By Wendy Magagula

MBABANE: The Institute for Democracy and Leadership(IDEAL) has on behalf of political parties and the civil society, written a letter to the Southern African Development Community(SADC) Troika expressing appreciation regarding its intervention in the political crisis in eSwatini.

In the letter dated 06 July 2021 and addressed to SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Rudolf Maseko, the Chairperson of the Multi-stakeholders Coordinating Team said it was important to inform Troika that the crisis has been  long coming. He said during a meeting of multi-stakeholders held at The Caritas, Manzini on Monday July 5, 2021, it was noted that it remains important to inform the Troika that the crisis has been a long time coming. The IDEAL Chairperson said the mayhem was the result of the Swaziland Government and the authorities refusing to recognise the importance of engaging meaningfully with those who have, for a long time, been calling for good governance based on genuine democratic governance.

“Their Excellencies will appreciate that it is a value and core-principle of the African Union and the SADC and universally generally accepted that the will of the people is and should be the basis of government. This is what has been and continue lacking in Swaziland’s political discourse,” read the letter in part.

On another note, the SADC Troika Mission arrived in eSwatini on Sunday on a fact finding mission but unfortunately, the team was unable to meet with political parties and the civil society. 

Speaking to this Swaziland News earlier, Thulisile Dladla, the Foreign Affairs Minister said the Troika Mission would come back to engage with the civil society and others.

Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, the Botswana President and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security released a statement on 06 July 2021 confirming the visit to the Kingdom of eSwatini on a fact finding mission.

“The purpose of the Mission was to gather first-hand information on the disturbances, including the state of security in the country, and to appeal for calm and restraint from all stakeholders as well as to propose consideration of an open national dialogue, as a way forward in the efforts towards finding a lasting solution” ,said the SADC Troika Chairperson.