MSF on political impasse:

MBABANE – A referendum on ending apartheid was held in South Africa on March 1 , 1 2.

However, it was limited to white South African voters who were asked whether they supported the negotiated reforms by the then State President )rederick de .lerk two years earlier, in which he proposed to end the apartheid system that had been implemented since 1 .

The result of the election was a large victory for the ‘yes’ side, which ultimately resulted in apartheid being lifted.

:hat about the (swatini situation" Is the referendum the only election that can resolve the political problem and division among emaSwati who support two ideologies ± multiparty system of government and Tinkhundla System of *overnment"

Man]ini 1orth MP Macford Siband]e, at some point, called for a referendum to thrash out political differences.

This week, the Times S81'A< interviewed Thulani Maseko, the Chairman of the Swa]iland Multi-Stakeholder )orm MS) and 'r. Petros 4ambukusa Magagula about it.

Maseko said a referendum was not a solution to the ongoing political crisis in the country.

He said there was no issue for approval or reMection that warranted a popular vote known as a referendum.

As a people, he said, they had the inherent *od-given rights to be free, and to elect and form a government as they deemed fit. He said people should not be made to choose between the oppression of Tinkhundla System of *overnment and freedom.

“)or freedom is a fundamental right,´ he said. Maseko said this right should not be subMected to a referendum.

If anything and if need be, the MS) chairman said those entrusted with the responsibility to draft and negotiate a new democratic Constitution could refer it to the electorate through a referendum as a check and balance that its content would be a reflection of the people’s aspirations.

DEMOCRATIC RIGHT

All in all, he said the right of the people to elect a government ‘is a democratic right that should not be a subMect of a referendum.’

A referendum is a general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision.

The MS) chairman e[plained that a referendum, by definition, ‘is the principle or practice of referring measures that have been proposed or passed by authority to the vote of the electorate to approve or disapprove them.’

The chairman pointed out in an interview that there should be a clear and concise question for the electorate