... free Bacede, Mthandeni to ease tension - Sibongile
MBABANE – Chairperson of the Political Parties Assembly (PPA) Sibongile Mazibuko says the release of arrested Members of Parliament (MPs), Mduduzi Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube would ease the political tension.
Mazibuko said the country would only be able to hold a meaningful dialogue once the MPs, and those who were in political exile were allowed back home.
She was responding to questions from this publication on what was the possible that action that would ease the tension to give way to dialogue.
Mazibuko stated that the people were angry over the arrest of the MPs and their release would calm the situation.
INCARCERATION
“We all know why the people are angry and I want to assure you that once the MPs are released and the arrest warrant against former MP Mduduzi Simelane is lifted, the tension might ease. The State is aware of this and they also know that the continued incarceration of the MPs was the cause of the all that is happening.
If there is a will to hold a national dialogue, it should start with release of the MPs and then we will know that government does desire to find peaceful means of solving the political impasse,” said
Mazibuko.
Worth noting is that the Judiciary in the country enjoys an autonomous state and the executive and the legislative arms of government are not allowed to interfere in its decisions or judgments.
The country was plugged into a political quagmire in June 2021 when an agitated youth was barred from delivering petitions in the different tinkhundla centres due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation was made worse when the MPs Mabuza and Mthandeni were arrested, sparking a ‘free our MPs’ campaign countrywide.
TENSION
Personal structures and properties of individual associates with the State and or politically connected were gutted by fire at night. As the tension escalated, national security personnel became the target of unknown killers shooting them dead in the name of political reforms.
Two soldiers were killed by the terrorists followed by two police officers in different incidents across the country.
His Majesty, King Mswati III has also condemned the terrorism acts and said they had no space in the society. He implored the international community to support the country as a sovereign State in the fight against terrorism.