EmaSwati want real dialogue after Troika
MBABANE – As Eswatini takes centre stage in the Extraordinary SADC Troika summit, most emaSwati are crossing fingers that the outcome would be genuine moves for dialogue.
The country has been experiencing prolonged violence since June 29, 2021, when the Human Right Commission reported that about 46 people died and scores were left injured during protesters’ clashes with the country’s security forces.
The SADC Organ on Politics Defence and Security is managed on a Troika basis and is responsible for promoting peace and security in the SADC Region. Currently the troika is chaired by South Africa.
After an announcement by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) that Eswatini is on the agenda of the summit slated for July 21, Eswatini’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Thuli Dladla also confirmed the agenda, but said she could not confirm if His Majesty will be in attendance at the summit.
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Some of the people engaged on their expectations during the summit have unequivocally said the organ needs to play a pivotal role in brokering peace. This, they said, could be achieved if the Troika would bring all parties to a meaningful dialogue.
Swaziland Democratic Party (SWADEPA) National Chairperson Elliot Mkhatshwa said dialogue is not just one of the means to a solution but the only alternative.
“SADC must end the political crisis in Eswatini. The people want their country which was taken away by the April 1973 Declaration,” he said, referring to the banning of political parties.
He said the people’s perception of the Troika was no longer positive given the events of last year.
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“They came and interviewed people but when they compiled a report they did not give it to the people. No one knows what the report entails. The Troika has a challenge to redeem itself from the negative perception that people have of it now,” he said.
He said the Troika should avoid taking sides but strike a balance in furtherance of the will of emaSwati.
Turning to those calling for change, he warned that they must have determination to bring peace without the use of violence.
“I do not want violence. Political parties must negotiate peacefully,” he said.
Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) National Spokesperson Thantaza Silolo said SWALIMO is looking into SADC and the Troika to be frank with Eswatini.
“They must set timelines for the national dialogue and have the State commit to staging the process in a way acceptable to the mass democratic movement and not hold on to unproductive sibaya.”
He said government’s stance that the situation is not conducive for dialogue is only a trick to avoid accountability.
“The government will seek to push that narrative during the Troika. Such a notion must be rejected if violence is to be avoided,” he said.
Mangololo Eswatini said Eswatini should not allow itself to be bullied by anyone, but use its Constitution to resolve the challenges.
Mangololo’s National Spokesperson Gcina Dlamini said the country was governed by an enshrined Constitution that is and inclusively crafted by emaSwati, for the nation.
“It cannot be ignored that this has been underscored through the ballot over all the electoral cycles to date from the adoption of our
Constitution,” he said.
Dlamini said no amount of foreign or borrowed ideology would sway the nation from its identity and how it chooses to govern itself.
“We cannot claim to be perfect as a nation, but our solutions fit us perfectly, as we evolve as a people in an increasingly obfuscated world.
“We should not be shy to pronounce on who we are within the so-called global village and how we pursue our right to self-determination as enshrined in the UN Charter that pronounces on same,” he said.
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Dlamini said those who have dissenting views should not impose them on others.
“We shall not be bullied! Let those that have a differing view to the majority exhibit some semblance of respect to what they claim their basic ethos is; respect for difference of opposing views, respect and observance of the majority and compliance with our constitution and rule of law, whether it suits them or not.”
He said such respect for majority is true democracy, which the constitution and Tinkhundla system of governance espouse.
“Constitutional amendments, for the ‘changing times’ are clearly catered for and means to obtain same are outlined and how to arrive at such,” Dlamini said
He recalled that the most recent African Union Summit had condemned illegitimate means of regime change and further encouraged the clamp down on dissident formations or individuals “and disingenuous ways to usurp genuine constitutional frameworks for narrow, foreign sponsored attempts at power, geo-political and resource grabbing agendas.”
In light of this, Mangololo feels that neighbouring states should foster genuine developmental processes of mutual growth and purposeful implementation.
“Dispensing of harbouring of terrorists should be a priority. Extradition of these destructive elements should be seamless. A lot have cases to answer. The destruction of our nations covered by cheap veils cannot subsist any further. We must come together and grow as a people. The divide and rule of the ‘west’ must come to an end, we must come together,” Dlamini said.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo said the pending national dialogue does not belong to certain formations but all emaSwati.
He was responding to questions that some emaSwati have lost hope in SADC for a solution.
“Why did they have to place their hope in SADC at the first place? Their case is one of misdirected and misplaced hope. The national dialogue has not been ‘delayed’, it had no timelines when announced initially,” he said.
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Nxumalo said government’s position remains that the national dialogue is right on cause as opposed to being delayed.
“The national dialogue will be held and conducted according to our national Constitution; therefore SADC has nothing absolutely to ‘ensure’.
“Government urged the nation to remain focused because in due course and in a safe, transparent and conducive environment; the national dialogue shall be held and emaSwati shall have an opportunity to ventilate and canvass the packages of reforms they wish to be implemented in order to improve our democratic system and institutions,” he said.