Africa-Press – Eswatini. Zweli Martin Dlamini, the editor says eSwatini is not Constitutional democracy but the country is ruled by King Mswati,an absolute Monarch.
Speaking to Channel Africa,a South African Broadcasting Corporation(SABC) radio station on Friday(14th April 2023), the editor cited the 1973 Decree that banned the existence of political parties and soon thereafter, Sobhuza assumed supreme authority and elevated himself as an absolute Monarch.
Lulu Gaboo, the presenter asked the editor to describe how the Tinkhundla system operates and that was when Dlamini clarified that the system was just a cover-up to portray the Monarchy as part of a Constitutional democracy.
The editor said the Tinkhundla system was introduced in 1978, five(5)years after the banning of political parties in 1973, he alleged that this was after the international community condemned King Sobhuza for ruling a country through Decrees.
Dlamini told the SABC that as a result of the oppressive Tinkhundla system, two Members of Parliament(MPs) Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube who were elected under the same system of governance were arrested for calling for democracy,while another MP Mduduzi Magawugawu Simelane was forced into exile.
When asked about the political situation in the country,the editor said mercenaries were conducting night patrols in major towns particularly in Mbabane,Manzini and other places were political activists reside.
Dlamini cited an incident of a mechanic who was sprayed on the face with petrol allegedly,by Mswati’s police this week and set alight, the mechanic is Wonder Gama of Dlangeni who currently resides in the capital city, Mbabane.
The editor further cited the incident of Brian Sihlongonyane, a member of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) who was abducted and heavily assaulted by soldiers for attending the April 12, 1973 Decree commemoration protests.
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