By Zweli Martin Dlamini

Parliament and the Judiciary remain the two key institutions that are critical in the democratic transition process.

It should be noted that the process of removing or dethroning King Mswati is at an advanced stage.

But even before that happens, we need to ensure that key institutions like Parliament and the Judiciary are capacitated to pass Bills and ensure the fair administration of justice pending the election of a new democratic Government.

I don’t blame those who are preparing for the undemocratic elections, some of them don’t know what is being planned behind the scenes.

King Mswati will eventually surrender power through a political dialogue or be removed by force.

It’s important that even before we seize power from the dictator, we must formulate a legal framework that will ensure that the pro-democracy Interim Transitional Authority to be dominated by political leaders, works with Parliament to draft a new democratic Constitution or amend the current one to be in line with democratic principles.

Perhaps, others might think this cannot be possible because currently, Parliament is dominated by King Mswati’s loyalists particularly, in Senate.

The the truth is, there are operations that will ensure that no Parliamentarian use our Parliament to side with the cruel dictator.

As a result, those appointed MPs and Senators will see for themselves when the time comes that King Mswati’s dictatorship regime is no more, and they will find themselves with no alternative, but to side with the people.

Parliament is a very important institution, it belongs to the people not a cruel dictator, who is Mswati to own a Parliament?

MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube must be released and go straight to Parliament to join other pro-democracy MPs in facilitating Bills that seek to usher us into a new democratic dispensation.

It’s surprising that even in the pro-democracy movement, there are political leaders who still dream of participating in the undemocratic Tinkhundla elections, we won’t allow that nonsense to take place because by so doing that would mean we would spend the next five(5)years in exile while Bacede and Mthandeni languish in jail.

We must not allow King Mswati to dissolve the current Parliament next year without holding a political dialogue.

The current MPs are now experienced, they were in power during the political unrest and are the right candidates to facilitate the transitional process.

Therefore at this time of the revolution, bringing-in new MPs who are yet to taste forty-nine thousand Rands(R49,000.00)salary and power would cost us our freedom or democracy that is now very close.

But apart from the significance of Parliament, we will need an Acting Chief Justice who will ensure the fair administration of justice during the transitional period, Bheki Maphalala must know that his days are numbered in that position.

In conclusion, let me state categorically that it’s very important that all of us understand the process of seizing power from this cruel and oppressive dictator, we cannot seize power and leave a leadership vacuum.

State power must be held temporarily by legitimate institutions like Parliament and the pro-democracy Interim Transitional Council pending the process of holding democratic elections.

That Interim Council will hold Executive powers, present Bills and account to Parliament to ensure a smooth transfer of power from the dictator to the people.