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SADC COMING TO ADDRESS SECURITY CHALLENGES

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MBABANE – Is it a security issue?

Article 13 of the Communiqué of the 42nd Ordinary Summit of SADC heads of State and government refers to the Eswatini situation as a security challenge. During the summit held in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on August 17, 2022, the Government of the Eswatini presented a brief report not on a political issue but a security situation. SADC is said to have resolved on the basis of the report. Security issues fall under Southern African Development Community’s Organ on Politics, Defence and Security. As a result of the report, the chairperson of the organ was mandated by the SADC heads of State to convene an extraordinary summit of the Organ Troika plus Eswatini at a date to be determined. It is stated in the communiqué that the extraordinary summit is aimed at finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the security challenges facing the country.

security challenge

It has not been established when the Organ will come to Eswatini to address the security challenge. His Majesty the King goes to seclusion around November. He may be free to attend to dialogue issues in March 2023. This is the time when the country will be making preparations for the general election to set up a new Parliament and Cabinet. It effectively means the country is left with October to welcome SADC to the country to talk about the security challenges as explicitly stated in the communiqué. Reads Article 13: “Summit welcomed a brief report presented by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, regarding the security situation in the country, and while condemning the violence, it mandated the chairperson of the Organ to convene an extraordinary summit of the Organ Troika plus Eswatini, at a date to be determined, aimed at finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the security challenges facing the country.” As acknowledgement by SADC leaders in the communiqué and based on His Majesty King Mswati III’s presentation to the bloc’s meeting, Alpheous Nxumalo, the Government Spokesperson, said the challenge that Eswatini faced was a security one.  

envisaged

For all practical reasons, Nxumalo said the security challenge has forestalled the envisaged national dialogue, which was to serve as a forum to help find solutions to any political challenges which emaSwati could have presented during the dialogue. He said the nation witnessed an emerging of a violent insurgency, which used activities of arsonists, intimidation, coercion, threats and random killing of the State’s security officers in their quest to impose their respective will upon the people. Nxumalo said they used the atmosphere of fear and submission as political weapons to get their way. He further said that they wanted to establish their legitimacy in the hearts and minds of emaSwati without following the constitutional mandate and means. For instance, he said they launched an operation dubbed ‘Kungahlwa kwenile’ (campaign to commit crime during the night).

crude strategy

The government Spokesperson said ‘kungahlwa kwenile’ was a crude strategy to achieve mass action in order to produce a propaganda coup. He said the propaganda coup was meant to hoodwink the international and regional community into believing that emaSwati no longer wanted the obtaining political order in the kingdom. He said it was known the world over that an insurgency sought to overthrow the will and consent of the majority of the people through unconstitutional and unconventional means. “This is then why we are faced with a security problem, not a political one,” he said. He pointed out that emaSwati had always peacefully solved their political problems in the absence of these new violent political phenomenon invading the political space since June 29, 2022.

Another concern is the unleashing of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces, which has claimed responsibility for the killing of members of the security forces. The underground military force is understood to be revenging the killing of people during last year’s civil unrest. Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Sikelela Dlamini said they had not taken notice of the wording of the communiqué, saying Eswatini faced a political issue, not just a security challenge. He said political issues and security challenges were two different things.  In a security matter, Dlamini said it meant that somebody was being attacked or someone has been threatened or is being threatened with danger.

threatened

He explained that the person who was being threatened would, therefore, need some protection. As a result, the secretary general of the teachers’ association said SADC would then facilitate negotiations for security measures. In fact, the key stakeholder where security is concerned is the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS). It is the responsibility of the police to ensure protection of people who are facing a security threat, and the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force may also come in to assist if the security measures would require defence mechanisms. This is something that Dlamini believes the country does not need as it faces a political issue. The SNAT secretary general said the institution of the monarchy was not under threat such that the civil unrest, which unfolded last year could be described or viewed as a security issue.

In a SADC security meeting, impeccable sources, who happen to be political analysts of note in the region State that political questions are usually treated separately. This is evidenced by the outcome of the meeting of the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation held on July 19, 2022. The SADC MCO on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation reiterated the region’s commitment to bolster peace, security, stability, integration and development.

strategic decisions

The commitment was expressed during the 24th Ordinary Meeting of the MCO held on July 19, 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa, which adopted a number of strategic decisions and actions aimed at mitigating emerging threats to peace, security and stability in the region. Dr. Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, and Chairperson of the MCO commended member States for remaining steadfast in enhancing peace and security. Peace and security were considered as the foundation for the realisation of the SADC Vision 2050 of a peaceful, inclusive, competitive, middle-to-high income industrialised region, where all citizens enjoy sustainable economic well-being, justice and freedom. Dr. Pandor called for concerted efforts to address emerging national, regional and global challenges that threatened peace, security and stability of the SADC region. To this end, the MCO chairperson urged member States to accelerate implementation of the relevant provisions of the SADC strategies, policy and legal instruments. While the region remained peaceful and stable, Mpedi Magosi, the SADC Secretary, highlighted that the bloc remained seized with pockets of security challenges facing some member States. Magosi said prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts remained the most sustainable method for enhancing peace and security in the region.

efficient

On this note, he urged member States to make efficient use of and benefit from the wisdom derived from the SADC Mediation, Conflict Prevention and Preventative Diplomacy Structure, led by Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Panel of Elders (PoE). During the meeting, the MCO urged member States to implement the integrated strategy to prevent and combat transnational organised crime in the SADC region and its action plan. In this regard, the MCO approved the establishment of a regional task force comprising representatives from member States to coordinate the implementation of the strategy. In response to the current threat of terrorism in the region, the MCO endorsed the revised Regional Counter Terrorism Strategy and its plan of action for the period 2021-2025, and urged member States to expedite the development of national counter terrorism strategies, recognising that preventing and combatting terrorism is key to national and regional peace and security.

collaborate

With regard to the protection of critical infrastructure from acts of theft and vandalism, the MCO urged member States to collaborate and coordinate joint and simultaneous operations aimed at apprehending and disrupting activities of syndicates and individuals responsible for theft and vandalism of electricity and water infrastructure. In recognition of the important role of non-state actors (NSAs) in the implementation of the SADC regional integration agenda, the MCO approved the mechanism for engagement between SADC structures and NSAs.
Following the approval of the mechanism, the MCO directed the secretariat to finalise the guidelines for accrediting NSAs for engagement with SADC, taking into account the provisions and context of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategy Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030 and SADC Vision 2050.

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