1973 Decree under spotlight
MBABANE - Conflicting opinions have emerged on whether April 12 is a day to commemorate a proclamation of self governance or one to regret a clampdown on political freedoms.
It was on this day in 1973 that King Sobhuza II proclaimed Tinkhundla System of Governanment as a vehicle for national development and a ban on political parties to contest for political space.
Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo acknowledges that April 12, 1973 evokes different feelings to different people across the political divide in the country.
Political
“To some, a new political dawn was championed by the people’s representatives (Members of Parliament), and was then and duly ushered into the scene by the Ingwenyama King Sobhuza II in the King’s Proclamation of April 12, 1973.”
He said the proclamation replaced the 1968 Constitution, which was parachuted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain as a condition for emaSwati to attain their independence.
“The process of repealing the 1968 Constitution was not only democratic, but also free and fair in that it was well canvassed and debated and passed by a majority of the Members of Parliament then. It is a fact that some political elements to date, still perceive that process as a ploy by the few then, to ban political parties in the country.
Nxumalo says there is an undisputed fact that it was actually a majority of the Members of Parliament who wanted that change.
He describes the notion that the ban was orchestrated by a few as misconception extended by the same political elements and formations. The government spokesperson says this misconception is also responsible for a perception that the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 is a ploy to suppress political dissent.
“This is irrespective of the fact that the Act was born after the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) met at Mawelawela and resolved to use violence, intimidation and coercion as a new tool and as a new language for their political communication and strategy. And indeed, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was bombed immediately after that resolution.”
He says those doubting that it was Parliament in it’s majority that gave rise to the rejection of the 1968 Constitution based on it’s un–workability are ‘21st century political propagandists’.
“They do this with the rhetoric of extremism in order to create and maintain a potent motivation for waging an ideological warfare against the people’s first choice of a political system - the Tinkhundla Democratic Political System. Therefore, the commemoration of the King’s Proclamation of April 12, 1973, should provide a counter to terrorism and extremism. It should expose the culture of conspiracy theories and of misinformation, which have since characterised the so - called ‘Regime Change’ agenda.”
He says the Tinkhundla System offers freedom of speech and of expression, independence of the media, and facilitates the free market of public ideas, which can expose and discredit falsehood, prejudices and dishonest propaganda.
He adds that the system militates against brutal ideologies that justify the commission of atrocities for political reasons.
“Tinkhundla Democratic System of Governance offers respect for human rights and dignity. The rest of the political systems including multiparty, see and use people as voting fodors, objects, pawns, bargaining chips, blind runners and ideological barriers and gatekeepers of political party leaders.”
Liberation
He said the 1973 Decree broke a new political ground for the Kingdom of Eswatini and that its liberation ethos should be mirrored in the subsequent political developments and achievements.
Among these developments, he said, was the direct parliamentary elections based on individual merit; the advent of the 2005 National Constitution and other related homegrown national institutions.
“The decree placed the nation on the path of self-determination and self - rule, although the United Kingdom tried to tie us down within the Commonwealth, whose wealth was never common - we remain resolute and determined towards the emancipation of our people.”