By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Eswatini pro-democracy groups commemorated fifty-two(52) years or dictatorship under King Mswati’s oppressive rule marred by gross violation of human rights including extra judicial killings.

The 12th April 1973 Decree banned political parties that existed under a constitutional order, the then King Sobhuza elevated himself to an absolute Monarch status and, the powers were subsequently inherited by King Mswati.

In a press statement released on Saturday, Penuel Malinga, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said, King Sobhuza abrogated the independence Constitution, declaring himself and anyone who would subsequently hold the position of the Monarch, the Supreme leader.

“In a deceitful guise that the independence democratic system was unworkable in the Swazi context, King Sobhuza dismantled all democratic institutions; banned political parties and all forms of opposition to his rule; and elevated himself above all three arms of government. What became clear and with facts that live undeniable up to today, is that King Sobhuza merely wanted to centralise the power to govern to the royal family.True to that, on this same day, he introduced the army and proclaimed repressive laws to deal with those who would challenge his regime. This day marked the beginning of the suffering of the people of our country and a downward spiral of government unworkability presided by the monarch. The effects of King Sobhuza’s decree are still heavily felt across the length and breadth of the Swazi nation, repressing any hopes for national development and people’s prosperity. The royal family is entrenched in every sector of our society wrecking havoc in a bid to perpetuate its hegemony,” reads the statement in part.

PUDEMO is eSwatini’s main and largest political party fighting for democratic reforms and, despite the ongoing persecution under King Mswati’s oppressive regime, the liberation movement has been over the years, firmly consistent in demanding democratic reforms.

Eswatini has about 70% of the population living below the poverty line and, the poverty situation has been worsening under the King’s Tinkhundla oppressive regime with a majority of social programs implemented through foreign aid or donors.

Under the Tinkhundla undemocratic regime, eSwatini is facing a health crisis amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals, scarcity of scholarships for deserving University students and lately, the Government has been neglecting the social obligation to maintain roads to enable the free and convenient movement of people.

The regime is also preparing policies to increase the price of bread and fuel while costs for basic commodities has been escalating amid reluctance by the Government to increase salaries for civil servants.