MBANANE — Talks on democratic reforms in Africa’s last absolute monarchy stumbled yesterday as the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, the country’s largest labour group, walked out of a civil society meeting.
The “national convention”, which opened Friday, aimed to bring together civil society groups to map out how the small southern African kingdom could begin negotiations toward multi-party democracy.
But the labour federation argued King Mswati III — who snubbed the gathering after being invited to deliver an opening address — had not shown a commitment to dialogue.
“Our position is that the king has refused to entertain the question of dialogue. He said this as recently as last year. It would appear that instead of strengthening our mass power we are busy talking dialogue, a language that the king refuses to embrace,” said national organiser Fundizwi Sikhondze. — AFP
