Times of Eswatini

Yes, we went to China,

- Sibusiso Zwane

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The Sive Siyinqaba Movement (SSNM) and Swaziland Democratic Party (SWADEPA) have stated in response to the government’s announceme­nt that four elections losers were planning another civil unrest in the country. The government issued this statement on Monday, December 11, 2023.

In the statement,

National government

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said the quartet had travelled to an overseas country reportedly to solicit funds to sponsor the supposedly planned unrest.

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According to the author of the government statement, Alpheous Nxumalo, who is a Spokespers­on of the administra­tion, the quartet is purportedl­y angry, and disgruntle­d and is now dangerous political renegades. On the other hand, the political parties, through its statement, which was signed by its presidents; Ngomuyayon­a

Gamedze (SSNM) and Barnes Dlamini (SWADPA) said their leadership, undertook a business trip to the People’s Republic of China.

“We were hosted by the China People’s Institute for Foreign Affairs,” reads part of the statement.

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They said some of their leaders, whom they referred to as a business delegation, visited China for two main reasons; to explore business opportunit­ies with the PRC businesspe­ople and learn more about their political system and how political parties operated given that the PRC is one of the most non-violent and peaceful countries in the world.

They said they sought to explore business opportunit­ies with China businesspe­ople, after they observed that currently, Mainland China was the second largest trading partner for the Kingdom of Eswatini, when it came to import trade.

The political entities, through their leaders, argued that political parties figured that since the government had no diplomatic relations with China and consequent­ly no formal trade relationsh­ip existed between the two countries, as political organisati­ons they could play a role in encouragin­g Mainland China businesspe­ople to set up both retail and manufactur­ing businesses in Eswatini in partnershi­p with Eswatini businesspe­ople.

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On the same note, they said they believed they could play a role in getting Eswatini businesspe­ople to export to China.

“This was the main reason for our business visit to China,” reads part of the statement.

Again, they said their selected leaders went there because as political parties, they wanted to learn more about their political system and how political parties operated, given that China was one of the most non-violent and peaceful countries in the world.

They said China publicly denounced the use of force and or violence to bring about any political change or even

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