure that there is an inter exchange of tourists, which will provide job opportunities as we still have a lot to do in improving conditions of the lifestyle of the people as we are  still advocating and committed in achieving the First World status for both States,” said the King.
Their discussions also focused and touched on the restoration of peace and resolution of conflicts through peaceful dialogue. It was a one-day working visit for the SADC president to the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Worth noting is that the working visit is informed by the commitment of President Geingob to implement decisions of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The SADC Organ Summit that was held on August 16, 2022 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, at which President Geingob assumed the role of Chairperson of the Organ, reinforced the need for the SADC Organ to work for a peaceful and stable SADC region.

Crisis

Ever since the political unrest last year  between June/July, political formations have been pressurising government and the King to have a national dialogue to solve the political crisis in the country. It all began when pro-democratic groups called for an elected prime minister (PM) after the passing away of the late Prime Minister Mandvulo Dlamini. Political  formations resolved to deliver petitions to voice out their discontent at the Tinkhundla System of Government.

The then acting PM, Themba Masuku banned the delivery of petitions which he recently told senators that government took that decision after there were elements of violence and that children as young as seven were made to carry placards. Masuku said because of that, government had a responsibility to see to it that the rights of children were protected.

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