The Editor

The Times of Swaziland

Mbabane

Swaziland

 

11^th December 1995

 

Dear Sir,

 

“Prince Mfanasibili back in politics”, November 27^th 1995 issue, page 13. This is absolutely amazing. Prince Mfanasibili is back in politics simply because he saw the King? Yes, it figures because Prince Mfanasibili’s politics begins and ends with the King, NOT the people of Swaziland. His and the Imbokodvo politics consists of a marathon run around the King’s place, telling lies against everybody to better and feather their own nests. “The interest of the people? What people? Me, me, me. That’s what counts.” I thought we warned King Sobhuza about that back in the sixties. Mfanasibili and Co, told the King that “African Kings both reign and rule i.e they are imbued with executive powers direct from God.” You mean the old-aged principle of “the Divine Right of Kings?” “Yes, that’s right, and you put it so well my friend, that’s what I like with educated people like you.”

 

But Prince, what about your own education, I asked. “Oh! mine? I know it is equivalent to a 13 year old, but my friend, what does it matter? I can see the King direct and tell him what I feel and like. He then appoints me Government Minister with my own budget. What else can I ask for? That is politics for me. That is why. Oh! My friend, now you see it aren’t you clever?” He gives me a friendly pat on the back before I say “But my dear Prince Mfanasibili, the principle of “The Divine Right of Kings” collapsed over 300 years ago a defendable philosophical principle in Europe, but I am not going to go into that because, like you, I do need the King in Swaziland, but not in the undemocratic manner you are suggesting, since you are the walking example and evidence of the Liqoqo, a dark period in the history of this beautiful country. I honestly thought you would be the first to be looking for alternatives into the way forward for our people. But of course, I was wrong because you are not the type to search for alternatives.

 

You feast in the present confusion, here lies your future. We knew he was full of beans enough to spill but we don’t know it would be this fast. As I turned my political searchlight onto King Mswati III, I kindly asked the Prince to tell me more about Mr. Joe Fernandez and “legal adviser” Mr. Patel next time round. Absolutely amazing. King Mswati III has been so stung by the political pressure steaming up in the country that he has decided to re-admit Prince Mfanasibili into the palace (rustling political ghosts). What is going on in his mind? And how desperate is he? He must be, Prince Mfanasibili? He caused so many innocent people to be arrested and has himself gone inside for a part of 14 years imprisonment, and he comes out looking for some more? Who could believe that?

 

Mfanasibili talks of a constitutional referendum of 1962 “Mpondompondo” or “the Reindeer Referendum”. Please don’t waste our time. “Mpondompondo” was a pre-independence gimmick that was staged against the British Administration (Sir Brian Marwick). The people were asked to choose the Lion for the King and the Reindeer for the British Administration. No Swazi would have voted otherwise. As if that was not enough, people were told that if you do not vote for the King (later Imbokodvo) you will go to your own land. NO, 30 years on every reasonable man will agree that we have long passed that stage. The Swazi is more educated now, academically and politically, and are seriously looking for an alternative way forward. If Mswati fails to read the signals of history and seize the tide, he will live to regret it for a very long time to come.

 

Meanwhile, back in London, the Swaziland High Commissioner, Mr. Percy Mngomezulu (the King’s father-in-law) was telling the Swazi Society about “the great democracy in Swaziland”, meaning funds in his pocket.

 

“You cannot be serious”

 

Clement Dumisa Dlamini