Cape Town, 13 February 2026 – His Excellency Russell M. Dlamini, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini and President of the Global Council for Political Renewal, welcomed heads of state, ministers, parliamentarians, and party leaders to the Fourth Annual Conference of the Council in Cape Town.
Delegates include the President of Timor-Leste, the Vice President of Ecuador, and members of the United Arab Emirates royalty. Participants also attended African Union meetings and the Mining Indaba.
“Political leadership must once again be ethical, honest, and ultimately judged by delivery,” Dlamini said, tracing the GCPR’s journey from London to Washington D.C., Brussels, and Africa, noting that leadership renewal relies not on power alone but on values, equity, and moral clarity.
The conference theme Together for Ethics, Justice, Peace and Development addresses a global erosion of trust in political systems. Dlamini said politics is often driven by money and influence rather than principle, leaving institutions weakened and citizens disillusioned.
“Political renewal, therefore, cannot begin with policy alone. It must begin with values,” he said. “In the Kingdom of Eswatini, we are guided by the principle of Anginasitsa – ‘I have no enemy.’ This philosophy reflects strength with restraint, authority with humility, and leadership rooted in respect for human dignity. It affirms dialogue over confrontation and cooperation over conflict.”
He called on leaders to translate ethics into action. “Leadership must be measured not by promises made, but by lives improved; not by slogans, but by institutions that function; not by power accumulated, but by trust earned. Integrity is not optional. Honesty is not negotiable. Delivery is the ultimate test of leadership.”
Over the two-day conference, discussions will cover ethics in politics, justice and humanitarian relief, environmental sustainability, peace diplomacy, education, and research, aiming to produce a practical Roadmap of Cooperation. Dlamini said Africa and the Arab world must have the space to strengthen governance systems without prescription or coercion.
“Africa must be recognised not as a problem to be managed, nor merely as a source of resources to be exploited, but as a capable and equal partner in shaping global solutions grounded in dignity, equity and self-determination,” he said.
Dlamini urged that the GCPR agenda be integrated into global decision-making platforms including the World Government Summit, African Union, and United Nations. He called for reform of international institutions that have not delivered equitable outcomes for developing countries.
“When we speak of democracy becoming more democratic, we are not speaking of dilution. We are speaking of maturity,” he said. “Political renewal demands intellectual courage. Our collective objective is not abstract debate, but the practical shaping and implementation of effective policies, systems, programmes and measures that restore ethics in politics, advance human, economic and environmental justice, promote global peace, and accelerate inclusive human development.”
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