King Mswati III, the
absolute monarch in Swaziland, is to take over the chair of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC).
In Swaziland political
parties are barred from taking part in elections and opposition groups are
banned under the Suppression
of Terrorism Act. The King chooses all government ministers and can and
sometimes does veto decisions made at the Swazi Parliament.
SADC has 15 member
states. Swaziland is the only one where political parties are banned.
SADC states that its objectives are to ‘achieve
development, peace and security, and economic growth, to alleviate poverty,
enhance the standard and quality of life of the peoples of Southern Africa, and
support the socially disadvantaged through regional integration, built on
democratic principles and equitable and sustainable development.’
King Mswati has been criticised internationally for
his lavish
lifestyle. He has at least 13 palaces, a private jet and fleets of BMW and
Mercedes cars. Meanwhile nearly seven in ten of his 1.3 million subjects live
in abject poverty, with incomes of less than US$2 per day.
King Mswati will take up the role as chair in 2016.
Meanwhile, he is expected to take the role Deputy Chairperson during the 35th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and
Government being held in Gaborone, Botswana, between 17 and 18 August 2015.
Swaziland’s Minister of
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze,
told the Observer on Sunday,
a newspaper in Swaziland in effect owned by the King, said, ‘Being Chairman is
a big stage and comes with immense responsibilities as the country will be
responsible for drafting the SADC agenda.’
See also
SADC
URGED TO ACT ON SWAZI RIGHTS
SWAZI
HUMAN RIGHTS WORSEN: AMNESTY
‘STAND UP TO SWAZI KING’, UNIONS URGED
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/08/stand-up-to-swazi-king-unions-urged.html
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