Unban+political+parties+call+is+overdue,+Lukhele,+City+Press

City Press, Johannesburg, Speak Out, March 5, 2006
=“Unban political parties” call is overdue=

The Swaziland Solidarity Network welcomes the call by British high Commissioner to South Africa Paul Boateng that political parties in Swaziland should be unbanned.

Under the leadership of Don McKinnon, the Commonwealth Secretariat stood in the way of the pro-democracy movement in Swaziland and provided unwavering support to a regime that practises torture.

It is astounding that the Commonwealth Secretariat never questioned gross violations of human rights in Swaziland, including the recent torture to death of an innocent woman married to one of the detained pro-democracy activists.

The Commonwealth Secretariat displays on its website a caption of King Mswati III presenting the draft constitution in 2003 to promote the organisation’s ideal of democracy and good governance.

The Commonwealth refuses to work with the pro-democracy movement and actively frustrates efforts by the Swazi community to bring about changes.

This unbanning call is overdue.


 * Lucky Lukhele

Braamfontein