Africa-Press – Eswatini. The long awaited day has finally come for emaSwati to exercise their own form of African democracy.
‘‘The best way to fight an alien and oppressive culture is to embrace your own,’’ says an African proverb. As we have been called to Sibaya next week, may I again propose an African democratic process that will involve the evolution of our own Sibaya concept. My proposal is that Sibaya should evolve and become our ‘Sibaya National Policy and Elective Conference’ held at our newly-built International Conference Centre. I would like to elaborate on the concept as it will form part of my personal presentation should I have a chance to present.
Sibaya (Eswatini National Council)
The Constitution describes Sibaya (Eswatini National Council) in complete detail in terms of how it is constituted and its functions. The Constitution says; “The people through Sibaya constitute the highest policy and advisory council (Libandla) of the nation.” King Sobhuza II, in one of his greatest speeches, said the people are the basis of our nationhood. “We (monarchy) own nothing without the people. Everyone must have a voice, even a drunkard, because in his state of drunkenness he will tell the truth (ingoloyi yeliciniso).” EmaSwati can’t all be present at Sibaya to present their contribution to nation-building policies. This means that Sibaya must evolve to embrace modernity and take the national policy conference style and allow formal representation to cover every citizen. The Constitution further specifies who forms this body. Sibaya, as the Eswatini National Council, constitutes bantfwa’benkhosi, tikhulu of the realm, and all adult citizens gathered at the official residence of the Indlovukazi under the chairmanship of the Ingwenyama, who may delegate this function to any official.
All adult citizens
All adult citizens have a right to contribute to this policy formation body, without fear as all emaSwati are equal inside Sibaya. For a true African effective democracy, this body must represent all emaSwati. Let us imagine we had 4 000 members and delegates coming from all national bodies, organisations, churches, councils, civil society, youth groups, professional groups, businesses and many more. The 55th National Policy and Elective Conference of the African National Congress (ANC) took place from December16 to 20 2022 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, Gauteng with 4 000 delegates coming from what they call branches. The difference would be that our Sibaya National Policy Conference delegates would be drawn from non-party Eswatini citizens representing all national groupings and organisations.
Annual General Meeting
The Constitution states that Sibaya functions ‘as the annual general meeting (AGM) of the nation’ that may be convened at any time to present the views of the nation on pressing and controversial national issues. The authorities just have to implement a modern version of this concept through the announcement of the list of organizations, groups, and national bodies to present delegates to the national AGM. Political parties may wish to influence events and collectively mobilise funding but their preferred candidate for prime minister (PM) must go through the same Sibaya elective process alongside independent candidates who will not join political parties. They need to win elections through Tinkhundla, win the joint parliamentary elections (top four) and then win the Sibaya elective conference to form a government.
Vusela exercise
Vusela (meet and greet in simplified translation) refers to a series of public meetings held in each of the many imiphakatsi (chiefs’ residences) and Tinkhundla (constituencies) to discuss issues of importance. The setting is usually traditional, in some cases under trees with an indvuna as chairperson. This exercise is very important in the Sibaya democratic process because it informs those who will eventually be part of the Sibaya National Policy Conference of the views and aspirations of ordinary emaSwati. These vusela meetings should be carried out a few months prior to the main Sibaya National Conference. This is a unique African democratic system that gives a voice to the simplest of citizens. They may not talk about high politics but speak of issues affecting their day-to-day lives. They don’t know much about policies and politics but know what they want. In each of these groups, you would find very wise men and women who usually don’t talk much and seek no attention but when they do speak, they speak wisdom. These are the wise members to be chosen to represent the umphakatsi along with the chiefs, tindvuna, bucopho and other traditional leaders at the Sibaya National Conference.
Non-traditional representation
Unions, associations, and professional bodies (medical and dental council, Law Society, sports councils, churches, city councils, youth, women, etc) all must find formal ways of electing members (delegates) to represent them in the Sibaya National Policy Conference. They would be required to hold their AGM with the purpose of electing members to represent their views. They would have to first seek the views and aspirations of their peers. This must be a non-partisan nation-building collective exercise that would require every liSwati to think in terms of his or her patriotic duty and set aside all personal differences.
International Convention Centre
The International Convention Centre in Ezulwini should play a vital role in fostering our Sibaya democracy. EmaSwati would dialogue under modern facilities showing off consensus traditional democracy as they elect their PM through the Sibaya elective conference. His Majesty would then appoint the winner at Ludzidzini and charge him to form a democratic government of his choice. Ordinary emaSwati who have been chosen at imiphakatsi and Tinkhundla would sit with educated professionals once every five years and enjoy an opportunity to use that world-class facility to collectively build the country’s policies and elect their PM following a joint parliamentary election to provide four candidates. Just as King Sobhuza II advised, we need a mix of the young and old, educated and not educated. The contestations would be about who can best deliver what Sibaya wants, not them telling us what they will do for us.
Source: Times
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