Africa-Press – Eswatini. Alpheous Nxumalo,the Government Spokesperson has warned voters not to vote for those who want to use Parliament to influence regime change.
The sentiments of the Government Spokesperson contradicts earlier sentiments by the State,urging those who want democratic reforms to do so through Parliament by following the Constitution.
As tension escalates ahead of the Tinkhundla undemocratic elections,Nxumalo was quoted by the Times Sunday this week urging voters to be cautious and circumspect as they exercise their respective duties and rights to cast their vote.He said the country was faced with some political formations and individuals who were forging their pathways to Parliament with a clear motivation and agenda to cause and instigate disorder and ‘ungovernability’ in the House and in the country.
“Therefore,emaSwati should be careful in order to avoid being used or abused as voter fodder by people whose intentions are to orchestrate anarchy and disorder in Parliament in the name of exercising their parliamentary rights,”said the Government Spokesperson as quoted by the Times Sunday this week.
Reached for comments, Sikelela Dlamini,the Secretary General of the MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF)said the sentiments of the Government Spokesperson was a confirmation that Tinkhundla elections will never be free and fair.
“It is now clear to everyone that Tinkhundla lacks inclusivity and pluralism.How do you participate in elections while the government is already telling you how you must behave in Parliament.We know that political parties are not allowed to participate but one would have expected that if these people are Swazis and if the elections are free and fair,they must be allowed to participate through individual merit or their political parties.As the situation stands, Government is already indicating that those joining or participating in these elections will be part of a controlled Parliament.This confirms what we have been saying that Tinkhundla Parliament is a controlled institution,”said the MSF Spokesperson.
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