‘PRESIDENT SHOULD NOT BE CONTROLLED BY INDIVIDUALS’

MBABANE – “We cannot allow the president to be controlled by an individual.”

This statement was made by Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) Spokesperson Thantaza Silolo, who said there can only be one president of the movement for now, Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane. Silolo was asked to respond to the allegations being levelled by the former SWALIMO trusted member Sydney Maseko, who has since left the organisation. Silolo said Maseko, at one stage, worked closely with the president of the organisation and sought to then control him (Simelane) through decision-making. Silolo said: “This red flag was identified and he got so infuriated such that he is firing salvos from all cylinders since he no longer has the control.” The spokesperson mentioned that they could not allow their president to be controlled by an individual; hence the movement eventually untangled the stronghold on him, resulting in his anger now.

Silolo said they still believed Maseko could be a member of the organisation if he wanted to and was willing to act like all members and not a commander. However, he stated that Maseko was one of the leaders they treasured for his commitment to the building of the organisation. Silolo said Maseko’s contribution could never be watered down; hence they salute him richly for that. Unfortunately, he said they did not want to agree with his dissenting claims, that in the movement he had been bullied and his freedom of expression watered down. “All freedom of expression is applauded here, but we have structures and processes that must be followed. No gate-crushing.” He added that debates were according to agreed protocols.

Furthermore, he stated that since Maseko had been very critical in different roles of building the movement, he then developed an untouchable position. Silolo said Maseko would not want to be opposed on anything, undermining all other leaders as he wanted his opinion to be final, wielding educational credentials as an attorney. Silolo said Maseko would always remind leaders of the movement that he was a legal professional and no layman could be able to challenge an intellectual opinion of an academic. He said their decision-making process centred around decisions developed by leaders of the organisation, including the strategic roadmap, which they followed. “Asitifaki nje emeneni,” he said.

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