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KING’S HISTORY IN APPOINTING ACTIVISTS

12/11/2023 15:49:00 Mhlonishwa Motsa

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Mbabane – His Majesty King Mswati III has a history of appointing political activists and unionists into high profile positions.

His Majesty recently appointed former Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Stukie Motsa into Senate. Her appointment caused a brief uproar online, as people speculated if she was still a member or not. Motsa confirmed in our sister publication Times of Eswatini that she once held the position for about six months in 2005, but resigned from the organisation in the same year. She explained that she resigned because she no longer ascribed to the organisation’s activities and principles and, therefore, terminated her relationship.

political affiliations

However, Motsa’s appointment adds to a number of others who were appointed by the King despite previous political affiliations. His Majesty ascended to the throne in 1986. Six years later, in 1992, he set up a Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) to spearhead a new constitutional dispensation for the country. PUDEMO stalwart Mandla Hlatshwayo, a known political activist and leader of the organisation was also appointed into the commission. However, Hlatshwayo withdrew from the 1992 commission, citing conflict of interests. His appointment into the commission was viewed as a progressive thought by His Majesty and the international community saw it as gesture for inclusive participation in the commission.

political party

PUDEMO and Hlatshwayo, however, said the appointment was not representation of the political party because he was not chosen by the organisation but by the King. Section 64 (4) (G) of the Constitution provides that the King in his capacity as Head of State has authority, in accordance to the supreme law and any other subordinate legislation, among other things to establish any commission or vusela. In the exercise of his functions under the constitution or any other law, the King is also mandated to act on the advice of the Cabinet or a minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet, where there is a need. The provisions of the constitution have been the premise of His Majesty’s appointment of different individuals into different offices as required. Worth noting is that political parties were banned from participating in the formation of government in accordance to the 1973 Decree, which repealed the independence constitution promulgated in September 6, 1968. In 1996, the King made another attempt to include the late Mario Masuku, the then president of PUDEMO, in another commission to review the Constitution. Masuku also withdrew for the same reasons, as his colleagues in 1992. The 1996 commission was very large, composed mainly of a cocktail of individuals from different backgrounds.

progressive background

Former Deputy Prime Minister, the late Arthur Khoza was also one of those appointed by His Majesty, who had a progressive background in politics. Khoza came from the class of the 1960s and he was a member of the Ngwane National Liberation Congress (NNLC), which strongly opposed Imbokodvo. He was groomed under the leadership of the late Dr Ambrose Zwane and was very scholastic in his approach of politics. Khoza grew in the ranks of the Tinkhundla system of Government under King Mswati III until he passed on.

prominent figure

Another NNLC member, the late Obed Mfanyana Dlamini, was appointed by the King into the office of Prime Minister (PM) in 1989. In the 1970s, Dlamini was a prominent figure at NNLC and later became a strong unionist. He also had the influence of Dr Zwane and Dr J.I Nquku and was the incumbent president of the organisation when the King appointed him.
He went back to the organisation after finishing his tenure as PM in 1993. However, His Majesty once again appointed him into Liqoqo (King’s Advisory Council) and was one of the members who had political affiliation in the council.

appointed by the King

Sishayi Simon Nxumalo was also among those who were appointed by the King. He served as Acting Prime Minister of the country from May 8, 1996, to July 26, 1996, after serving as the DPM. Nxumalo was the leader of the now defunct Swaziland Democratic Party (SDP). Unionist, Albert Heshane Shabangu led teachers in the early 70s to the late 80s under the banner of the then Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT). Shabangu mobilised teachers all over the country in opposition of the system of governance. He changed camps in 1991 and he introduced very strong laws such as the no-work no-pay rule. His Majesty appointed him into the office of Deputy Prime Minister and he died in September 2006.

strong unionist

Magwagwa Mdluli was also another unionist who was appointed by His Majesty King Mswati III, after serving in a civil servant union known as Swaziland National Association of Civil Servants (SNACS). Mdluli was a strong unionist, who challenged the Tinkhundla system of Government. He was appointed and later became Maseyisini South MP and Minister of Public Service and Information.

strongly opposed

Another activist to be appointed by His Majesty was Sam Mkhombe. Mkhombe also strongly opposed of the Tinkhundla system of government. Nevertheless, the king saw him fit to be appointed as his Private Secretary in 1993, a position he served under for 18 years, until his controversial sacking in January 27, 2011. Mkhombe was the founding Chairman of the then Human Rights Association of Swaziland (HUMARAS) and also the founding chairman of the Institute for Democracy and Leadership (IDEAL). The King has continued over the years to appoint renowned liberal minds such as Phineas Magagula and others into higher positions in Cabinet and emabandla.

current member

He also appointed former trade unionist, Bheka Mabuza. Mabuza is the current member of the Border Restoration Committee. He also served as member of Liqoqo for many years.
Another one to be appointed by the King is former vice president of the defunct Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, Themba Msibi who has served as a member of the CRC, Cabinet minister and is currently the Lubombo Regional Administrator. The late former Minister of Labour and Social Service Winnie Magagula was also among those appointed by the king from a political and trade unions background. She was one of the founding members of Sive Siyinqaba; Sibahle Sinje, a cultural organisation that later changed into a political movement. It was later mentioned that she had resigned from Sibahle Sinje.

She was the first female Secretary General of the Swaziland Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (SUFIAW). Popular trade unionist and former Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) Vincent Ncongwane succeeded her. She was working for Central Bank of Eswatini when she served SUFIAW as the SG. His Majesty appoints the prime minister from the legislature and also appoints a minority of legislators to both chambers of parliament, with help from the Advisory Council.

special interests

Ingwenyama is also allowed by the constitution to appoint some members to parliament (MPs) for special interests. These special interests are usually citizens who might have been left out by the electorate during the course of elections or did not enter as candidates. This is usually done to balance views in parliament. Special interests could be people of gender, race, disability, business community, civic society, scholars, Chiefs and others. The Senate consists of 30 members, of which some are appointed by the king on recommendation of the Advisory Council and others elected by MPs in the House of Assembly. The House of Assembly has 65 seats, of which 59 are occupied by elected representatives from the 59 constituencies around the country, and 10 are appointed by the king on recommendation of the advisory council.