MBABANE: Penuel Malinga, the Secretary General of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) has maintained that Mswati is an absolute not a Constitutional Monarch.
The PUDEMO Secretary General was responding to sentiments by Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo on Tuesday who told State controlled journalists that the King was not an absolute Monarch but rules through eMabandla.
Nxumalo’s sentiments come after Zweli Martin Dlamini, the editor of this Swaziland News told the South African Broadcasting Corporation(SABC) Channel Africa radio that Mswati was not a constitutional but an absolute Monarch.
“Firstly it’s to make the Mr Nxumalo understand the meaning of absolute. We didn't wake up and say Mswati is an absolute Monarch. The 1973 degree where all power are vested in him. They designed the system of royal hegemony and monopoly over power founded on exploitation and parasitic forms of wealth accumulation. Mswati Royal is fostering discrimination based not on race, but Royal supremacy, it has created bitter division between the Royalty, who are the first grade citizens and their unlimited sense of entitlement and the rest of the people. Who mere subjects or fourth grade citizens and perpetual baggers in thier own country. The absolute is also reflected in the position and structures of power in society, with such institutions as the Monarch being the chancellor of the university, Patrons of various key bodies, Commander-in Chef of the Armed forces, shareholders of every major economic players where he is represented by a liaison officer, custodian of all cultural heritage futher more names such AS SIHLANGU SEMNIKATI, ROYAL Eswatini Sugar cooperation, Royal Eswatini Police the list is endless,” said the PUDEMO Secretary General.
King Mswati.