By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Thabo Mbeki, the former South African President arrived in eSwatini on Thursday afternoon, he is highly expected to deliver a special message to King Mswati amid looming targeted sanctions by the United States(US).

The message, it has been disclosed, comes from the elders of the African National Congress(ANC) who are eager to facilitate a political dialogue in the Kingdom of eSwatini.

Fikile Mbalula, the Secretary General of the ruling African National Congress has been vocal this week, saying the ANC will vigorously work towards ensuring that eSwatini transform into a democratic state.

Now, it has emerged that, some international influential figures linked to the eSwatini pro-democracy movement, are allegedly lobbying the African National Congress(ANC) to also consider de-linking the Lilangeni(Swazi currency) from the Rand, should the US ‘Parliament’ approves the looming targeted sanctions.

Reached for comments by this publication on Thursday, Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of eSwatini’s largest political party, the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) confirmed that, the former South African President, through his Thabo Mbeki Foundation, engaged with them.

As a result, the PUDEMO President said, as the Mass Democratic Movement(MDM), they presented their case regarding the current political situation in the country. 

Makhanya, who is part of the political leaders attending the ongoing BRICS Political Parties Dialogue at Boksburg-South Africa said, they were currently lobbying the international community to take decisive action against the Kingdom of eSwatini and force King Mswati to agree to an all inclusive political dialogue.

“I am not sure if delinking the Lilangeni from the Rand is part of the proposed measures to force the King to agree to an all inclusive dialogue.But, the former President through his Foundation,did engage with us as the Mass Democratic Movement(MDM) and we presented what needs to be done, they promised to share the report with us after presenting it to the King,” said the PUDEMO President.

Efforts to reach the Spokesperson of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

On another note,the former South African President who is booked at the Royal Villas-Ezulwini is highly expected to attend the Police Day celebration to be held on Friday in Matsapha.

This was confirmed by a high ranking member of the King’s State Intelligence Unit who was part of those tasked with ensuring the safety of the former South African President.

“We have booked the former President at Royal Villas, tomorrow, he might be a guest at the Police Day tomorrow(Friday)”, said the high ranking security officer within the King’s State Intelligence Unit.

But Percy Simelane, the King’s Spokesperson,when responding to a questionnaire from this Swaziland News,regarding the visit by the former President said, he would not know the message from Mbeki to the King “until it is shared” officially.

“We believe we won't know that message until it is shared.Before then we will continue to be in the blank about it.We know about South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's Dialogue position because it was publicly shared. Mr Mbeki's alleged  attendance on the Police Day in Matsapha tomorrow has also been not officially shared,” said the King’s Spokesperson.

On another note, the former President recently told the South African Broadcasting Corporation(SABC), when interviewed by Foreign Editor Sophie Mokoena, that he was engaging the King with an intention of resolving the political crisis in eSwatini.

The highly regarded former President, was welcomed by Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini on Thursday,his visit comes at the time when Mswati an absolute Monarch, is facing international pressure to democratize eSwatini. 

Recently,the King allegedly unleashed his soldiers and the police, to shoot and kill dozens of civilians merely for demanding democratic reforms.

The political killings in this tiny Kingdom, attracted the attention of the international community after the King’s alleged mercenaries, killed internationally respected human rights lawyer Thulani Rudolf Maseko, the Chairperson of the pro-democracy Multi-Stakeholders Forum(MSF).