By Mduduzi Hlophe

MBABANE:Wandile Dludlu, the Secretary General of eSwatini’s main political party, the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) said the Tinkhundla of governance remain the greatest enemy of Emaswati after it pushed the whole country into political oppression.

Speaking to this Swaziland News in an interview as part of PUDEMO’s 37^thAnniversary, the Secretary General said for the past years, they managed to create international awareness regarding the political oppression in the country and the system was slowly being isolated.

“At first the international community couldn’t believe us when we disclosed that the system was undemocratic and oppressive but now, it is slowly being isolated. We can count many countries where the King hardly arrive without being welcomed by angry protestors, these are the results of our international solidarity” he said

The Secretary General said the organization was established in 1983 at the time when royal family members were fighting for power after the death of King Sobhuza. He said in the midst of that tension, students that include former PUDEMO President Mario Masuku and the current Deputy President Zodwa Mkhonta came together to form the organization. Dludlu identified veteran member Mphandlana Shongwe who was a student at William Pitcher College as one of the members who joined and fully participated in the struggle at a young age.

“One of the goals in our 1996 people’s manifesto suggests that we will always stand firmly in solidarity with other oppressed Africans and anyone around the world. We also support institutions like the United Nations, SADC and AU, this has helped us to intensify the struggle at international level” he said.

The Secretary General further disclosed that the journey wasn’t easy as a large number of their members were arrested, detained and harassed by the police merely for being associated with PUDEMO. He said the system also tried to label the organization as a terrorist group and discouraged people to associate themselves with, however it survived and remained strong.