allAfrica.com: Uganda: Was King Mswati an Envoy of Peace? (Page 1 of 1)

With the recent state visit of King Mswati III, political analysts have hinted that His Majesty was here to play a mediation role between President Yoweri Museveni and the Buganda Kingdom, Barbara Among writes

King Mswati III of Swaziland was in Uganda for a four-day state visit that took him to several places and held bilateral discussion with his host, President Yoweri Museveni.

Unlike the image of the all powerful monarch, dressed in traditional clothes, this time, the king donned a different image from the one Ugandans knew - a neatly, well-fitting British suit. He met President Museveni, addressed the Lukiiko (Buganda Parliament), dinned with Kings and toured economic ventures during his visit. On his second day of visit, Mswati held private discussion with Buganda's Kabaka Ronald Mutebi II.

However, beyond the diplomatic statements, political analysts have hinted that his Majesty was here to play a mediation role between President Museveni and the Buganda Kingdom. At a dinner he hosted in His Majesty's honour, Museveni appealed to King Mswati to work with other African leaders to ensure that the continent does not lose its sovereignty.

Museveni noted that African kings determined the survival of their people and guided them for centuries. But since their kingdoms were small political units that worked independently, the kings could not guarantee the sovereignty of their people when faced foreign aggressors.

Like the Swazi saying: "A king is a mouth that does not lie." The political players believe he is the best envoy to the Kabaka and hardliners in Mengo. The Swazi monarchy has had close ties with the Buganda Kingdom since early 1970s. King Mswati III has always sent high powered delegation to attend functions of the kingdom.

"If he was an envoy of peace then it is not bad, there must be a solution to the current in-pass, it is in the interest of the country," said Charles Peter Mayiga, Buganda's minister for information.

"The two had a private discussion, it was cordial but I do not know the details of what they discussed," Mayiga said.

However, other officials at Bulange said the move would not change their stance. "We are not bothered about the politics. We have a greater stake and concern about the issues of governance and freedom of the country," said Buganda Kingdom's deputy spokesperson Medard Lubega.

The bridge between the Mengo establishment and the central government has been widening since 2001. Mengo demands that the Central government returns its property and have vehemently opposed the Land Amendment Bill 2007, saying it is a ploy to grab the Kabaka's land.

President Museveni's press secretary, Tamale Mirundi, said Mswati's visit could help spell out to Buganda that it's a kingdom under central government.

He, however, denied that Mswati's visit to Mengo, facilitated by Museveni, was in a bid to mend the worsening relations between the two.

"I doubt the President can use a foreigner to mend relations. The President is a strong supporter of traditional leaders and he facilitated him on that basis. Mswati is addressed as "His Majesty", a head of state, Kabaka is only His Highness and these are the things they (Buganda) should pick. They should ask; why has the monarch in other country's survive long?" Mirundi asked.

Mirundi said Mengo's demands can be solved legally. However, Mswati's address to Buganda focused on how the kingdom can play a role amicably under a central government. The Swazi king told the Lukiiko that it plays an effective role in the central government's efforts to reach and serve its people.

"Kingdoms play an important role in poverty alleviation, job creation, access to health care and social services," he told them.

Could he have been trying to define for Buganda a role it ought to play under a central government? Mswati is the only remaining ruling absolute monarch in Africa with a huge political power. A role a Buganda king last played in 1962, when Kabaka Edward Mutesa II was appointed President of independent Uganda.

One of the reasons for the monarchy's survival in Swaziland is the fairly homogenous composition of the country - the population is Swazi and traditionally looks to the king. This contrasts with the situation in other African countries with well-known royal houses, such as Uganda, where many people do not belong to the Baganda ethnic group.

However, some are arguing that the visit was a learning one for the king who is under growing pressure to reintroduce political plurality.

"It was a learning process for him as well on how these kingdoms are working with the central government," said Mirundi.

Increasingly, donors are demanding a more accountable political system as a precondition for lifeblood aid, while local agitation, led by the labour movement and opposition parties, threatens the country's stability. While Mswati is under considerable political pressure, the monarchy's enduring popularity means that he is unlikely to see the kind of upheaval that toppled other totalitarian regimes in the region in the 1990s.

He has embraced Western-style market-driven economic policies and has adhered to his traditional political culture that allows him full control of the Executive, judiciary and Executive arms of government. Political parties are banned.

The recent release of a draft constitution guaranteeing his eternal dominance has sparked protests from underground opposition movements. There were hopes the long-awaited document would move the country towards constitutional democracy.

Instead, the draft gives the king legal immunity for any wrongdoing and article 65 states emphatically: "The executive authority of Swaziland is vested in the king." It is not unlikely that King Mswati III will be the last of Swaziland's absolute monarchs.

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