Eswatini [2/3]: being part of the opposition in the last absolute monarchy in Africa
Audio 02:03
Sibongile Mazibuko, President of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress.
© Claire Bargelès / RFI
By: Claire Bargelès Follow
2 min
Second part of our series which focuses on the kingdom of Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, the last absolute monarchy in Africa.
King Mswati III, in power for 35 years, reigns supreme over the country.
He is free to choose his Prime Minister and to appoint the judges.
As for political parties, they have been officially banned since 1973. They cannot participate in parliamentary elections, where only individuals can stand on their own merits.
But opposition movements are organized in spite of everything in the country, protected by the freedom of association.
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Being part of the opposition to royal power in Eswatini can be very risky.
Ncamiso Ngcamphalala, secretary general of the local branch of the Fighters for Economic Freedom (EFF), knows something about it: “
We have to go through a lot.
For example, I was arrested for the crime of "sedition".
I was in jail for about two months.
In Eswatini, you can be sued for anything and everything, especially if you are a political activist
”.
And the repression has continued since the start of pro-democracy demonstrations: two deputies have been in prison since July under the law on terrorism.
"
A system managed by a family
"
It is this same law which classifies one of the most important opposition parties, PUDEMO, as a terrorist organization. Wandile Dludlu is the secretary general: “
We are an underground movement, and we act by defying the power in place. The political system, which is called "Tinkhundla", establishes royal supremacy in all areas, through the institutions of the monarchy. Executive, legislative and judicial powers rest in the hands of the royal palace. The king manages his government thanks to advisers chosen by his own care. Ultimately, it is a system managed by a family
”.
The same anger animates Sibongile Mazibuko, president of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress, one of the oldest parties in the country. From the height of her 66 years, she receives visitors in her modest house and continues to develop strategies to make her training survive: “
It is possible to meet and organize oneself if one meets in places managed by the private sector. For example in the cities, where people rent rooms, because to reach us it would be necessary to violate the rights of the businessmen which one will have paid. But for that, you need money, and as 63% of the population lives below the poverty line, it is very difficult to collect contributions
”.
Opposition parties are now calling for the release of all political prisoners arrested since the June protests.
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Eswatini (ex-Swaziland)
Africa
On the same subject
Africa report
Eswatini [1/3]: blood in the streets