Mmegi, in an editorial comment, on Thursday (11 May 2017) called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) which Mswati chairs to review the kingdom. It said, ‘SADC should prepare for a tough assignment the day the Swazis say enough is enough and stand up to their King to demand democracy.’
King Mswati rules Swaziland
as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. Political parties are banned
from taking part in elections and King Mswati’s subjects are only allowed to
pick 55 of the 65 members of the House of Assembly; the other 10 are appointed
by the King. None of the 30 members of the Swazi Senate are elected by the
people; the King appoints 20 members and the other 10 are appointed by the
House of Assembly.
The King choses the Prime
Minister and cabinet members. Only a man with the surname Dlamini
can, by tradition, be appointed as Prime Minister. The
King is a Dlamini.
Earlier in May 2017, the
globally-renowned charity Oxfam named Swaziland as the most unequal
country in the world.
In its editorial comment Mmegi said King Mswati III had been in
Botswana for a two-day tour of the SADC Secretariat which is based in Gaborone.
The King brought at least two of his wives and family in addition to his
entourage.
The newspaper called King
Mswati III, ‘an oppressor who does not allow press freedom, multiparty
democracy, trade unionism and any dissenting voices are crushed with a
disproportionate force.’
It added, ‘In Swaziland,
judges take instructions from the King and they comply unconditionally,
something, which we are fighting hard in Botswana. The independence of the
judiciary, the independent press, and dissenting voices are a measure of
commitment to democracy. It is disturbing that SADC has allowed King Mswati III
to be the chairman of the bloc yet he does not believe in their democratic
values and principles.
‘SADC should review some of
its agreements to ensure that it remains relevant to the youth, majority of
whom believe in democracy, freedom of expression and the fact that Africa is
part of the global village.’
It added, ‘France recently
elected its youngest President ever at the age of 39, and the whole world was
watching including the youth in Africa and particularly in Swaziland where they
are not allowed to say a word about the expenditure of their public funds
amongst others. SADC should prepare for a tough assignment the day the
Swazis say enough is enough and stand up to their King to demand democracy.’
Mmegi
said, ‘We want the youth of Swaziland to have same ambitions and dreams as
their regional counterparts to one day take part in the affairs of their
country and even lead it. SADC should put more pressure on Swaziland to
formulate a new constitution to usher in democracy and keeping the Royal family
as a ceremonial institution.’
See also
BOTSWANA
OPPOSITION REJECTS KING
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
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