People should boycott the Swazi elections

We wish to reiterate to our people that they must boycott and stop the elections as they do not in any way result in a government of their choice.

All that they are allowed to vote for, amid the most illiberal conditions, is a group of “yay sayers” who are not even fit to be called advisors to the monarchy.

This facade, which is the greatest insult to the people of Swaziland, continues to be condemned by our allies and solidarity partners. In particular, the Mpumalanga Provincial Executive Committee of the South African Communist Party (SACP) has pledged to work with progressive forces in our land and within South Africa to fight against the oppressive King Mswati lll regime.

What is most tragic, however, is how democratic states within the Southern Africa region continue to treat this oppressive state as being on equal terms with them merely because it pays subscriptions to the regional body like all other member states. This is not a democratic country. It is the most blatant of dictatorships, with the king and his family wielding absolute authority. Ordinary citizens are mere spectators who are restricted to voting for mannequins in the country’s so-called parliament, which lack the power to even nominate a prime minister.

It is bizarre to hear the ignorance of characters such as Dr Esau Chiviya, the secretary general of the SADC Parliamentary forum declaring that Swaziland’s elections are democratic.

One could easily interpret this to mean that the elections process, alone, is excusable: meaning that even if Swazis were reduced to voting for trees, the process remains free and fair.

The contradiction, however, is found in his assertion that “The basic principle of democracy was based on a rule by the people themselves through choosing their leaders.”

As to whether Swazis rule their own country or whether they choose their leaders – representatives who both make policies and have the final say on their implementation – is something which the pseudo doctor needs to explain to the world.

It is he – not the people – who appoints the prime minister, cabinet, senior civil servants and the entire echelons of the country’s public service. How can this be a democracy? The 55 members of parliament elected by the electorate are not decision-makers. They are mere rubber stamps with no final say on policy both constitutionally and traditionally. It is clear, therefore, that the SADC mission in Swaziland has missed this glaring contradiction and already concluded that the elections are in line with their format, which is a lie because other countries actually choose their own governments, none have executive leaders imposed on them by dictators and their parliaments actually have power.

All the SADC can do in this situation is to simply stop observing these elections because they lose respect of the discerning Swazis each day.