Whether or not the reports of foreign funding in Eswatini are accurate, SADC is sensitive to any notion of externally-sponsored regime change clothed in popular protest. The regional bloc will now likely favour a more cautious approach than what the people of Eswatini have called for – a firm stance and push for comprehensive and inclusive national dialogue
Mbabane: When South African President Cyril Ramaphosa landed at KM III Airport, there was hope that dialogue will be held. Fast forward to today, no dialogue. His Majesty King Mswati III and the government of Eswatini reportedly told SADC that there will be no dialogue as long as the burning of structures is continuing. If dialogue eventually happens, it will be done in accordance with the constitution of Eswatini, said Prime Minister of Eswatini Cleopas Dlamini.
The constitution of the country elevates Sibaya as the only place where controversial and pressing issues of the Kingdom can be discussed. Section 232(3) states that Sibaya functions as the annual general meeting of the nation but may be convened at any time to present the views of the nation on pressing and controversial issues. Its state that His Majesty King Mswati, the Ingwenyama is the chairman of every meeting convened.
Section 232 (2) The Sibaya is the swazi national council constituted by Batfwabenkosi, Tikhulu and all adult’s citizen gathered at the Indlovukazi official residence under the Chairmanship of Ingwenyama.
The Mass Democratic Movement believed that His Majesty King Mswati III is not willing to have dialogue. They believe that the King wants to clique to power.
Monarch as a victim
On the other hand, allegations that the June 2021 protest action was well funded and aimed at regime change have put the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the country’s pro-democracy movements in a bind. They have also emboldened King Mswati III’s position on the format of the delayed national dialogue – a process he committed to in November 2021 after SADC’s intervention.
SADC seems to be losing whatever traction that was built by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa during his visit to Eswatini in November 2021, and the pro-democracy movement is faltering. The regime change allegations have muddied the waters and could delay efforts to democratise the kingdom, at least with SADC’s intervention. The king has yet to give timelines for the traditional Sibaya talks and still needs to respond to SADC’s terms of reference for the national dialogue.
The government of Eswatini’s response to the allegations has put SADC in a bind. The story presents the government as under attack, with the monarch as the main victim. SADC task was to balance the calls by Eswatini’s citizens for democracy and human rights with perceptions that it supports an endeavour tainted by a regime-change narrative.
ANC and others wary of foreign powers
Liberation movements, including South Africa’s African National Congress,(ANC) are wary of foreign powers’ apparent accusations of human rights violations made to topple legitimate governments. In recent years, Zimbabwe’s government has used this narrative to get SADC off its back. The regional bloc has been engaged with that country’s political crisis since South Africa’s then president, Thabo Mbeki, took on the SADC mediation role in 2007.
In the case of Zimbabwe, SADC member states seem to have bought the regime-change story and now sing from the same anti-sanctions hymn sheet. This position has allowed the government to continue its draconian tendencies and clampdowns on civic space.
Whether or not the reports of foreign funding in Eswatini are accurate, SADC is sensitive to any notion of externally-sponsored regime change clothed in popular protest. The regional bloc will now likely favour a more cautious approach than what the people of Eswatini have called for – a firm stance and push for comprehensive and inclusive national dialogue.
There is arguably a thin line between claims of funding regime change and supporting active citizenship. Eswatini’s democratic movement risks losing goodwill from stakeholders in the region, such as South African opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters. The tag of ‘paid mercenaries’ can’t sit well with its supporters.
Regional actors concerned with Eswatini’s democratisation must consider that the allegations could be a red herring. SADC needs to distinguish between this sideshow and the citizens of Eswatini’s struggle that has continued since the 1973 decree banning political parties.
The regional bloc should adhere to its principles and insist on the talks agreed between Ramaphosa and Mswati. This will help ensure that the national dialogue goes ahead and show SADC’s ability to handle crises decisively.
