Youth discuss 'royal madness'

2004-06-17 20:01

Mbabane - Swazi anti-monarchists will host a conference this weekend to discuss a strategy to challenge Africa's last absolute monarch and free the people of the impoverished mountain kingdom from "royal madness".

The Swaziland Youth Congress (Swayoco), the youth wing of the opposition People's United Democratic Movement, will stage the event from Friday to Sunday in South Africa to prevent Swaziland police from disrupting the meeting.

"It is where we will take a position to declare Swaziland ungovernable," Swayoco secretary general Kenneth Kunene said.

"This is one crucial event not only for the organisation but to the whole liberation struggle of the people of Swaziland. It is in this congress that we have to free the people of Swaziland from the royal madness," he added.

Swaziland's King Mswati III rules the country by decree and is increasingly being criticised for his lavish lifestyle while most of his subjects live in poverty and have to grapple with Aids, food shortages and severe drought.

A growing number of Swazis have expressed dissatisfaction with the monarch but many still adore their king and his traditions.

Kunene said the movement, which has about 20 000 registered members, would put in place a leadership structure to lead Swazi youth "toward liberation".

"The new leadership of Swayoco would have to lead a determined generation that is willing to take the risk of challenging the absolute monarchy," he said.

"We know that this will not be an easy task but this is a responsibility the youth under Swayoco will take. State-perpetrated violence must be met with maximum force in order to have a democratic Swaziland," Kunene added.

- AFP