THE GAME IS UP FOR SWAZILAND ELITE

The inauguration yesterday of US President Barack Obama understandably has made headlines across the world, and Swaziland is no exception.

The Swazi Observer, the newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati III, today (21 January 2009) even included the text of the new president’s speech. Well nearly.

The newspaper actually left out the bit in the speech where the president talked about undemocratic leaders of nations.

He said, ‘To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history’.

He didn’t mention Swaziland by name, but he didn’t need to, we get the message.

Informed sources (as journalists call people they met in the pub) tell me that King Mswati has for many years longed to get a face-to-face meeting with a United States President. He even went so far as to refuse to discuss important matters with US representatives unless he got a meeting.

Even President George W. Bush, a man with no shame, refused to meet King Mswati.

King Mswati might get a chance to meet President Obama, but he’ll need to mend his ways. President Obama told dictators in his speech, ‘we [the United States] will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist’.

The US Ambassador to Swaziland Maurice Parker was quick to tell the ruling elite in the kingdom that the time was now up.

He said the US embassy would work with pressure groups in Swaziland to ensure that the fledging democracy is fulfilled in the country.

Parker said many of the pressure groups have had trouble organising meetings, ensuring freedom of speech, or pursuing the right to assembly freely.

According to a report in the Swazi Observer today, he said, ‘We shall work together to build the fledging democracy of Swaziland.’

He said he would work with government and all pressure groups to ensure that the bottlenecks to free expression, freedom of association and full political determination are realised in the country.

For the unedited version of President Obama’s speech click here.