Swazi Mail had an in-depth interview with PUDEMO founder Dr Raynauld Russon (PhD). In this interesting interview he revealed why and how PUDEMO was formed. Enjoy
Swazi Mail: As a long and senior member known to be associated with PUDEMO, do you still have links with the organization, if so how and if not why?
Dr Ray: Yes I was involved in the formation of PUDEMO in the early 1980s. This was precipitated by a number of factors following the passing on of King Sobhuza II on 21 August 1982. The infighting within the Royal Family confounded the situation and made it difficult for anybody to sit back and relax. The Liqoqo (an informal advisory body then) quickly consolidated itself and took control of state power under the stewardship of Prince Mfanasibili. Queen Regent Dzeliwe was compelled to expel Prime Minister Prince Mabandla and she was, herself subsequently deposed and placed under house arrest with charges of High Treason preferred against her. This created the political vacuum that the Liqoqo strong men required to occupy the driving seat and run the country. Nigerian tycoon Mr. Fernandez was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and then Minister without Portfolio and rumours that a Republic was imminent became widespread. Prince Dumisa Dlamini wrote: ‘We shudder to think what would have happened to little Swaziland had Mfanasibili and his “Gang of Four” succeeded in selling the country to a Nigerian hustler, one Mr. Fernandez who already boasted a Swazi Royal Police security guard reserved for a Head of State together with a government country guest house, a Swazi diplomatic international passport, a fleet of government cars, and what else? “Top police and army officers, together with senior government ministers who refused to support the Liqoqo move were languishing in cells at Matsapa Central Prison. This was too fast and frightening to every thinking Swazi”[1] ([1] http://princedumisa.com/WayForward3.html. Retrieved 20 February 2010)
Certain concerned Princes rushed to the University to mobilize students to stall this process. Mass demonstrations organized by the Swaziland National Union of Students were held in Mbabane and Manzini and PUDEMO was born in this myriad of activities to take leadership of the disquiet. The threat of Swaziland being swallowed by a new regime of perceived autocrats had serious implications for the country and the sub-region particularly the struggle for liberation in South Africa? It was obvious that the new regime was very unfriendly to the liberation movement of South Africa as many comrades were arrested and handed over to apartheid South Africa. I was part of a delegation that crossed the border to Mozambique to consult with the senior leadership of the South African liberation movement on this issue. We agreed that democracy in Swaziland and all the other frontline states was intricately linked to the achievement of democracy in South Africa. The protection of Swaziland from falling into the wrong hands that would strangle the South African liberation struggle was a priority. King Sobhuza II had been supportive of the liberation movement until he was compelled to sign the Pretoria Accord, a Non Aggression Treaty that proscribed the activities of the South African liberation movement in Swaziland in February 1982. PUDEMO was formed to begin a process of stopping the degeneration of Swaziland into an oppressive dictatorship that would also destroy the little gains that the South African liberation movement had made in the frontline states. PUDEMO demanded an immediate removal of the nascent regime that was obviously dictatorial. The campaign was widely supported even by the security forces to such a point that rumours of a military coup d’état were spreading very quickly. The attempt to dislodge the monarchy was shaken and in desperation, the Liqoqo strong men hastily announced the appointment of Makhosetive as Crown Prince and Ntombi Tfwala as Queen Regent to try and quell the disquiet that had developed under the stewardship of PUDEMO. Prince Makhosetive was subsequently crowned King Mswati III on 25 April 1986. In a nutshell, PUDEMO saved the monarchy of Swaziland. It is paradoxical that PUDEMO, is today, the biggest enemy of the monarchy. It is also true that, although PUDEMO has repeatedly called for the preservation of the monarchy, it has been forced to drift further away from the monarchy as an institution. I believe that the two groups can find each other in a sincere and open process of dialogue. Dialogue is the answer to many of our political problems worldwide and the guiding principle to successful dialogue is a win-win outcome not a win-lose. Before I left Swaziland in the early 1990s I had started a process of dialogue with the support of then British High Commissioner Mr. Brain Watkins. The late Mr. Arthur Khoza was another key player in the process. The process had gone a long way but was scuttled by Mr. Watkin’s departure and later my own departure. Yes I am not ashamed to declare that I was one of the founding members of PUDEMO and that I still have a lot of respect for the organization, its integrity and beliefs in building a better society for all the people of Swaziland. I am however conscious of the fact that a lot has changed over the years.
Swazi Mail: Do you still come to Swaziland, if so how often and if not why?
Dr Ray: I have been coming to Swaziland very regularly in the past year and I hope to continue doing so this year and into the future. Swaziland is home for me because I was born here and my mother is Swazi although my father is South African.
Swazi Mail: What do you do as an individual in the Diaspora for democracy?
Dr Ray: I do not consider myself in the Diaspora here in South Africa because of my double heritage. South Africa is home just as Swaziland is. Even politically I have always played a double role. I was in the trenches with the liberation movement of South Africa and I was and still am active in the political process in Swaziland although I now wear a different cap. I am committed to a political solution through meaningful dialogue.
Swazi Mail: Lastly; what do you consider to be strengths and weaknesses of the pro-democracy groups in Swaziland and what interventions can be done?
Dr Ray: I am not competent to answer this question save to say that there is a need for Constructive Engagement from both sides of the political spectrum. The standoff is not helpful and can only worsen relations and throw the country into a state of anarchy. Southern Africa and the whole continent really doesn’t need any conflict or confrontation at the moment. Swaziland is one of the very unique countries in Africa because its homogeneity. We can sit around the table and speak one language without any translators and resolve many of our problems. A bit of maturity on both sides can go a long way to resolving the political impasse. I believe that a solution will be found soon and that the 2013 elections will be all inclusive.
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