Political parties react to election dates announcement

MBABANE – Political parties have mixed reactions towards the announcement of the election dates. While some were excited on the election process, others were not happy and others said the elections should have been announced after a national dialogue.

People’s 8nited 'emocratic 0ovement (P8'E02) Secretary *eneral (S*) Penuel 0alinga said they were ready to oppose the election process.

³P8'E02 has a very powerful programme which will be felt by the regime. We will not go to the mountain top with a megaphone to announce our actions. We will do any means necessary to shock the regime beyond their expectations,” he said.

Swa]iland /iberation 0ovement (SW$/I02) S* Futhi 0sibi said her organisation was ready to exercise their right to elect a new government.

³SW$/I02 is continuing to mobilise and educate emaSwati on the rationale and importance of participating in the process to ensure they make the right decision on selecting their voice.

ENCOURAGE

³&ontinuous mobilisation and education remains the fundamental tool for the organisation, particularly for all emaSwati to register for voting. We encourage all citi]ens to register so they do not miss the opportunity to vote,” she said.

Inhlava Party &hairperson 0fomfo Nkambule welcomed the announcement of the dates, but said he was hoping that Parliament would be dissolved first before such a pronouncement.

³7he announcement of the registration should have been done after dissolution of Parliament to level the playing field for the aspiring emaSwati and those who have been in this country for some time. I hope when the general elections are done and dusted then the real politics, the national dialogue, will resume with preparatory phase,” he said.

Swa]is First 'emocratic Front (SF'F) President %usi 0ayisela said participating in the elections was an edorsement of the current system of government and they were not going to participate.

³I am not surprised by the regime’s stance on continuing with the elections before the dialogue. $nnouncing the elections was not a surprise at all. 7he regime continues to ignore the call by emaSwati and international stakeholders to prioritise dialogue. SF'F still believes that participation in the undemocratic elections is endorsing it.

RESOLUTION

³SF'F will stand by the resolution taken not only by the party, but by 0SF and PP$ where it affiliates. We work as a collective in the 0ass 'emocratic 0ovement. Some strategies cannot be revealed as PP$ and 0SF is in the right position to share them,” she said.

Swa]iland People’s /iberation 0ovement (SP/0) President 9usi Shongwe said political parties who were participating in the election process had no backbone.

³We call on our fellow compatriots not to register for these elections as a way of registering the rejection of the whole 7inkhundla system. 7he SP/0 says fellow political parties participating in these elections are displaying the highest order of political contradictions, banana backbone and chameleon politics, and the people cannot be fooled, no wonder some of them were even booed at 0ay 'ay celebrations, they cannot be trusted,” he said.

2ther political parties were not immediately available to react on the announcement of the dates.