'Down with political parties'
2007-08-14 15:29
Mbabane - Swaziland's King Mswati III, Africa's last absolute monarch, had said a controversial ban on party politics in the kingdom would remain in place, local media reported on Tuesday.
Mswati was speaking to the media after returning from a meeting in Malaysia during which he was quoted by media there as saying political parties were now free to operate as the country embarked on democratic reforms.
Mswati said: "I read it in amazement when I was quoted to have said that political parties were now free to operate in the country, and I do not know where that came from, but what I want to stress to you is that political parties remain banned up until the people of Swaziland say so."
Political parties banned in 1973
Weekend reports had said that political parties were no longer banned as the country was embarking on democratic reforms with the coming into force of the country's national constitution more than a year ago.
He said: "Such statements would always be there, but since we were Swazis and we have been around for a long time we know that nothing has changed about political parties so ignore those reports."
Political parties were banned in 1973 after the late King Sobhuza II said the Westminster Constitution was unworkable as it promoted hatred among Swazis.
In late July this year, more than 5 000 Swazis took to the streets of the country's major towns, Manzini and Mbabane, demanding the return of multi-party democracy.
The impoverished landlocked country, which had the world's highest rate of HIV infections, was expected to hold elections next year.