Until now, the King has resisted all attempts to democratise. Political parties cannot take part in elections and opposition groups are banned under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.
According to a report written
by Musa Ndlangamandla, a former editor-in-chief of the Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by the King, a meeting
will take place on 30 September 2015.
Ndlangamandla is a former aide to King Mswati and
has good contacts among the King’s supporters.
Ndlangamandla wrote, ‘That Mswati has agreed to the
meeting is nothing short of astonishing. Even though the countdown has begun to
what could be described as a summit, albeit behind closed doors, the general
public has not yet caught on to this development in a country where the media
tend to stay away from political developments that could cause controversy.’
He said the meeting would be chaired by Commonwealth
Special Envoy to Swaziland, former president of Malawi Bakili Muluzi. The Commonwealth
has been applying pressure on Swaziland to democratise and lift the ban on
political parties. It also wants the constitution
reviewed ahead of the next elections in 2018.
He reported that pro-democracy groups would be
represented by 15 delegates.
See also
NO
LET UP IN CALL FOR DEMOCRACY
