MBABANE: King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane says the highly anticipated political dialogue was halted after key stakeholders threatened to kill and burn homes belonging to anyone who would oppose them.
Responding to a questionnaire from this Swaziland News on Thursday evening, the King’s Spokesperson said Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini shared with the Southern African Development Community(SADC) Troika what exactly delayed the political dialogue.
“The Prime Minister,Cleopas Sipho Dlamini shared with SADC what exactly delayed the envisaged dialogue in no uncertain terms on behalf of the King. According to the Law of Communication it is a norm to understand messages differently and only one interpretation represents the correct version. Before the recent SADC Summit the King alluded to the fact that key stakeholders in the envisaged dialogue have threatened to kill and destroy homes belonging to anyone who will oppose their position during the dialogue. He pointed out that it would be irresponsible of him to lead a threatened Nation to a dialogue adding that the ground was not level,” said the King’s Spokesperson.
On another note, eSwatini pro-democracy groups are blaming Mswati for refusing to participate in a national dialogue but intensified the killing of civilians.
Speaking to this Swaziland News, Wandile Dludlu,the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said Mswati was in denial that the country faced a political crisis that required an urgent dialogue to resolve differences.
“The King is in denial, he wants SADC to leave him alone saying he will solve the situation.He believes the country is peaceful but facing a minor issue of terrorism and he is confident that he will solve that.That’s why he hired ‘hitmen’ to kill as you might be aware that we are in a list of those who will be killed,” said the PUDEMO Secretary General.
King Mswati.