By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. It is important to put things into proper perspective, ousted Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina told the then Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Troika King Mswati back in 2009 to back-off after ousting the then democratically elected President Marc Ravalomanana.
But the ousted Madagascar President ran to Eswatini last week specifically, to meet King Mswati who was the SADC Troika Chairman at the time, I was already working as a journalist back in 2009 and therefore fully aware of the events that unfolded.
The King sent a delegation led by the then Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Lutfo Dlamini to try and engage Rajoelina but, he refused to welcome and engage the King’s delegation.
In fact, former Minister Lutfo Dlamini told that, Andry Rajoelina literally told the King and SADC to back-off and stay away from Madagascar issues.
Now, Rajoelina who is allegedly holding a French citizenship and betrayed the people of Madagascar by looting State resources for his French handlers, decided to run to the King who is now holding the position of SADC Troika Deputy Chairman and is the incoming Chairperson, the ousted Madagascar President wants SADC to intervene this time and, reinstate him.
Perhaps, let bring to the attention of former Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina that in our siSwati language, we have an adage suggesting that; “kusasa kuyitolo” and/or “kutakubutsa kuhlwa”, meaning one day you will need help from the person or people you are undermining.
It was not King Mswati who was holding the position of SADC Troika Chairman in 2009 but, Eswatini as a Sovereign country and this means, Andry Rajoelina undermined us as emaSwati and the entire SADC region when refusing to engage with the delegation commissioned by the King to try and find solutions to the Madagascar political crisis.
In politics, even if you are fighting for a just cause or democracy and in the process, find yourselves occupying all the political rooms, you must at least leave one room for diplomatic engagements or dialogue.
We have our own political problems in Eswatini and one day we will need SADC, other regional and international bodies to facilitate a political dialogue, Andry Rajoelina undermined our country and the entire SADC region.
As mentioned, in politics, even if you are not willing to engage, you must find a diplomatic way to communicate your decision not to tell SADC to back-off disregarding the fact that, one day you will need the very same regional body.
Personally, I don’t support a Government led by the military in Madagascar, soldiers must go back to the Army Barracks and protect the Sovereignty of country, they know nothing about politics and if we allow the military gang to establish a Government, very soon we will have the same problem in Madagascar.
SADC must facilitate free and fair elections in that country, restore democracy and/or constitutional order but, Andry Rajoelina must never dream of returning to Madagascar as a President, maybe as an ordinary citizen or former President.
It should be noted that, Rajoelina is a former journalist who used his media popularity to climb the political ladder but forgot that, media popularity does not mean you are capable of governing a country.
In our language we say “live liyesindza”, people can celebrate you today but once you are in power, they want services and a better life from you and the Government and if you fail to solve their social problems, they will remove you.
In political context no one owns the people, the very same people who rallied behind Rajoelina when ousting Ravalomanana, decided to remove him from power.
Under his leadership, the people of Madagascar experienced social challenges, in some areas there was no water and electricity yet when inciting the people to remove Ravalomanana in 2009, he promised them a better life.
SADC, particularly the incoming Troika Chairman King Mswati, must forget about Andry Rajoelina and facilitate free and fair elections in that country to restore constitutional order.
Rajoelina must enjoy a good life in France where his handlers are based and allow the people of Madagascar to decide their political future.
But in terms of diplomatic principles, SADC Troika Deputy Chairman King Mswati was right to listen to Rajoelina, maybe he will learn that in politics, you must never close the door for diplomatic engagements even if you are in a position of political privilege.
