The Swaziland King has
ordered widows to immediately remove their mourning gowns so that they can take
part in his 50th birthday celebrations.
But at the same time it has
been confirmed that widows cannot contest the forthcoming national election.
In Swaziland tradition has
it that a widow must wear a mourning gown for two years after the death of her
husband and then go through a cleansing ceremony.
Now, acting Ludzidzini
governor Lusendvo Fakudze, who is known as the voice of the King, has ordered
all widows to remove their mourning gowns with immediate effect. The King, who
rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, celebrates his
50th birthday on Thursday (19 April 2018.) So-called 50/50
Celebrations are planned on that day to mark his birthday and also the 50th
anniversary of Swaziland’s Independence from Great Britain that falls on 6
September 2018.
The Ludzidzini governor is
also know as the traditional prime minister and has more status in the kingdom
than Barnabas Dlamini the man King Mswati appointed Prime Minister to lead the
cabinet the King also hand-picked.
The Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect
owned by the King, reported on Wednesday
(11 April 2018) the order came from the King and was communicated by Fakudze through
state radio.
It reported him saying, ‘Women
are expected to down their mourning gowns with immediate effect. This is done
in preparation for the 50/50 celebrations.’
He also said that women who
lost their husbands before the 50/50 celebrations were not expected to wear
mourning gowns even after the celebrations.
The order contradicts a separate directive given by Fakudze that widows would not be allowed to stand in the
national election that is due at a date later in 2018 yet to be set by the
King. Fakudze told the Swazi Observer
(12 April 2018) they would not be allowed to contest the election until they
had been in mourning for two years and gone through a cleansing ceremony.
The newspaper reported, ‘Elections
and Boundaries Commission Chairperson Chief Gija Dlamini also confirmed that
women who lost their husbands could register for elections only after the
two-year mourning period and cleansing ceremony.’
Coordinating Assembly for
Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) Communications Officer Nkosing’phile
Myeni said the directive was unconstitutional. Section 28 of the Swaziland
Constitution stated, ‘Women
have the right to equal treatment with men and that right shall include equal
opportunities in political, economic and social activities.’
The Swazi Observer reported on Friday (13 April 2018) he also said
Section 28 (3) made provisions for women not to be compelled to observe
cultural norms that they did not agree with. The section states, ‘A woman shall
not be compelled to undergo or uphold any custom to which she is in conscience
opposed.’
See also
WIDOWS STILL CAN’T STAND IN ELECTION
PRESIDENT
‘BANNED’ FROM SWAZI SENATE
‘VOTE
FOR WIDOW, GET EVICTED’
https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/vote-for-widow-get-evicted.html
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