GUARDIAN comment:

King Mswati III cannot run away from a gallant pro- democracy revolution

Southern Africa woke up to earthshattering news early this week that Africa’s last Absolute Monarch, King Mswati III had fled his country to neighbouring South Africa amidst violent pro- democracy protests that rocked eSwatini. Days later, acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku told BBC Africa in a statement that this was in- fact ‘ fake’ news and that Mswati was actually in eSwatini and continuing to “lead in working with the government to advance the kingdom’s goals”. Meanwhile, reports of heightened pro- democracy protests characterised by burning of government buildings, shops and trucks continued to filter through news outlet. King Mswati’s safety – whether he has fled or not – is no longer an issue. Truth is that the protracted struggle by the People’s United Democratic Movement ( Pudemo) or Insika Yenkhululeko Yemaswati for a constitutional multi- party democracy, transparent and accountable government, has finally caught the attention of the international community.

There is certainly no turning back the tide of change for the Royal Family of eSwatini. The Tinkhundla political system, which is nothing else but a crony system designed to concentrate power in all its manifestations in the Royal Family, has reached a dead end.

The people’s calls for an elected Prime Minister can no longer be silenced. Not by police brutality or rule by decree. The maxim, Vox Populi, Vox Dei ( the Voice of the People is the Voice of God) leads a gallant and triumphant march to a democratic dispensation in eSwatini. Such popular defiance and uprising by the people can only mean one thing: It is time for change. King Mswati has to concede defeat. He must give way to political reforms. This can no longer be counteracted. It was his late father, King Sobhuza II who by decree, banned political parties in the then Swaziland. Educated in the liberal ways of the British system, it was thought Mswati would set out to introduce political reforms to introduce multi- party democracy when he ascended to the throne, but this has eluded the populace during his 35 year rule. Now, if history can offer a sobering counsel, Mswati, would be advised to look to the violent overthrow of Ethiopia’s last Emperor, Haile Selassie I by a Marxist warlord, Mengistu Haile Mariam, who to this day, remains holed up in Zimbabwe as a fugitive! When the time for the

Old Oder to pave way for the New Order beckons, there is not any force in the world that can resist it. We call on Southern African Development Community ( SADC) to stand on the side of the people in this campaign and through its Organ on Democracy, Defense, Politics and Security - currently headed by President Mogweetsi Masisi – to promote and enforce democratic reforms in eSwatini. The SADC Parliamentary Forum must also wade into this morass to clear the mist, especially given that arrests for some pro- reform Members of Parliament in that country have been ordered.