The state-funded University of Swaziland (UNISWA), which
has King Mswati III as its Chancellor, is to incorporate ‘Monarchical Democracy’
into its academic programmes.
The university’s Vice Chancellor Prof Cisco Magagula made this announcement
at the UNISWA graduation ceremony.
‘Monarchical Democracy’ is the new name given by the king
to the tinkhundla system of government in Swaziland. Under this system King Mswati
rules as an absolute monarch, political parties are banned from taking part in elections,
and people are not allowed to elect any members of the kingdom’s Senate House.
Under ‘Monarchical Democracy’, the king appoints the Prime
Minister, the government and judges.
In September 2013, King
Mswati announced that he had received a vision (widely assumed to have been
from God) in which he was told to introduce the new ‘Monarchical Democracy’ system
of governance into Swaziland. Media in Swaziland which are always subservient to
the king reported the announcement as if it heralded a new vision in democracy.
Only, later, when interviewed
by the international news agency Reuters, did the king admit ‘Monarchical
Democracy’ was only a new name for tinkhundla, coined to make it easier for
non-Swazi people to understand.
The tinkhudla system is widely recognised outside
Swaziland as a non-democratic system of government.
At the UNISWA graduation
ceremony on Saturday (12 October 2013), Prof Magagula said, ‘The university
would also like to thank His Majesty and Chancellor for defining the Tinkhundla
System of governance [‘Monarchical Democracy’]. As an institution of higher
learning mandated to teach, undertake research, and generate new knowledge, we
will ensure that this defining of the Tinkhundla System of governance is
incorporated into our academic programmes.’
Prof Magagula did not disclose how the university
intended to change its academic programmes in order to incorporate ‘Monarchical
Democracy’.
See also
KING’S NEW NAME FOR NON DEMOCRACY
KING ADMITS NO CHANGE ON DEMOCRACY
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