3 days to go; PPA, MSF clash over elections
µµ He emphasised that each of their members were bound by the respective parties’ resolutions and it would not be democratic for the PPA to take a stand that could divide the organisation.
MBABANE – Polarised Two big organisations in the mass democratic movement 0'0 , the 0ulti StaNeholder Fo rum 0SF and the Political Parties Assembly PPA are clashing over a stance regarding the political parties¶ participation in the upcoming national elections.
The much anticipated general election process was pronounced to begin in the next three days with the voter registra tion process on :ednesday. For a period close to a year, the 0'0 engaged in a robust online debate as other political parties declared their interest in partic ipating in the national election process, while others felt they were betraying the struggle for democracy.
The PPA, an umbrella organisation for all political parties in the country, found itself in the middle of a brewing sTuabble as the polarisation of political ideologies between its membership threatened its unity.
The 0SF on the other side, another umbrella organisation under the 0'0, which houses political parties and the civic society, tooN a stand not Must to boycott, but to also engage in a robust campaign to discredit the election process.
PPA 'eputy +ead of Secretariat Thami +latshwayo said the organisa tion was composed of diverse mem bers. +e said some of their members decided to taNe internal positions to participate in the election process while others were strongly opposed to the process.
+latshwayo said the PPA leadership tooN a neutral position on the issue of the election to allow all ideologies to exist. +e stated that the organisation was not in a position to choose or maNe decisions on behalf of the members on issues of ideology.
+e emphasised that each of their members were bound by the respective parties¶ resolutions and it would not be democratic for the PPA to taNe a stand that could divide the organisation.
ESTABLISH
³First we need to establish that the PPA is constituted by different political parties and these parties are autono mous organisations and have the power to maNe their own decisions. Each party has its own congress, where they de velop their charter and maNe their own resolutions. Some of the parties under our umbrella made congress decision to participate in the upcoming election while others made resolutions to op pose the election. If we were to taNe a stand then, against one or the other, we would risN dividing the organisation. :e encourage our members to stand by their congress resolution so that we are not seen to be meddling within the party lines,” said +latshwayo.
+e emphasised that the stand by the PPA was based on the principle of re spect for the different political parties and their ideologies.
The PPA is made of different political parties including the People¶s 8nited 'emocratic 0ovement P8'E02 , Ngwane National /iberatory Con gress NN/C , Economic Freedom Fighters Swa]iland EFFS:A , Sive SiyinTaba and Inhlava Political Party. Some of the same political parties form part of the 0SF.
DECLARE
Swa]iland /iberation 0ovement S:A/I02 President 0dudu]i µ*awu]ela¶ Simel ane was the first to declare that his political move ment would be participat ing in the gen eral elections. Simelane said their aim was to participate in the elec tions provided the dialogue continued to be elusive. +e said their intention was to fight the system from in side Parliament and to use the available structures and clauses in the Constitution to influence the reforms.
+e mentioned that they would begin their drive by participating in the local government elections. The registration process for the local government elections has already been closed and the nomi nation process is expected to start soon.
S:A/I02 Secretary *eneral S* Futhi 0sibi, said they welcome the stance of PPA as they always insisted that every political formation should be at liberty to employ various strategies for the benefit of liberating people. She said participating in elections was one of the strategies that S:A/I02 wanted to use in fighting for
democracy.
INFLUENCE
³It would be unfortunate if there would be conflict arising from this position. +owever, S:A/I02 is confident that emaSwati have embraced this stance as one of the winning strat egies to enable them to exercise their right to influence democratic reforms inside Parliament,” she said.
The clash of polarised ide ologies regarding the elec tions among the 0'0 became evident during a memorial service of pol itician 0u]i 0mema, where 0SF launched the ‘Akuyiwa, Asiyi, Ungayi’ cam paign.
/ong serving activist 0phand lana Shongwe, who wore a T shirt bearing the same message at the bacN, led demonstrators as they carried 0mema¶s casNet into the church hall at Ntondo]i Assemblies of *od. A song was composed to amplify the message of defiance and the song dom inated the afternoon during the service.
Swa]iland ³:e are clear and resolute on the message and it doesn¶t matter who tells us otherwise. This is deliberate,” he briefly said. Announcing the dates of the 2 2 *eneral Election, E%C Chairperson Prince 0hlabuhlangene encouraged the nation to go to the polling station for registration. +e said it was important for everyone to utilise their right to vote for a legitimate government without fear or favour. +e stated that the commission was committed to delivering a free and fair election process. ³The registration process will begin on :ednesday, 0ay , 2 2 and run until -une 4, 2 2 . Their 0aMesties have approved for us the dates and, therefore, it is up to us as a nation to stand up and be counted as we build our own,” said the chairperson. The Elections and %oundaries Com mission E%C is currently conducting a nation wide civic and voter educa tion exercise. This will be followed by the voter registration and validation process before the nomination process. Primary elections will start on August 22, 2 2 with a special voting and run until September 2 , 2 2 . Secondary elections will be in September 2 , 2 2 .LEGITIMATE