The main opposition political party in Botswana has
rejected King Mswati III’s appointment as Chair of SADC because of the
restriction on democracy in Swaziland.
The King was appointed Chair at the Southern African Development
Community Summit of Heads of State at the end of August 2016.
The Botswana National Front (BNF), which is seen as
the senior partner in the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change, said in a
statement, ‘Currently, there is no constitutional democracy in Swaziland.
Political parties remain banned in that country. King Mswati and his Queen
mother Ntombi have absolute authority over the judiciary, legislature and
cabinet.’
The Weekend Post
newspaper in Botswana reported BNF saying, ‘several trade unionists,
journalists and others have been harassed, tortured, beaten, arbitrarily
arrested, imprisoned and some without trial and worse some killed under
mysterious circumstances with no action being taken against the known security
agents.’
BNF called on all local progressive trade unions,
media houses and the general civil society to condemn the appointment of King
Mswati.
See also
ABSOLUTE KING TAKES CHAIR OF SADC
‘DICTATOR KING NOT FIT TO CHAIR SADC’
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2016/08/absolute-king-takes-chair-of-sadc.html
No comments:
Post a Comment