By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, the newly appointed Prime Minister has warned  against what he described as misconceptions regarding the arrival of the SADC Troika Special Envoys in the country.

Speaking during a press conference held in Mbabane on Wednesday, the PM said the role of the Southern African Development Community(SADC) was to mediate not to lead a political dialogue.

“There are also misconceptions that the team from the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security (Troika) that was in the country last week and in early July had a prescription for Eswatini. We wish to state that SADC’s role is to mediate and offer advice but not to prescribe any direction for the country. Therefore, SADC or any international body, cannot lead the process of dialogue as it is a preserve for emaSwati as their constitutional right,” said the PM.

The sentiments of the Prime Minister who was appointed by Mswati come after SADC Troika Chairperson President Cyril Ramaphosa told the SABC that he urged  Mswati to engage with all political stakeholders in a dialogue to resolve the ongoing political unrest.

“I said to him(Mswati) on the phone, I would like you to allow the Envoys to meet you and thereafter to meet other stakeholders”, said the SADC Troika on Politics, Defense and Security Chairperson.

Eswatini is in the midst of a political crisis after Mswati unleashed soldiers to shoot and kill dozens of civilians merely for demanding democratic reforms.