By Mduduzi Hlophe

MBABANE: Political Parties under the Political Parties Assembly(PPA) have come to refute and dismiss as false circulating sentiments suggesting that they were affiliated to a new political movement.

The PPA released a public statement on Tuesday without mentioning the name of the movement, some leaders of the political parties said they opted not to mention it because they understood that its founder was systematically misleading the public so that when they respond it would appear as if he was being attacked.

The Political Parties Assembly popularly known as the “PPA” would like to set the record straight on the issue of a Political Movement that is an umbrella body, opened for members of political parties to join without resigning from their respective parties. There is only one umbrella body of Political Parties in Swaziland at the moment, and that is the PPA. This assembly brings together eight different political parties, and it has received new applications that are awaiting admission. We have not received any approach/request from any person or organization requesting that we consider joining it as an umbrella organization. It is precisely for this reason that we felt prudent to set the record straight in an effort to eliminate the reigning confusion around which umbrella body do political parties belong in our country”, read a statement released by PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya on behalf of the PPA.

The political parties under the PPA are distancing themselves from being affiliates of the new movement include the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO), the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress(NNLC), the Swaziland Democratic Party(SWADEPA), the Communist Party of Swaziland(CPS), the Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) Swaziland, Sive Siyinqaba, the People’s Front and the Swaziland People’s Liberation Movement(SPLM).

These political parties  collaborated to form the PPA as their umbrella body where they work collectively to intensify the calls for democratic reforms.

In the public statement sent to this Swaziland News, PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya said as they PPA they were ready to work with any new political party but warned that identities of these political entities should not be misleading to the public.

“The PPA will always welcome initiatives from Swazi patriots to form or join a political party of their choice, however, it is important that such initiatives shouldn't seek to unnecessary confuse the people with its identity. We believe that such confusion could easily be avoided by parties proudly declaring themselves as such.PPA stands ready to welcome or work with any progressive political formation that is truly committed to the liberation of the Swazi people”, said the PPA through the statement.