Swaziland’s only independent daily newspaper has come out firmly in favour of the US Ambassador’s pledge to support pressure groups working for democracy in the kingdom.
Maurice Parker, talking after the inauguration of President Barak Obama this week, said the US embassy would work with pressure groups in Swaziland to ensure that the fledgling democracy is fulfilled in the country. He said many pressure groups had trouble organising meetings, ensuring freedom of speech, or pursuing the right to assembly freely. He promised 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.
This resulted in a furious denunciation from Swaziland’s Foreign Minister Lutfo Dlamini.
The Times of Swaziland today (23 January 2009) said Dlamini ‘freaked out and went berserk’ upon hearing President Obama’s mandate to his envoys throughout the world.
The new president made it clear that the US would offer assistance only to democratically-constituted governments. Although the president didn’t mention Swaziland by name, it is clear that under the present political setup the kingdom would not be considered a democracy.
Ambassador Parker also announced that President Obama has made it clear that there is need for change of tactics in the fight against terrorism, which means getting rid of Swazi laws such as the Suppression of Terrorism Act.
Martin Dlamini, the Times editor, writing in his own newspaper, said, ‘Dlamini simply couldn’t believe what he was hearing and was hysterical. He ran to the radio to denounce the statement before he could even verify it.
‘The minister’s reaction should surprise nobody. He knows what this means to Swaziland and dreads the fact that he is part of a Cabinet that has to deal with what appears to be a no-nonsense Obama administration.
‘The reality that change has come to America has proved to be a nightmare for all those who have resisted change.’
According to the Times, Swaziland could lose thousands of jobs in the textile industry, which benefit from America’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade agreement, if the US refuses to renew or extend privileges under the Act until a multi-party election is held in the kingdom.
In a stinging attack on Lutfo Dlamini, the Times says, ‘He is well aware that the entire world is looking and willing to listen to Obama, which means more friends for America and less sympathy for Swaziland.
‘Dlamini wants diplomacy from diplomats, but has failed to show them how, choosing to label some of them terrorist supporters.
‘He criticises the US ambassador for speaking through the press but does the same. He fails to dispute the lack of democracy in Swaziland but accuses the ambassador of inciting the people against government, even though the call for democracy in Swaziland has almost become a national anthem, especially amongst the progressive forces.’
The Times tells Lutfo Dlamini to study the inauguration speech of President Obama, who pledged to work with poor nations to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.
‘And to those nations like ours [the United States] that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed and we must change with it,’ the president said.
The Times concludes, ‘It all has to do with whether Swaziland is willing to change with the world. This is the message Parker had for Swaziland that Lutfo refuses to believe.’
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