Multi-Stakeholder Forum takes exception to King’s utterances

• Thulani Maseko said the utterances made by the King are not befitting for a leader.
• Every time the King speaks it has become habitual for him to insult and dene grade the people of the nation to nonentities.
• King Mswati informed the warriors that as long as he is the Monarch in Eswatini then everything within the country is his responsibility

Mbabane: The Multi-Stakeholder Forum has laid a complaint to the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Defence, Politics and Security, Cyril Ramaphosa about the utterances made by King Mswati during the dispersing of the regiments which he marked the end of the annual Incwala ceremony.

In his speech, the monarch took a swipe at those elements that engaged in the violent protest action during the political unrest in June 2021. The protests resulted in arson attacks in private and public infrastructure that included schools and business property.

King Mswati informed the warriors that as long as he is the Monarch in Eswatini then everything within the country is his responsibility. He went on to tell the warriors that those that had carried out the violence were cowards, timphaka, and tipoko which translated means witches and ghosts or essentially evil people who carry out their clandestine activities under the cover of darkness.

The speech comes at a time when many Emaswati are waiting in anticipation for the start of the National Dialogue Forum as announced by both King Mswati and the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Defence, Politics and Security, Cyril Ramaphosa after Ramaphosa’s working visit to the King in November last year.

The National Dialogue is expected to provide solutions to differences that exist within a politically polarized Eswatini. Many are of the view that there should be radical changes in the governance structures of the country while others are equally of the view that the institution of the monarchy should remain as it is.

In a letter, the Chairperson of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), Thulani Maseko said “the utterances made by the King are not befitting for a leader. Every time the King speaks it has become habitual for him to insult and dene grade the people of the nation to non –entities.”

Maseko says “we are concerned that the King continues to show signs of being naïve, insensitive, reckless, and careless. No leader would proudly make such illogical, irresponsible, and unreasonable utterances. We are deeply concerned that the King and those that advise him seem to want to let the country to slip into a violent confrontation.”

The MSF has called upon the King to unequivocally declare his commitment to the negotiation process and to ensure a political environment that is conducive to a meaningful, participatory, open, transparent, and accountable process.