Govt should stop violence

MANZINI - Government has been called upon to stop violence, share SADC terms of reference with the nation and start the process of a genuine dialogue by creating a suitable climate for it.

This call comes from the MuIti-Stakeholder Forum (MSF) and is contained in a statement that was issued by the organisation’s Co-chairperson, Thulani Maseko on Thursday.

He said as members of the mass democratic movement (MDM) they have been, for the last 49 years, (since April 12, 1973 when King Sobhuza II issued the 1973 Decree, which banned political parties) pursuing a peaceful form of struggle. He said their forebears in the struggle for democratisation have long tried to impress on the Tinkhundla regime, that the only way to resolve the political and governance question in the country was through a peacefully negotiated process.

Maseko said they have made no claim, on the use of violence to settle their differences. He said they also have no doubt that the onus to create a climate that would be suitable for a process of dialogue rests squarely on government as the sole wielder of power under the Tinkhundla establishment. He said it appears that government was not only, not ready, but also not willing to engage on a meaningful process of engagement with the leaders of the pro-democracy movement.

Dialogue

“We have no doubt that instead of creating a climate conducive for peace and dialogue, government has a vested interest in the ongoing violence and is deliberately fuelling it to continue. It is fuelling it in order to duck the question of dialogue and negotiations and is refusing to create a climate free of violence, fear and confusion,” reads part of the MSF statement.

Furthermore, the co-chairperson said the silence of the head of State and government on the question of dialogue and negotiations was a clearest sign that the regime had a vested interest on the continuation violence.

On another note, he said they have learnt that the leadership of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Troika under the leadership of its Chairperson, South African

President Cyril Ramaphosa have long handed over to the King and government a draft of the terms of reference for the national dialogue, pursuant to the resolution and agreement by and between the head of State and President Ramaphosa in November 2021.

However, he said despite having been furnished with the SADC terms of reference government has been loudly silent about this critical development. Instead, he said they have continued to peddle the narrative of Sibaya as a forum for the dialogue attempting to disregard national sentiments that it was not welcome as a place to engage in a meaningful process of discussions.

right

“We have stated before and we repeat here for emphasis that the process of dialogue is the people’s political pre-eminent act. The process is not one between the King, his government and SADC. Rather, it is the people’s process. For this reason, we the people are entitled as of our right, to access the SADC terms of reference so that we may input as we see fit and necessary,” the co-chairperson said.

He added that in any event, for the process to be legitimate, it should be accountable to the people and should be as open as possible, transparent as possible, inclusive as possible of all stakeholders and should be as participatory as possible.

In their view, he said the fact that the SADC terms of reference had not been disclosed was a clearest indication that government seek to undermine the well-meaning efforts by SADC through the Organ Troika to find a genuine and lasting solution to the crises of the country.

Moreover, he said their part as the MDM they have the public interest, long proposed a fivepoint-plan as a way forward to genuine peace.

These included; an all-inclusive political dialogue externally mediated, preferably by SADC, the total and unconditional unbanning of all political parties and setting up of an interim transitional authority.

The other two are; the drafting of a new people-driven democratic Constitution and the introduction of a multi-party democratic dispensation underpinned by the rule of law.