Some want to benefit from 3 MPs’ work - ‘IB’
MBABANE - “Some of these political parties want to benefit from the hard work of the three MPs who have in a short period of time, brought much change politically in the country than any political party has.”
These were sentiments shared by Eswatini United Diaspora Co-founder Bonginkhosi Dlamini, popularly known as ‘IB’, who was expressing concern over some progressives using the three Members of Parliament (MPs), namely Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza, Mthandeni Dube and Mduduzi ‘Gawuzela’ Simelane’s situation allegedly for their own gains.
It is worth mentioning though that Simelane is now a former MP.
According to Dlamini, some political parties are against the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) President, Simelane’s strategic plan of having a SWALIMO member elected as MP. He said a majority of revolutionary activists hurled insults, and derogatory statements at him for the idea instead of coming up with their own strategies.
“It took three MPs who were in the system to bring about the change we see now. They have won us in seeing politics in a different way than other political parties have done in their years of formation. In my view, when we say viva comrade Bacede, Mthandeni and ‘Gawuzela’ we actually mean that they are representing our views in a Parliament of the
Tinkhundla System of Government. This means we are on the same wavelength in as far as our viewpoint is democracy is concerned,” he said. He mentioned that the political parties were now taking away the freedom of association and the freedom of speech from emaSwati, which was what the Tinkhundla System did. He said people needed to be allowed the privilege to choose to follow whichever party they felt represented them well.
Petitions
“Truth should be told, it is their democratic right, therefore, let pro-democracy MPs be given space to prove themselves. If the three MPs, Bacede, Mthandeni and ‘Gawuzela’ were not part of us, would we have had an opportunity to deliver petitions to our constituencies? Let each political organisation use its own strategy; respect their viewpoint. Give them the five-yearterm and then critique their techniques after seeing that they are not pursuing the goals of the struggle within the chambers. To label them supporters of Tinkhundla System of Government is political intolerance,” stated Dlamini.
He requested political parties to not negatively influence people by degrading others’ ideas of how they would go about in liberating emaSwati, but rather come up with ideas which they thought would work best for them.
“Even PUDEMO’s non-participatory strategy has never deprived the Mangololos an opportunity to vote for Tinkhundla. Thus, the global community views as if everybody supports it. But do we say they have to back others based on that?
Essentially, we are saying let us use all strategies available that will channel us in targeting what we want. Leaders must speak the truth; walk the talk. If another leader differs with you in opinion, neither insult nor ridicule him or her. Political tolerance has to be exercised as much as possible,” Dlamini said.
Existed
In response, President of the Economic Freedom Fighters of Swaziland (EFFSWA), Nombulelo Motsa, stated that political parties existed before the MPs.
“Political parties existed before the MPs became vocal in Parliament. It was a good thing that many people were attracted to their speeches because they had the platform to speak, so it reached many people and became an eye-opener to many. The truth is, people believe in freedom from the regime’s clutches so they became politically conscious and joined political parties,” she said.
Two of the MPs, Mabuza and Dube are currently behind bars on charges of contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act and murder.
Simelane, on the other hand, is in self-exile and has been labelled a fugitive from the law.