By
Thokozani Kenneth Kunene
Dismantle tinkhundla royal government – Establish Interim
Government!
The
tinkhundla system is a morally bankrupt and economically parasitic system. It
represents an existential threat to the people of Swaziland. It is futile to
allow the Mswati regime to continue in any shape or form, as it brings to the
people nothing but misery, insecurity and degradation.
The
terrible cost to all disempowered sections of society, particularly the working
class and poor, is heightened by the financial unsustainability of the regime.
Hunger, disease (HIV, TB and diseases related to malnutrition and poor living
conditions), violent death and suicides have all escalated. Mswati’s tinkhundla
autocratic government is the cause of the crises.
The
Communist Party of Swaziland calls upon all progressive forces inside and
outside Swaziland to support and carry forward the demands for:
1.
The immediate unconditional unbanning of all political parties and formations.
We call for the lifting of all press and information media restrictions, the
release of all political prisoners and the annulment of all court cases against
political leaders and activists. All exiles must be allowed to unconditionally
return to Swaziland and all political persecution must come to an end.
2.
The immediate dissolution of the government, the suspension of all powers of
the monarch and royal family, the suspension of the legislature and the
appointment of an interim government – This will operate based on an interim
constitution that will guarantee rights and freedoms of the people. All rights
and privileges of the monarch, the existing regime and tinkhundla system, will
be removed for the purpose of laying the basis for the new democratic
dispensation, free and fair elections, and new constitution.
Interim government
A.
The interim government will be composed of representatives of all political
parties, trade unions, the church and other civil society forces, to be
nominated at a Conference for a Democratic Swaziland. We would seek multilateral
mediation from other African countries on purely non-aligned terms.
B.
Institutions and structures that are part of the tinkhundla system will not be
part of the Interim Government though traditional leaders will be able to
submit their suggestions to the Conference for a Democratic Swaziland.
C.
The Interim Government must take emergency measures to secure all state assets
inside and outside the country and to create an Emergency National Economic
Plan to address the immediate needs of the people.
D.
The dissolution of the government will mean the immediate end to the king’s
powers over the executive, legislature, judiciary and security matters of the
country.
E.
The Interim Government will establish the modalities for a new democratic
dispensation and the drafting of a fully democratic constitution for the
People’s Democratic Republic of Swaziland.
In addition to the immediate guarantee of freedoms
outlined above
1. The police, army and all security
forces will cease to operate as instruments of the monarch and tinkhundla
regime and be incorporated as part of the democratic Interim Government.
2.
Countries and international institutions must pledge to cease all support for
the tinkhundla regime, await the establishment of the Interim Government and
contribute in all required ways for the process of the reorganization of the
country towards the new democratic life and support to the new dispensation.
The
Communist Party of Swaziland believes that these steps are the only practical
steps forward for the people in the
present moment of our revolution. We call on all areas of the pro-democracy
movement to come out in support of these steps.
The
Communist Party of Swaziland will work with the workers and the frontline
forces to ensure all possible means to carry forward these demands. We call on
Women and rural people to organize for these processes. We also call upon the
youth and students to use the great enthusiasm and energy they have and
continue to mobilise among the young people to help realise these demands for
swift change.
The
tinkhundla government must go now!
Tinkhundla
be dismantled!
Forward
to a Democratic Interim Government!
Comrade Thokozani Kenneth Kunene serves as the General
Secretary of the Communist Party of Swaziland
·
Liciniso
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