MBABANE: Alpheous Nxumalo, the eSwatini Government Spokesperson came hard on Julius Malema, the Commander-in Chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) for labelling the recently held Tinkhundla elections as undemocratic.
Malema told the South African Broadcasting Corporation(SABC) on Saturday that, the eSwatini elections that restrict the participation of political parties, were a mockery of democracy.
“It’s a joke, it’s a mockery of democracy, there are no elections in eSwatini.What the King is doing is really undermining the will of the people, the people must have their political parties, if there are independent, they will be independent but, the political parties must be allowed to contest for political power”, said the EFF leader when speaking to the SABC.
But in a message sent to this Swaziland News on Sunday morning, in response to the EFF leader’s sentiments, the Government Spokesperson said, emaSwati currently enjoys their right to elect their Members of Parliament(MPs) under the most reputable democratic Constitution of 2005.
“The Kingdom of Eswatini and the entire nation enjoys the right to elect their various members of Parliament as they are afforded this right by the tinkhundla democratic system of governance under the most reputable and democratic national constitution of 2005.The version of our democracy is not synonymous to political parties or multi party type of democracy.Democracy, by definition and its original practice; does not equal to political parties.This form of governance has its genesis from the ancient Greek word. The word "Democracy" therefore, comes from two Greek words that mean "people (demos) and the rule (Kratos). So democracy is power of the people.It is a way of governing which depends on the will of the people-not of political parties.There were no political parties where democracy originally was practiced. But elected officials/Candidates came from various cities/communities to form a “A government of the people for the people by the people" - not a government of political parties for political parties by political parties". Finish and clary. So Juli “Bantwana” Malema must not only smell the coffee but also drink it”, said the Government Spokesperson.
The eSwatini Government Spokesperson went on to highlight that, the numbers of the people who registered and voted in “this general elections” was an indication that the people supports the current system of governance.
“We are not worried about views of outsiders such as Julius Malema about us - they are entitled to their opinion. When Emaswati are in preference for another type, form and shape of democracy; they shall pronounce themselves as such.Till then, political parties in this country will remain unpopular and on the minority side of the political divide. Malema is kindly invited to come and witness our democracy in action in this country. However, whenever, he has accepted the invitation; he must remember to bring with himself "tetfulo"- gifts to our leaders and to the Monarchy as acknowledgement and an act of appreciation for the massive contribution Emaswati made to the liberation of the Republic of South Africa. AKABUYE!!!!”, said the Government Spokesperson.
EFF leader Julius Malema.