Now- church leaders
the nation seemed to be living in the deception that the country had µgone back to normal’, ignoring the anger of many people, particularly the youth as they saw no answer to their frustration and no space to voice them. +e said ³They feel that some are full citizens but others second class ones. Some seem to have access to every opportu nity in the country and the rest to the leftovers.´ Mahazule mentioned that in their restlessness, they could be easily deceived by those who offered them violence as the only possible solution. ³Many problems remain unresolved,´ he said.
According to the priest, (swatini cit izens were elated at the announcement of the national dialogue, following the unprecedented killings and burning of structures witnessed last -une -uly.
+e said the church in the country also wished to see the noble process being meaningfully and honestly speedily implemented in order for all emaSwati to develop their potential and contrib ute to the building of a just, peaceful and progressive (swatini.
Letter
Father Mahazule stated that in his first letter to the &orinthians, St Paul wrote ³, urge you brothers and sisters, by the name of our /ord -esus &hrist, to agree together, to end your divisions and to be united by the same mind and purpose.´
Meanwhile, he added that as church representatives, they were condemning all that which constituted a violation of human integrity and everything that offended human dignity.
Furthermore, he said they were de nouncing all crimes committed in the name of the security of the State as if the State was absolute and not at the service of the people.
The petition was received by the Prin cipal &ommittee &lerk, Mpendulo 1g camphalala. 1gcamphalala stated that he was receiving it on behalf of Office of Parliament, but was not at liberty to respond but listen and forward to the relevant office.
Comment
When reached for comment on the visit by the church leaders, &lerk to Parliament %enedict Xaba said he was yet to present the petition to the principals, including the presiding officers. Xaba said he realised that the gist contained in the petition was the promised dialogue in order to restore peace. +e said they were yet to look into it and finalise on it before taking it forward.
Director of &ommunications in the King's Office Percy Simelane, recently stated that the King and government had pronounced themselves that the en vironment was currently not conducive because the people of (swatini, who were the key stakeholders, continued to be threatened with arson and death if before and during the envisaged national dialogue they were found to be speaking against the stakeholders who were calling for change.
Meanwhile, *overnment Spokesper son Alpheous 1[umalo, warned that there was no guarantee of future peace and democracy through bloodshed.
Addressing the media over the recent killings of security forces personnel, 1[umalo warned the perpetrators of violence that even if they were to get what they wanted there was no assur ance that they would live in peace.