Eswatini hits back at Masisi
King Mswati’s Office Director of Communications, Percy Simelane has denied that Eswatini offers assistance to former Botswana president Ian Khama.
According to Eswatini press, Simelane said: “Masisi is out of order,” further noting that the former president does not even stay in the country, but visits from the Republic of South Africa where he and his family reside. Simelane has also corroborated similar information to this publication.
Simelane was responding to sentiments shared by Masisi that Eswatini and South Africa were “undermining diplomatic ties by aiding and abetting Khama.”
Masisi, speaking at a Heads of Missions briefing, criticised both countries for their role in accommodating Botswana’s former president while he is wanted back home.
“My predecessor was very vociferous and he continues to be. Particularly, at his new home or new homes; one in the Republic of South Africa, a country we have diplomatic relations with.
A country we helped, even the critical people who are in his leadership, we helped them. They are aiding and abetting a voice that undermines the value prepositions of this Republic,” Masisi had said.
On Eswatini, Masisi said Khama loves the country for being an absolute monarchy.
“His other home is at the absolute kingdom, the absolute monarch, the monarchy of Eswatini. And it is not a surprise because you know as they say with magnetism, like attract and in his desires of Botswana and in the way that he has conducted his affairs in Botswana, when we look back now, he deeply yearns for an absolute monarchy for here.
And that is why there is such attraction to Eswatini, the only absolute monarchy fundamentally different from our Republic. I say this because I told the King that we are not the same. We will never be the same and that is why we do not tolerate tendencies of absolute monarchy,” he said.
According to reports, Khama is a frequent guest of the country at national events and at times holds private meetings occasionally with the King, as confirmed by Simelane.
Simelane further said if the United Nations (UN) protocols on the engagement of countries with grievances are anything to go by, particularly Clause 1 of the Vienna Protocol, Masisi would be shown a red card and ordered to leave the political arena.
“It is our sincere belief that President Masisi is out of order.
There are UN Protocols to be followed if Member States have grievances to iron out. The Vienna Convention (Clause 1), in particular, was the most relevant to be followed by the President to engage Eswatini leadership over the alleged aid the Kingdom gives to Botswana’s former president, General Ian Khama to unseat him.
The mudslinging preferred by President Masisi was unpresidential and uncalled for. It would have been in that meeting that we would have, as a country openly submitted that Gen.
Khama does not stay in Eswatini but only visits, particularly during national events like any other tourist. We would have explained too that Eswatini has no record of orchestrating the unseating of any Head of State anywhere in the world. If anything, it is the Botswana electorate that holds the key to President Masisi’s second term in office or exit and not the Swati king. The African Union and SADC have similar protocols on engagement of aggrieved countries,” Simelane responded to a query from this publication.
Meanwhile, Eswatini government spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo reportedly told the Sunday Observer that the two countries enjoy good relations, therefore, taking a cautious approach in responding to the statement attributed to Masisi last week.
Nxumalo is said to have offered that government would familiarise itself first with the perspective of the President in respect to his pronounced position and if need be, appropriate communication through the normal diplomatic channels would be made.
“However, one must hasten to point out that the Republic of Botswana has good, warm and cordial diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Any misunderstanding, real or perceived, should and will be handled without any friction or whatsoever,” the Sunday Observer further quotes Nxumalo.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Permanent Secretary, Sizwe Ntshanganse, is reported to have said Eswatini has not received an official outcome document regarding the briefing session conveyed by Masisi. He reiterated the diplomatic relations and friendship between Eswatini and Botswana.