20 February 2017
The
Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) has noted and rejects, with the
contempt they deserve, reports on the media, specifically the Times of
Swaziland, dated 20 February 2017, that the movement intends to participate in
planned Tinkhundla 2018 National “Elections”. Toward this end PUDEMO would like
to retaliate the following:
PUDEMO WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN
TINKHUNDLA 2018 “ELECTIONS”
PUDEMO
has no funders, and the accompanying insinuations that it is these imaginary
donors that are either forcing PUDEMO to participate is both unfounded and
baseless. We again place it on record that the movement has no donors and has
never had one. Instead, the movement has allied organizations some of which
have ongoing joint partnership programs with the movement. The relationship
with these progressive organizations is that of equal partners, not a donor – recipient
nature.
PUDEMO
is not afraid of elections, and remains committed to taking part in Swaziland
National Elections, that will be conducted under conditions that guarantee a
democratic, free, fair, meaningful and transparent process, not the current royal
sham. The current Tinkhundla elections has no effect in the political life of
the country, as power remains concentrated in royal hands, and all meaningful
decisions are made through royal command. PUDEMO has no intention, now or in
the future to associate its glorious name and record of struggle with such a
royal grand scam to defraud our people of their right to democratically and
freely elect a government of their own. We remain unshaken in the belief that
working together with our people victory is certain.
PUDEMO
is alive that as 2018 approaches, the locally and internationally discredited
Tinkhundla regime will try all sorts of desperate attempts to bring the good
name of PUDEMO to its royal circus, in an attempt to lend credence to this
meaningless sham already battling legitimacy even from institutions and
organizations that hereinto supported this royal regime like the Commonwealth
and recently SADC election observer mission.
PUDEMO
is a democratic movement and therefore all major policy shifts have to be
endorsed by the highest structures of the organization and in this case a
National Congress. If PUDEMO changes its position with regards to the
Tinkhundla elections, this will be formally debated which would include
stocktaking of the successes of the non-participation strategy and failures
thereof.
PUDEMO
is not a rigid movement that is stuck on dogmatic tactics of the past
especially as they relate to issues of tactics not principles. For that reason
PUDEMO constantly opens up forums to assess balance of forces both internally
and externally, and to weigh the objective and subjective factors that
influence our revolution. This is so that PUDEMO can take the appropriate
political positions informed by rigorous and scientific analysis of contemporary
Swaziland and momentum of struggle at each epoch. This has always been the
fundamental principle that informs PUDEMO’s unwavering position on the
Tinkhundla elections, it will not be changing soon.
Our
people need to be constantly reminded that even if PUDEMO were to pass a
resounding resolution to participate in the Tinkhundla elections, it is legally
impossible to do so as a political party, owing to the plethora of laws that
militate against group representation in Tinkhundla parliament. Tied to this is
the fact that even by some stroke of miracle and luck all 55 directly elected
members of parliament were to be PUDEMO members, the current Constitutional
configuration gives disproportionate powers to the King and many other
unaccountable and shady royal structures that it would ultimately be an
exercise in futility thinking we can change the system from within.
PUDEMO
is a voluntary organization and people join it based on the understanding that
they agree with our objectives, mission, and goals. If, however, people find
these goals repugnant with their personal ambitions they are free to surrender
their membership, and do as they personally please. Otherwise, all PUDEMO
members remain free to influence the organization through the constitutional
structures of the movement and win the majority view. In the event they don’t,
they are obliged to respect the majority position and abide by it.
We
further reject any attempt that elevates Cde Maxwell Dlamini to a policy
spokesperson of PUDEMO, or a representative of any PUDEMO’s official position.
Cde Maxwell is a leader in SWAYOCO, and doesn’t speak on behalf of PUDEMO. We
advise the media to contact appropriate PUDEMO officials for any official view
of the movement.
Statement issued by the office of the
Secretary General
Mlungisi
Makhanya
Fb:
PUDEMO
Twitter:
@pudemo
Mobile:
+26876357528
Email:
mcmakhanya24@gmail.com
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