MBABANE: A diplomat has advised the Mass Democratic Movement(MDM) to consistently demand a political dialogue as that’s what intimidates and pressurizes King Mswati at international level.
This comes after Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini told the Southern African Development Community(SADC) Troika this week that in the midst of the preparations for the Sibaya national dialogue,violence erupted and halted the process.
Addressing the media on Wednesday upon his return from the SADC Troika Summit, the PM said he told SADC that violence was delaying the process for a political dialogue.
“We did indicate to SADC that while we were preparing for the Sibaya dialogue, violence erupted and halted the process,” said the Prime Minister.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Thursday,the diplomat said Mswati was pushing a narrative suggesting that progressive groups were terrorists, engaged in violence with the intention of halting the dialogue.
“The King is pushing a narrative suggesting that those who are calling for democracy don’t want to participate in a dialogue, they are busy burning structures and killing people, they are terrorists.So,demanding the dialogue consistently will expose him internationally. In fact the phrase ‘political dialogue’ angers the King these days because it attracts the eyes of the world”,said the diplomat who cannot be named for ethical reasons.
Human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko who was writing a series of letters and lobbying the international community to force Mswati into the negotiating table was killed,allegedly by Mswati’s State agents.
King Mswati.