AFRICA/ESWATINI – The Bishop: “The road to dialogue is marked by uncertainty”
Manzini (Agenzia Fides – “If it were me to sum up the current situation eSwatini faces, I would use ‘uncertainty. This is the state or mind that best describes the situation. I’ve been discussing it for a while via social media. “We don’t know which way to go at this moment and nobody is talking a lot about it.” We, the Council of Christian Churches, spoke directly to the Prime Minster in charge when violence broke out in June 2021. We were told that national dialogue was the best way to deal with the situation. Months passed before the Finance Minister stated that he wanted to set up a high level dialogue. We learned recently that a team was selected to help shape this dialogue. We are now in August and we are still waiting for news”, said Father José Luís Gerardo Ponce de León, Consolata Missionary and Bishop of Manzini, the only diocese of eSwatini, interviewed by Fides. The conversation took places in Johannesburg, where he was attending a session at the Southern African bishops’ conference (SACBC). He spoke about the complicated situation in South Africa’s small country, which, less than a year ago, was the last African absolute monarchy. However, mass protests were suppressed by the police and the country is now trying its best to return to normalcy.
The Prelate notes that twice the situation in eSwatini was supposed be on the agendas of the Southern African Development Community, (SADC), but both times it was removed from the agenda. Our authorities cancelled the July 19 meeting and we learned a few days before that eSwatini wasn’t yet ready. The government claimed that they were prepared and that the non-participation wasn’t due to eSwatini being ready. Again, there was no clear communication. People remain in the dark.
Tensions have remained latent in the year since violence and clashes broke out. There is still social unrest throughout the country. “We can say we are in a state of low intensity violence,” the Bishop said. This reminds us not to forget that nothing is yet resolved. A number of police officers were attacked and shot in broad daylight close to Manzini. One person set fire to the library of a school in Mozambique’s poorest area in March. There are also reports of buildings being set ablaze from time to time. But it is unclear what is causing this. This is a sign that the matter is not resolved. It is not known who the perpetrators are of the numerous attacks that were carried out in the country over the past months.
“When I was in Colombia,” the bishop said, “the most important thing is to get to know interlocutors. It was obvious who were the leaders with which to have a conversation.” Yes, it can be difficult to start a dialogue process if interlocutors are not in agreement. However, there is a political cry that goes far beyond the social cry and will not get heard. There is a possibility that King Mswati III, who will be entering ritual retirement and won’t meet the public until February, March, at most – in November is not possible and everything is further delayed. In 2023, there will be national elections. This is a crucial time. We don’t know, however, if there will be any dialogue before the elections or whether the elections will determine the future.
According to the prelate the Catholic Church is committed directly to a peaceful way and an encounter that avoids violence. We hold regular prayer meetings to promote peace and ask that everyone work together to build peace and harmony. The bishop added that he was involved in the preparation of a document that outlined a possible roadmap for the dialogue the SADC seeks. The document was completed in March 2013 and all parties were given access. Although the government has the report, it has not been presented to the public.
The cry for a better social situation is becoming more difficult. The war in Ukraine has led to an increase of fuel prices of 100 percent, which has serious consequences for us. He concludes that there is another problem at political level. We must rethink our nation’s political systems. I don’t know what Swazilandans think, but they must be able to make their decision freely. (LA) (Agenzia Fides, 12/8/2022)
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Source: fides.org
