The southern African kingdom of Swaziland on Monday allowed a political demonstration without interference for the first time in 10 years as protestors urged the king in a petition to promote a democratic new constitution.
The Swaziland Democratic Alliance (SDA), an umbrella body for organisations promoting democracy, appealed for a new constitution outside offices of Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini.
The protestors urged King Mswati III to mandate the prime minister to convene a national negotiation forum.
Former prime minister Obed Dlamini, now leader of an opposition party, said the government last allowed free political activity in 1992 when the Swaziland Youth Congress demonstrated as part of a fundraising drive.
”I’m happy that what we’re experiencing today reminds me of the good old days as prime minister when I allowed youth from Swaziland to march even though I had to come under severe criticism as to why did I allow (it),” he said, adding: ”I hope we will see more such conduct from the head of government and the minister of police.”
Swaziland, a tiny kingdom landlocked by Mozambique and South Africa, is in the process of drafting a bill of rights amid growing tension between the traditional monarchy and progressive forces favouring reform.
A police officer, Mike Zwane, told less than 30 protestors they would not be stopped from demonstrating.
”As police officers we want to assure you that we would like to work with you peacefully and we want you to show maturity as you move to the prime minister’s office,” he said.
The SDA’s petition, entitled ”A way forward towards a new democratic constitution,” was handed over to a government representative.
The document stated: ”As a sign of commitment to genuine change and open constitution making, the king in our view must pronounce to the nation a declaration of intent towards a new democratic Swaziland.”
The protestors urged King Mswati III to mandate the prime minister to convene a national negotiation forum within the next month and invite representatives from all socio-economic, religious, cultural and political bodies to attend.
”There must be a creation by secondment of a Transitional Executive Authority, which must be fully representative of all role players in the constitution making process,” it said.
”We believe it would be a travesty of justice and would cause automatic challenge to the credibility and legitimacy of a constitution if civil society were to be silenced in its formation,” the petition stated. – Sapa-AFP