By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE: King Mswati’s Government came hard on Fikile Mbalula, the Secretary General of the African National Congress(ANC) as South Africa intensifies calls for democracy in this tiny Kingdom.

Eswatini is ruled by Mswati as an absolute Monarch, political parties are banned from participating in elections, human rights defenders are arrested, tortured and killed for demanding democracy.

Speaking to the State owned Eswatini Observer this week, Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo described Mbalula as confused,for declaring eSwatini as an undemocratic democratic State.

Nxumalo was commenting on the statement made by Mbalula during an ANC press briefing, where the former said the ANC would fight for the democratisation of the country.

Nxumalo confirmed that the Tinkhundla system of governance was unpopular but maintained that Eswatini was in fact a democratised State.

 “Fikile Mbalula, just like Senator Christopher Coons of the USA Congress, are but victims of narrow and biased political lobbying to the extent that they are taking political positions against the Kingdom of Eswatini without affording us the right and opportunity to engage them.Such practices go against natural justice, which demands that you afford somebody audience before you pronounce final judgment against them,” said the Government Spokesperson as quoted by the State owned eSwatini Observer.

Mswati’s regime allegedly killed dozens of civilians for demanding democracy, imprisoned two pro-democracy Members of Parliament(MPs) Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube.

The regime allegedly killed Thulani Maseko, the Chairperson of the MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF), among other victims.