The Observer on Saturday, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati III, who rules as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, reported Dlamini saying the election of Zweli Mnisi proved Swaziland had been placed in the world map by holding such a high position.
But this is far
from the truth. Rather than being elected ‘the’ vice-president’ of the UN
General Assembly, Mnisi is one of 21 vice-presidents.
According to UN rules the
vice-presidents are chosen from across the world so that six are
representatives from African states; five from Asian states; one from an
Eastern European state; three from Latin American States; two from Western
European or other states with five representatives from the permanent members
of the UN Security Council.
Far from
demonstrating that Swaziland is held in any particular high esteem, it shows
that he got the seat because it was Swaziland’s turn.
According to the United Nations Handbook, vice-presidents
sit on the UN General Assembly committees which deal with ‘procedural and organizational
issues’ of the assembly.
No comments:
Post a Comment