Pro-democracy movement cracks
Eswatini’s pro-democracy movements also need to change tack. Their current push for extensive reductions in the king’s power plays into the regime change narrative. The transition requires a willingness to compromise and work incrementally towards achieving a parliamentary democracy.
The government spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo said dialogue will happen when violence ends. He said, “it is pivotal that nationwide talks be held but added that this cannot happen amid the ongoing violence”.
“There is a need to hold a national dialogue, but this has been withheld by violence which started in 2021 and there is absolutely no possibility of holding a national dialogue under a violent situation or circumstance where members of the public are shot for wearing traditional attire and members of the security forces are shot at random,” said Nxumalo.
“Government is ready and was ready a long time ago to hold a national dialogue, but the intimidation that was unleashed by these terrorists who are sponsored by foreign forces has created an atmosphere that was and still remains not conducive to hold a national dialogue,” he added.
Dialogue Dates
The government spokesperson said the dates for the dialogue shouldn’t be an issue. He said government has not changed its position on dialogue. He said the terrorist act and killing of Emaswati disturbed government preparations.
Nxumalo said it is for that reason that dates for the dialogue became a lifetime wait.
“The envisaged dates to hold the national dialogue as you allude to, were disturbed and aborted by the wave of violence, arsonist attacks, killings and intimidation which ensued thereafter. And indeed, the 3 months you are pointing to, became like a lifetime wait as government and the nation grappled on measures to contain the violence and thus; turn the tide”.
Dialogue vs Election
Government wonders how and to who the issue of dialogue VS election is a “thorny” one. Nxumalo said the election will goes ahead as there is still no dates for the national dialogue.
He said there’s no comparison or competition between these two endeavors. National elections are sanctioned by the national constitution to be held every after 5 years. And 5 years is up for the incumbent government, hence the elections.
“Whose feeling is so strong to the point that dialogue should be held before the elections? Who are those feeling like that? In any case, this is just a perception which has no scientific evidence or prove. And unfortunately, government does not take national decisions based on perceptions but on law” said Nxumalo.
“Government’s position on the national dialogue remain there as it has been articulated on numerous occasions – dialogue is a vital tool to which government and all Emaswati should commit in order to be able to resolve all kinds of disputes in a peaceful manner. As it were, government have consistently made her position clear that a national dialogue is a noble cause and in due course, it shall be convened” said Alpheous Nxumlo.
Govt arrogance
Former Senator Mbo Shongwe differs from government spokesperson, He said dialogue is a must. Dialogue was supposed to happened after Incwala in 2022. He said dialogue should be done before the national election. “The reason the dialogue was announced was because of the need after political turmoil in the country. If those challenges are not solved, there is no way government can bypass dialogue”
The former senator mentioned that the fact that killing of security forces is no- longer a day-to-day threat, that doesn’t mean dialogue should be shelved. He warned the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini on failure to priorities’ the national dialogue in the expense of “fake” peace
The Minister of Finance has made a budgetary commitment of E30 million towards national dialogue.
Threats
The deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku has on Tuesday assured the nation to conduct their business as usual. He said this after there were threat to the citizen about a looming protest on the 12th April 2023. He said the people who were behind this idea are hell bent to cause chaos. He assured the nation that security appellants will be all over the country to make sure the people who want to go to work are safe.
He said “Any plan that has a potential to disrupt the economy was not only selfish but erodes the economic gains the country has achieved. It’s also destroying government ‘s effort to generate employment as well as improve livelihoods of mostly the vulnerable”
Adding to that, the Deputy Prime Minister said police would be vigilant on the ground, monitoring the situation while providing the necessary protection to the nation as per their national security mandate and urged the nation to cooperate with the police as they performed their duties.
The Deputy Prime Themba Nhlanganiso Masuko said His Majesty King Mswati III is still committed on the dialogue. He said the position has not changed. He was responding to circulating reports about a group of youthful young man who caused a stir after coming out to state that they were against the idea of convening a national dialogue.
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