President Hage Geingob has said solutions to whatever problems there may be in Eswatini must be found within the Kingdom.
“You do not make peace with friends. You make peace with your enemies, and solutions must be found in the Kingdom to whatever challenges there may be. Solutions will not come from outside, but from the EmaSwati,” presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari quoted Geingob as having told King Mswati III.
According to Hengari, Geingob made these remarks on Friday when he visited the landlocked country for a one-day working visit as chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security. The visit is part of the SADC Summit resolution held in the DRC in August for the organ to work towards peace
and stability in the region.
The deadly political crisis has led to the loss of innocent lives in Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland until 2018.
Eswatini remains an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III, who has led the country since 1986. There are no legally-recognised political parties in the country due to a ban by a 1973 decree. The king exercises ultimate authority over all branches of the national government, and effectively controls local governance through his influence over traditional chiefs.
The two leaders discussed bilateral, regional and continental matters, including the political and security situation in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Hengari said as the organ troika chair, Geingob stated that it would be important to hear from all sides to find common ground, to avert any crisis, and to allow the Kingdom the opportunity to entrench peace and development for the prosperity of the country and the entire SADC region.
“When diplomacy fails, people go to war, and it is for that reason that dialogue was necessary for explanations to be provided and for everyone to be heard,” Geingob stated.
The president assured King Mswati III that he would take up the issues raised with the Troika.
Geingob further provided an update to Mswati III on the political and security developments in the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the Republic of Mozambique.
He also informed Mswati III about recent developments in Namibia, including the discovery of oil, and the pursuit of Green Hydrogen as a critical enabler for economic development and the fight against climate change.
Hengari said the two leaders furthermore agreed on the need for countries in the region to develop closer partnerships, andto take advantage of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) for economic development.