MBABANE:Wandile Dludlu, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement ( PUDEMO) said it was high time for Emaswati to fight for democracy which was lost through King Sobhuza’s 1973 decree.
This comes after members of the Swaziland Youth Congress ( SWAYOCO) on Monday were detained by the Eswatini police for their annual peaceful demonstrations calling for democracy .SWAYOCO which is the PUDEMO’s youth wing held these peaceful demonstrations across the country’s four regions and today marked exactly 48 years since the country lost democracy through the 12th April 1973 decree.
Speaking to this Swaziland News,the PUDEMO Secretary General reminded Emaswati that the Country’s independence from the British rule was attained through political parties, it was only five years later when King Sobhuza II issued the infamous 1973 decree that removed power from the people.
“Political parties,amongst them was the Ngwane Liberatory Congress (NNLC) fought for the country’s independence. They adopted the Westminster constitution which allowed the country to be a constitutional monarch when it attained independence in 1968, five years later in 12 April 1973 King Sobhuza II made a decree that allowed him to have absolute power,political parties were banned from participating in politics.The annual demonstrations by SWAYOCO are meant to sensitize Emaswati to fight for what belongs to them,these will be followed by sporadic demonstrations across the country as we intensify our calls for democracy”,said the PUDEMO Secretary General.
Eswatini, a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern Africa and ruled by King Mswati, one of the world’s richest Monarchies in the world has about 70% of the population living below the poverty line. The country has been ruled through a decree since 1973, there is no media freedom, political parties are banned and Monday saw the arrest of a number of political activists from the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) for organising peaceful demonstrations calling for democracy.
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